Children are constantly learning from their surroundings, especially in early childhood development, where a child's brain processes information at an astonishing rate. When an adult chooses words carefully despite feeling frustrated in front of a young child, the child watches this and takes note. Again, when an adult shouts angrily at a young child, the child picks up this and learns. When you show compassion, the child watches this and learns. They are constantly learning, consciously or unconsciously, so we need to surround our students with compassion. By modeling compassionate behavior, children will naturally blossom into compassionate humans toward others and themselves- a quality almost extinct today.
Here's how we can nurture compassion in early childhood education.
Listen
It can be challenging to show compassion without understanding precisely what the other person is saying. Compassion and active listening go hand in hand; to truly show compassion, one must empathize with others' emotions. Say, "Okay, I understand your pain. Relax, and let us collaborate on solving this. "When children are raised by compassionate adults, there's a good chance they will develop a heightened sense of emotional intelligence—a powerful skill that enables individuals to connect with others on a deeper level.
Model
Compassionate educators serve as positive role models by demonstrating compassion toward others. Simple random acts, such as praising children, high-fives, smiling with children, and using empathetic language, are all ways of showing compassion. These actions have a compounding effect and can inspire children to develop similar qualities.
Supportive Culture
Fostering empathy and compassion in a classroom creates an environment that makes the child feel valued. This encourages teamwork, collaboration, and a feeling of belonging, ultimately leading to productivity.
Benefits of Nurturing Compassion in Early Childhood
Increased Self-Esteem and No bullying cases
Nurturing compassion in early childhood has the potential to benefit learners greatly. First, it increases social acceptance and greater self-assurance in the classroom community. Children will start behaving in a more inclusive manner, treating each other with compassion. Second, in such a scenario, there are fewer cases of "so and so bullied person A." In other words, there will be fewer cases of bullying because it goes counter to what the teacher demonstrates every day.
Greater Attendance
The attendance rate can sometimes be influenced by bullying cases or even a lack of social acceptance among learners. The best way to improve school attendance is to create a compassionate environment where each child feels valued and acknowledged. Acknowledging each child reduces anxiety and other issues related to lack of assurance.
Better Physical Health
But it has profound effects on both the mind and the body. The mind, in turn, influences the body. Kind actions foster emotional warmth, resulting in the release of oxytocin, a stress-reducing hormone. Children, although often young and innocent, can still be stressed unknowingly. Let us not underestimate the power of compassion, as it has a ripple effect that extends beyond ourselves.
References:
Heinrichs, M., Baumgartner, T., Kirschbaum, C., & Ehlert, U. (2003). Social support and oxytocin interact to suppress cortisol and subjective responses to psychosocial stress. Biological Psychiatry, 54, 1389-1398. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3223(03)00465-7.
Recommended Online Training Course
Social Emotional Development of Young Children
Description: This course will teach childcare professionals how to guide children to make connections with the world through healthy social-emotional behaviors. Professionals will understand the purpose of social-emotional learning and learn guidance techniques to encourage young children to self-regulate their emotions.
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Sheika Petteway, Chief ENCOURAGING Officer
She provides educational and leadership training to individuals and organizations. She is the founder and CEO of Elite Educational Enterprises and has several years experience serving in the early childhood education industry.
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