1. I’m So Mad! Helping Young Children Handle Anger and Use Self-Control Presented by Mary Lynn White National Outreach Specialist © 2005, Wingspan, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This presentation and all of its contents are the property of Wingspan, LLC and may not be used for any other purpose without the express written permission of Wingspan, LLC.

2. Workshop Goals  Understand social-emotional competence  Learn about expression of feelings and self-control in children and teaching approaches which support them  Share classroom strategies that promote children’s social skills and self-regulation

3. What have you seen?  Increased concerns regarding: Anger and aggression Defiance Lack of social skills  Early anti-social behavior key risk factor for future problem behavior  Intervene early when first forming attitudes and behaviors

4. Children and the Development of Self-Regulation  Children must practice  Linked to planning, problem-solving, goal-directed behavior  Predictive of all academic outcomes; math

5. Social-Emotional Competence  Understanding and expressing feelings  Self regulation (feelings & behaviors)  Peaceful problem-solving  Positive relationships

6. INTENSIVE INDIVIDUALIZED INTERVENTIONS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL TEACHING STRATEGIES CLASSROOM PREVENTIVE PRACTICES POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COLLEAGUES Developed by: The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning Promoting Social and Emotional Competence

7. Young Children Who Lack Social-Emotional Skills May:  Be less accepted by classmates and teachers  Participate less in classroom activities and resist instruction  Be perceived as having low academic potential  Receive less instruction and less positive feedback  Be held back more often in early school years

8. Characteristics of a Resilient Child  Social Competence Good communication skills Positive relationship with others A sense of humor Empathy and caring Healthy coping skills  Problem-solving Skills Decision-making skills Ability to think flexibly Ability to try different solutions

9. Characteristics of a Resilient Child (cont.)  Autonomy Self-control, self-discipline Independence Self-esteem Ability to exert control over one’s environment  Sense of Future and Purpose Goal oriented outlook Persistence A focus on achievement and education Hope for a bright future A sense of faith

10. Protective Factors: Better Outcomes For Children  Nurturing, caring adults  High expectations for success  Meaningful involvement  Involvement in decision-making  Recognition and reinforcement of positive behavior  A safe, predictable environment  Clear norms promoting pro-social, healthy, appropriate behavior

11. To Foster Resilience, Children Need Adults To...  Listen  Validate feelings and experiences  Facilitate brainstorming  Communicate clear norms  Role model  Respond to sensitive issues  Guide problem-solving

12. Listening  Turn to the person beside you  Who will be A, who will be B?  A’s ~Talk about your dream vacation: Where? How long? Who is with you? What will you do? B’s ~ Listen attentively but DO NOT SPEAK  Switch when time is called

13. Curriculum Content  Feelings  Positive Relationships  Communication  Brainstorming  Impulse Control  Safe and Healthy Choices  Problem-Solving

14. Virginia Competencies  DSS Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals (Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals, Virginia Early Childhood Development Alignment Project, Initiative of Smart Beginnings, Virginia DSS Child Care and Development Fund) Help children develop inner controls and self-regulation by providing appropriate opportunities for independence and choice among activities and peers and helping them understand the relationship between the choices and the outcomes Al’s Pals Concepts: –Impulse Control –Brainstorming –Problem Solving

15. Virginia Competencies  Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) (Pianta, Robert C., La Paro, Karen M., and Hamre, Bridget K., Classroom Assessment Scoring System, Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. 2008) There are frequently positive communications, verbal or physical, among teachers and students Al’s Pals Concepts: –Listening –Meaningful Involvement –Using Kind Words The teacher often provides opportunities for students to be creative and/or generate their own ideas and products Al’s Pals Concepts: –Creativity –Brainstorming

16. Children who can express their feelings…  tolerate frustration better  get into fewer fights  engage in less destructive behavior  are healthier  are less lonely  are less impulsive  are more focused  have great academic achievement Adapted from the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning

17. Calm Down Steps  Take 3 deep breaths  Count to 5 slowly  Say “calm down”, “calm down”

18. The Importance of Friendship  New study: No friends, at risk for depression during adolescence  One friend made a difference  Reading, writing, ‘rithmetic, relationships

19. Problem-Solving Steps 1.Stop. Think about the problem. 2.Say how you feel. 3.Brainstorm ideas. 4.Try the best one. 5.What happened?

20. Small Group Activity  Brainstorm typical problems the children encounter in your program.  Role play with your small group to solve one of the problems listed during the brainstorm. Use the problem-solving steps.  Report back to the group: Problem Process Solution

23. National Recognition Effective School-based Prevention Program Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools Expert Panel, U.S. Department of Education National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

24. Reviewed and Selected for Inclusion in Communities That Care ® Prevention Strategies Guide developed by Dr. J. David Hawkins and Dr. Richard F. Catalano Safe and Sound - An Educational Leader’s Guide to Evidence-Based Social and Emotional Learning Programs The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

25. Parent Education Program 13 modules Delivered by trained parent educators Strengths-based approach Promotes positive parent- child relationships

26. Al’s Caring Pals  Training for family child care home providers  Easy-to use materials tailored for home-based child care setting  Builds children’s social-emotional skills and problem-solving abilities  Creates nurturing environment

27. What will you try? Monday morning will be here before we know it… What is one new thing you will try when you get back?

28. Thank You Mary Lynn White 804.967.9002 mlwhite@wingspanworks.com www.wingspanworks.com