Don't Sit on the Kids

One of my mentors was Clare Cherry, who for many years directed the Congregation Emanu El Nursery School in San Bernardino, California.  And, while practicing what she preached, wrote a number of books, such as the Nursery School Management Guide, to help teachers and directors carry out their daily work.  Her, classic, Don't Sit on the Kids: Alternatives to Punitive Discipline, offered this advice...

"Encouragement... must be sincere.  Don't pretend something is hard when it is not — that says to children that you don't think highly enough of them to be honest, that you think they are incapable and unworthy.  Use encouragement to allow children the pleasure of knowing that some things are indeed easy for them to do and the security of knowing that when something is difficult, you will acknowledge the difficulty and provide support or assistance.

"....Encouragement need not always be verbalized.  A nod, a smile, a touch of the hand, standing nearby — all of these can give children courage to continue a difficult task.  Your tone or voice, too, can convey your true feelings, so when giving encouragement, be sure that your voice carries the meaning you are trying to get across."

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