Sharing Web Resources- Part III

This week I chose an article from my organization NAEYC.  There was an interesting article in the Young Children (YC) magazine called, Supporting Peer Relationships and Social Competence in Inclusive Preschool Programs.  This article was so amazing because it described how teachers can use situations that arise in the classrooms among peers as teaching moments.  There were a couple of situations that occurred such as this 3 1/2 year old little boy with autism run into the block station excitedly and kicks the blocks in all directions.  One kid yelled, "you're stupid."  Another child with cerebral palsy issues was using a prism to draw a rainbow and got interrupted by another student by the prism getting snatched from her so that the other girl could draw it better.  These are the types of conflicts that take place in preschool settings.  In this inclusive preschool setting, the teachers helped them to iron out the situation. Situations that involve young children with special needs serve as windows into children's social-emotional skills and needs.  They also highlight teaching opportunities.  Teachers play an essential role in showing preschoolers how to manage peer relationships successfully.  Peer conflict is typical for young children but it still requires the assessment of a teacher (NAEYC, 2013).  The goal of inclusive programs are to create an atmosphere in which positive peer relationships can flourish.  In these programs, children with special needs have full access to all aspects of the learning environment, opportunities to actively participate and adequate supports for success.  The main thing of importance are the social skills and social competence of teaching and learning.  Children learn how to navigate a complex world of friendships and adult relationships in environments of new rules, routines, and expectations for such behaviors as waiting, conversing, sharing small and large group spaces, and taking turns.  All of these are important to a child's social abilities.  Inclusive preschools are great because the teachers are involved more with the students which is exactly how it should be when children are this young.