Don't Forget What is DAP!

Teaching is hard, it's exhausting, it is tough and it can wear on you quickly! Remember that you can make your days a little less stressful when you try to remember what is Developmentally appropriate for the age of the children in your care. Sometimes we forget that young children cannot always articulate their feelings and relay them using words. Their brains and level of development don't allow for this type of thinking and verbal communication. If you are tired of turning around to see the same child bite for the 4 or 5th time in a week and begin to get frustrated at your inability to prevent this annoying and potentially dangerous behavior; stop and think about what is truly going on in that child's head. First of all, most toddlers are not putting together full sentences and neither are they able to talk to their peers the way a preschool age child would. Biting is a natural response to a situation or incident the biting child does not like. Pinching, hitting and temper tantrums indicate the same type of scenario. Children don't generally decide to do these things just to see what will happen or to test your patience. They do these things because they are trying to communicate. So, instead of getting frustrated; try using alternative ways to handle your biters, pinchers and tantrum throwers. Suggest chewies, cold wet washcloths/frozen rags to soothe teethers and for biters to wear while they are in the classroom. Implement games like child-size bowling set up for children to go to when they need to roll or toss a ball, bean bag games work with the same effect. Make these games special and do not pull them out everyday. Use them only when your children are displaying signs of boredom, impulsivity and a lack of interest in being calm. Parachute games and sensory tables are also great ways to calm children who may be over stimulated.