tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post2612293284706133237..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Instead Of Commanding "Be Careful"Teacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-24234532583485371622015-08-19T12:04:19.367-07:002015-08-19T12:04:19.367-07:00I really like the idea of letting the kids think a...I really like the idea of letting the kids think and figure out how some of their activities might cause them to get hurt. I have some 5 & 6 year old boys that try crazy things. I'm going to use this instead of the standard "be careful"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-2393395689755415702015-08-12T00:17:32.669-07:002015-08-12T00:17:32.669-07:00I love this attitude 😀
Children are capable of so...I love this attitude 😀<br />Children are capable of so much more strategic thinking and logic than people give them credit for.<br />Yes, sometimes they do seem to have an auto destruct button which is difficult for adult nerves to deal with, but you can either teach them obedience, as you say, or fear, neither of which will keep them safe in the long run, or you can teach them intelligence. <br />If you teach intelligence they will start to question the world around them, their place in it, and most importantly, the consequence of their actions.<br />My step daughter , 7 years old, had friends round and they were playing on the hay bales (not usually allowed unsupervised) so when I found them I told them to stop what they were doing for a moment.<br />I explained that they shouldn't be playing here because it could be very dangerous but, as you are having such a great game lets have a look and see if we can make it safe. <br />I explained that they had to check to make sure no sharp farm tools had been left in the hay ( I knew they hadn't, but they had a good time looking and it made a point), then we looked for anything they could bang their heads on, or any steep drops that would hurt if they fell off. They eventually spotted all the hazards and we moved extra bales to make it all safe, and I left them to carry on their game( whilst getting on with nearby jobs so I could keep an eye on them).<br />Hopefully they learnt the beginnings of Risk Assessment (but without all the red tape lol).....and I also got points for not being a spoilsport adult 😀<br />I know it is difficult when all you want to do is protect your child, but overprotection only works in the short term and as long as you don't ever take your eyes off them, which is impossible.<br />Your method offers long term protection, and teaches the child that you respect and trust them which is a wonderful gift.<br />Thanks for the post 😀<br />Sarah xBabyfriendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15078955924212449000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-28941730262417232222015-08-11T19:57:29.695-07:002015-08-11T19:57:29.695-07:00@Tree . . . If any child, especially a very young ...@Tree . . . If any child, especially a very young one, is attempting to do something that is truly hazardous, I will say, "I can't let you do that," the proceed to not let them do that. I'm not commanding them, but rather acting/speaking out of my own responsibilities. Otherwise, I generally attempt to point out (humorously or earnestly) the potential hazards I see, then let them go for it. The only way they will learn to care for themselves is to practice caring for themselves.Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-24500786171312938642015-08-11T19:51:21.812-07:002015-08-11T19:51:21.812-07:00And there we have my resolutions for the upcoming ...And there we have my resolutions for the upcoming school year--I want to eliminate (or, realistically, significantly cut down on) the number of times I say "Be careful," or "Use your inside voice."<br /><br />And I completely agree about sarcasm--I don't think it's appropriate for adults, much less for little people.Kerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803069104800007097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-27938667472330972372015-08-11T19:08:57.485-07:002015-08-11T19:08:57.485-07:00I like this idea. How do you practice this and kee...I like this idea. How do you practice this and keep your kid safe while allowing them to develop the critical thinking? You can't let them jump off a ledge to find out the consequence, so how do you keep yourself from stopping them? Do you just trust they will make the right/safe choice? I would like to know more. Hattie Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03159027441969546495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-79482154398688643202015-08-11T16:07:26.300-07:002015-08-11T16:07:26.300-07:00Hi Teacher Tom
Do you think this works with childr...Hi Teacher Tom<br />Do you think this works with children under 2 who are still learning to speak? <br />My son has a pretty good understanding of words but doesn't speak many yet. He is a big risk taker and has little (to no) fear. I often use your technique but he seems to go for it anyway...Treehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01117557510990841904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-15969621778936012762015-08-11T12:54:27.505-07:002015-08-11T12:54:27.505-07:00From Julie M: My mentor teacher would say "Th...From Julie M: My mentor teacher would say "That will sure feel good when it stops hurting." The child would very briefly pause, think and respond the same way your children do. Occasionally a bump, or scrape happened and the kids would call for "magic water" which was a cold, wet paper towel the child would pat the owie with. Whenever the bandaid box came out everyone would get one because the children were fascinated by them. We bought them at Costco!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-73029146627092180722015-08-11T12:32:09.563-07:002015-08-11T12:32:09.563-07:00Actually Jules, I agree with you colleague. I don&...Actually Jules, I agree with you colleague. I don't think sarcasm is appropriate. I offer my comments earnestly. Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-5185503549740880822015-08-11T10:54:54.833-07:002015-08-11T10:54:54.833-07:00In some book I read the suggestion to say "Pa...In some book I read the suggestion to say "Pay attention." instead of "be careful" & I love it. I usually will let my child do whatever she wants of the moderately dangerous stuff standing on/jumping off furniture, climbing things not made for climbing but tell her she might get hurt. I tell her it might be worth the risk and it might not, you decide. About 50% of the time she chooses to go ahead and do it but since she is aware of the risk she I usually paying a lot of attention she rarely gets hurt.alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11973378840030041505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-53456299736449261002015-08-11T09:06:59.978-07:002015-08-11T09:06:59.978-07:00Ha! I do the same thing. Once had another teache...Ha! I do the same thing. Once had another teacher tell me I shouldn't use sarcasm with kids. Told her that wasn't sarcasm (although there was a part of me that DID mean it that way.)<br />juleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14886624637295292117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-8047893600501292102015-08-11T07:22:11.139-07:002015-08-11T07:22:11.139-07:00I love this! Btw- I read your blog every day. Than...I love this! Btw- I read your blog every day. Thank you for doing what you do. Jacquelinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01314661283029573981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-66734955329588194372015-08-11T06:58:39.839-07:002015-08-11T06:58:39.839-07:00I had this exact question in my mind today!! I'...I had this exact question in my mind today!! I'm going to practice this from now on. I say 'be careful' way too many times with my 4 year old.Avantikanoreply@blogger.com