“I See YOU!” “Look what you are doing…” “Wow, that looks fun, I want to try it.” These phrases are TREASURES in a parent’s tool box. Every child LOVES to be noticed. How many times do you hear “Watch ME!” Every child LOVES to be recognized for what they CAN do, or what they HAVE DONE already. Every child feels more competent when a significant adult in their life wants to copy them. These all start with the most important part of connecting with and teaching your child, to watch closely, OBSERVE.
OBSERVE and RECOGNIZE before
TEACHING or TRANSITIONS or PROBLEM SOLVING
Oftentimes, we as parents are in the position of giving our child directions. Sometimes our children are exploring or learning something new, “Stack the blocks like this.” Other times, it is due to our schedule, or daily routine. “Sarah, it is time to brush teeth, and get ready for bed.” And other times, we find them needing to solve a problem, “Let me help you.” Many times we find it easier and faster just to quickly give directions or solve the problem ourselves.
Aaah, but connecting and teaching take time… and it starts with the time to observe and recognize.
Observing starts by simply stopping and WAITING to see what they are doing, or what they will do. It is certainly human nature to start showing examples when a new object is given to explore, or giving directions first. Try this. Do it like this. But then we don’t get to observe what the child already knows, or, for that matter, what they can teach themselves. Over 100 years ago, Maria Montessori found out, by intent observation, that given the opportunity, children are very capable of teaching themselves a great many things. As adults, it is our responsibility to provide them that opportunity and wait to see what they can teach themselves, and to provide just enough support to help that process along.
Recognizing means that somehow we share with the child that we see and care about what they are doing, without judging them. Sometimes this is through using our words to DESCRIBE (which supports their language skills). “Sally, I see you tapping your rhythm sticks together end to end.” Sometimes it may just be letting them see you COPY them. Someone(?) said, “The best compliment someone could give you is to copy you.” Without any words at all, the child knows that they are SEEN and RECOGNIZED. Sometimes it may be a little of both.
Without judgement means that we refrain from making a vague statement like “Good Job.” Not that it is a bad thing to say, but that it is not clear what was done well, AND that it infers that the importance is on the parent’s evaluation that it was “good”. When a parent says, “You did it ! You placed the sticks in the shape of a V !”, the child is able to take ownership of the act, and be proud of himself for doing so. Ultimately, the child’s inner motivation is what will get her down the path to success.
A whole different benefit to these parenting skills was an eye-opening kick in the pants to me. I had been having problems with transitions, getting my child to do what I wanted or needed them to do NEXT. And it specifically was significant when I approached him when he was involved in an activity independently. My son would be playing his room with his Legos, and I would come in and ask him to wash his hands for dinner. A fairly simple request really, but it was met with reluctance and procrastination. After reading much about parenting through Becky Bailey, I learned that my son is heavily invested in what he is doing at that moment. It is important that I recognize the hard work in which he is engaged. His mind is busy designing, problem solving, and creating. Washing hands for dinner seems so insignificant in comparison to the processes currently at work in his mind. So, it is important to take the time to start the conversation where his mind is presently. “Wow, look what you are doing with those legos ! You have made some sort of flying machine. I can see the wings are jutting out here and here. Tell me more.” OH, what a difference a few minutes of observing and recognizing can make !!! Sharing out loud what is “on the table at the moment” allows for a winding down of the brain process, and an openess to what may be next.
This works for young children as well, even those who are unable to talk. When they are engaged with a toy or activity, the few minute a parent takes to patiently watch, and then describe gives them WORDS to pair with what they are doing, lets them know that there is respect for their ability to focus, and that what they can do for themselves is recognized. THIS is the starting point for teaching, ie. expanding on their current interest, or for transitioning to another activity.
Without getting into a lot of details, the same skills are exceedingly important when a child is faced with a challenge or a problem to solve. Wait; watch what they will do; ask them questions to help them assess the situation effectively. If intense emotions are observed, the best support is to allow them (or yourself) the opportunity to find a quiet place to calm down before they tackle the task of solving the problem. ANYONE who is too emotionally distraught cannot solve problems effectively. A chemical in the brain screams to fight or avoid – not solve. When cooler heads prevail, approach the problem like a puzzle, allow them to, or help them describe the pieces of the issue without emotion, wait and listen, and encourage a creative list of solutions, from those based in fantasy, to those based in reality.
A parent’s time to observe and recognize helps children feel confident and competent, and eager to try more things, and more able to solve their own problems. And it helps US, as their primary teachers, know where to start with the teaching process, and how to support their own abilities to teach themselves. It is the beginning of the incredibly effective method of teaching called scaffolding, which we will be talking about more over time.
These parenting skills do not necessarily come naturally. I consider myself a good parent, yet I have to continually focus to ensure that I WAIT and OBSERVE before giving directions (so hard for me at times, esp. in our busy schedule !). Before I approach my independently engaged child, I often have to give myself a Becky Baily Pep Talk to OBSERVE and CONNECT first ! When my child is struggling with a challenge, it is hard to be patient and let them come up with the solution themselves. It is an ongoing challenge not to blurt out “Good Job”.
BUT, EVERY TIME I do it RIGHT… Every time I take the time to Observe and Recognize… Every time I DESCRIBE instead of Judge… I SEE how my children respond so well to it, and I KNOW that it is worth the continual effort. It does get easier. Just like learning to play an instrument, practice makes perfect.
Do you have a story to share about how observing your child FIRST made a difference?
Filed under: All ages, Child development, Kindermusik International, Parenting Perspectives, Parenting Techniques, Scaffolding, Teaching techniques | Tagged: Becky Bailey, children, connecting, Montessori, observe, parenting, teaching | 13 Comments »
I GOTTA CROW ! 
THIS Sat. we celebrate the season:chilly winds, snowfalls, and ice skating with the best music for singing, dancing, and playing in the snow.
Music Connections 