Article Link: http://stage.exchangepress.com/article/the-value-of-real-work-with-children-exhibiting-challenging-behavior/5016736/
“Me do it!” “I fix it!” “Let me do it myself!” are phrases many of us have heard from the young children in our lives. There is a window of time in a child’s life where they want to help by doing things on their own. Young children automatically want to copy the adults in their lives. They will grab the little play broom and imitate mom sweeping the floor. They will clutch their plastic toolbox and head for the garage when a father goes to work on his car. Little hands want to help.This was proven to me many years ago. In my toddler room I had an older grandparent-type teacher. One day I watched as she took a laundry basket full of blankets and extra children’s clothes and sat down in the middle of the floor.
All the toddlers gathered around excitedly as she handed out smaller items to each child. When I asked her what she was doing, she replied she was teaching the little ones to fold laundry. In my child care? I was afraid their parents, licensing representatives, and the public in general would be concerned about children having to work. When I expressed my concerns, ...