When Hana is struggling with a challenging transition and expresses concerns about her mommy, and Emily seems unable to focus on a particular activity, I often suggest engaging them in playing with Lego. I aim to encourage them to share and explain what they are building, creating an environment where they can interact with each other rather than relying on adult guidance. This not only helps them redirect their attention but also fosters collaborative play and communication between the children.
https://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/How-to-Support-Peer-Interaction.aspx
February 26, 2024 at 11:14 am
Great idea using Lego to facilitate play and distract during transitions. Lego is an easy accessible tool that fosters calmness, creativity, cooperation, fine motor and problem solving.
March 17, 2024 at 11:33 am
Lego is a loved by many children and is a good strategy to distract. However, make sure we don’t distract all the time as this will defeat the goal of learning self regulation if we are always taking away opportunities for them to experience their feelings and to respond appropriately. Its always ok to be sad your mom is not there, but rather than crying the goal is to identify, acknowledge and then find another way to share her sadness rather than crying or hitting.
March 21, 2024 at 10:36 pm
yes, you are right. Overusing distractions can hinder the development of self-regulation skills in children, as it prevents them from learning to manage their emotions independently. It’s crucial to allow children the space to experience their feelings and learn appropriate ways to respond to them.