Watching our Woodland Park Coop kids learn social-emotional skills in front of our eyes gives us the warm fuzzies and gets us so excited.
Because this is why we do coop together – so they can grow into fully realized human beings, without learning to repress or suppress their feelings and needs.
As parenting coach Christel Estrada says: “Children can only regulate the feelings they are allowed to have.”
To show you what we mean, the following is a story of social-emotional learning in one day of Woodland Park Coop Kindergarten class, written by one of our parents:
I know that the primary goal for our Woodland Park Coop Kindergarten families is to give our kiddos an environment that fosters social-emotional growth, and I saw that all day long!
Dealing with disappointment
The kids used language I loved so much that I grabbed a pen and paper:
“Hold on. I just want to take a moment for this disappointed feeling.
“There are only two saws. Not everyone can start with one. That is disappointing.“
<deflated breath>
“Thanks.
“I know we can handle this. We’ll take turns and trade tools.“
<moves forward>
This pivoted the kiddos’ clamor and frustration to disappointment and acceptance and then moved us along calmly SO WELL. I saw examples like this all day that communicated this basic idea:
This matters. You matter. Your friends around us matter. I want to understand and connect on this. Let’s move forward together when you’re ready.
This is the connection to the world and their place in it that I want my kid to graduate from coop with.
Practicing boundaries and consent
I’m so glad that kiddos and adults are all getting so much boundary and consent practice each day.
Here are some examples of dialogue we’re using and teaching our kiddos:
- I love playing with you all! Right now I’m not playing. This is my serious voice.
- Are you both having fun right now?
- How can I help when you feel sad? What doesn’t help you? Everyone’s different, and I want to know what works and doesn’t work for you!
- Sure! I can be flexible right now! What’s your idea?
And also:
- I’m so glad you tell me what you want. I can’t flex right now on this – I’ll keep looking for moments where I can flex.
- Oh! I would love to have some hand art! Please don’t draw on my sleeve though – thank you
I also loved Teacher Quinn saying: “This item can stay in the room if you’re ready to use it safely; if you’re showing me that you’re not ready for it, I can take it home until we’re ready.”
Reminds me of the “when/then” parent education tool, so helpful, clear and kind – and lacking the power struggle.
The Pause
We also used “Pause! …. Thanks for pausing! I see that shovel is close to your friend’s head. Can you adjust your bodies before you keep swinging?”
Another form of words we’re exploring is: “You all are doing such a great job pausing when a friend is uncomfortable or hurt – that makes me comfortable playing wild games like this with you!”
A cheerfully yelled “Pause!” with some happiness about the group’s pause abilities can go a long way with physical play, we find.
All in all, I’m so grateful for this space and you people. I was a better, more intentional, more grateful and patient parent tonight because of my time with you all.
If you are interested in late enrollment in our Kindergarten class, there is 25% off if you enroll before 10/15/24, find out more here.
Woodland Park Cooperative School 