Walnut Creek Preschools That Teach Generosity Before Academics

Talk of Walnut Creek preschools and most parents will automatically think of letters, numbers, and readiness to kindergarten. I used to think the same. I desired good reading capabilities. Clear handwriting. Early math confidence. I thought that a good preschool would put emphasis on academics and at the bottom of the list, character.

Then I entered a classroom whose motto was benevolence.

The alphabet was there. Blocks a-counting blocks are neatly stacked away in shelves. Something different, however, struck my eye. One of the children dropped a container of crayons. Two other children knelt to assist a teacher even before he had changed his position.

No one told them to do it.

Nothing said louder than what that moment did on the wall.

Kindness as the First Lesson

Some Walnut Creek preschools do not consider kindness as an activity that takes up the space between worksheets. It is the main beat of the day.

Children are also welcomed in the morning. They are also taught to face each other when addressing one another. They train to say simple sentences: Are you okay? "Can I help?"

"You can go first."

These are small sentences. They carry weight.

Empathy taught to a child at an early age offers a background that cannot be instilled in them by academics only. Reading can be taught later. Once one is accustomed to it, compassion is more difficult to put up.

There was an incident once when I observed a dispute between a toy truck. Voices rose. Faces tightened. The teacher did not interfere with authority but posed a question, "How can we resolve this as a team?

Silence. Thinking. One of the children proposed to take turns. The other agreed.

That dialogue required three minutes. Most likely it saved years of weak conflict skills in the future.

The Question of Slowing the Academic Rush

Everywhere there is pressure. At the birthday parties parents compare milestones. “Have you read it yet?" "Can she write her name?" The rivalry begins at an early stage.

However, there are preschools in Walnut Creek that are resisting that trend. Their priorities are on social and emotional development.

This does not imply that we should disregard academics. It is about knowing when to do things.

A child that is safe and appreciated will come to learn with increased confidence. A child, who is anxious or always judged, can close down.

Benevolence brings in a sense of psychological safety. Security leaves the way to discovery. Curiosity fuels learning.

The order matters.

The Teachers Who Model What They Teach

Children copy what they see. Tone of voice. Body language. Reactions to stress.

The teachers in classes where kindness is the main priority portray peaceful ways. They are apologetic in case they commit an error. They reward children with compliant behavior. They do not interrupt listening.

I once heard the teacher saying that she is frustrated at this moment. I need a deep breath." The children watched. Then one imitated the deep breath.

Emotional literacy at work.

It is impossible to teach benevolence in a room. You have to live it.

Eulogizing Delicate Bruteality

Good nature can be confused with being weak. As a matter of fact, it demands power.

When a child is giving a toy to another child, he/she is exercising self-control. A child who says that she hurt your feelings is exercising courage.

Being emphasized in some Walnut Creek preschools, these moments are mentioned. Not with grand rewards. With acknowledgement.

I saw you had helped your friend to clean up.

"You waited patiently. That was thoughtful."

Awareness is created by specific praise. Children begin to be aware of their own behavior.

Goodwill is a virtue that is integrated into their self-definition.

Conflict as a Classroom Tool

Pre-school classrooms are conflict-ridden. Communal areas are discordant. That is normal.

The important thing is the reaction of adults.

Conflict in kindness based settings turns into an educational issue and not an issue. Children are coached to have a clear expression of feelings. "I didn't like that." "Please stop." "Can I have a turn?"

These skills take practice. They are messy at first. Voices wobble. Words stumble.

However, repetition generates confidence.

I witnessed a child go to one of his peers and say, I was sad when you did not play with me. That is developed emotional speech among a four-year-old.

Suppose you bring such a power into adolescence.

Academics Still Happen

Let's be clear. These daycare schools do teach letters. They count. They discover science by means of easy experiments. They read stories daily.

The distinction is in focus.

A math lesson can be transformed into group activity, in which children will be asked to sort objects together. Characters and their feelings are discussed in the process of reading. The experiments in science are open to participation.

It is in relationships where learning is embedded.

Children experience the emotion of school a long time before they can recall certain facts. When they feel safe and respected in school, they relate learning to being comfortable and not stressful.

That association sticks.

Play as a Social Laboratory

Unstructured activities can demonstrate character, and often even faster than structured activities.

During play, the children negotiate roles. They choose the shopkeeper and the customer. They construct towers collectively and quarrel about aesthetics.

Preschools based on kindness take the play with seriousness.

Teachers observe. They intervene when necessary. They promote non-discriminative language. "Is there room for one more?" becomes a common phrase.

I once saw a child who was not very bold walk near a group of children as they constructed a fort. One of the other children raised his eyes and replied, Do you want to help us? This invitation transformed the whole afternoon.

Belonging fuels confidence.

The Ripple Effect at Home

The effect does not remain within the four classroom walls.

Parents tend to be sensitive to minute changes. More polite language. Aggression towards siblings decreased. Another new habit of saying thank you without being requested.

One night, early in the evening I lost my temper. It is all alright, answered my child. We can try again."

That sentence stopped me. It was a reflection of what was heard at school.

Goodwill had spread like a plague.

Long-Term Benefits

The academic skills are measurable without difficulty. Test scores. Reading levels. Math worksheets.

Goodness is more immeasurable. But it forms leadership, team and strength.

An early-learned child has a better chance to cope with the various social environments later. They listen. They collaborate. They develop friendships which are healthier.

Communication and cooperation are highly prized by employers, in many instances, than technical skill. The roots of these begin earlier than most would care to think.

The preschools at Walnut Creek are investing in the building of their characters by prioritizing kindness.

A Balanced Perspective

Other parents fear that prioritizing on kindness may retard academic developments. That fear is understandable.

However, emotional safety and cognitive development have a relationship. Stress blocks learning. Comfort invites it.

Respected children are more likely to take intellectual risks. They attempt harder puzzles. They ask more questions. They come out of errors quicker.

Good nature does not rival with scholars. It strengthens them.

Choosing What Matters Most

Each family needs to answer the question of what values their decisions are.

In other cases early reading standards are of the first order. Social confidence plays a central role in other people.

One can learn a lot by observing the classrooms closely. Watch how teachers speak. Observes the way children are interacting. Be attentive to the atmosphere.

Does it feel tense or warm? Competitive/collaborative?

Trust those impressions.

Building Humans First

Preschool is building human beings at the end of the day. Small humans, yes. But people who are going to become neighbors, colleagues, spouses.

Good nature is not an additional topic. It is a life skill.

Preschools in Walnut Creek that instill a show of benevolence prior to education are saying something. They are speaking of character issues. They are declaring empathy to be time and patience.

The alphabet will come. Numbers will follow.

But the practice of looking after people? That begins early. And when planted it may make a lifetime.

Tags: Walnut Creek Preschools, Trusted Community Learning Centers, Inspire Creativity and Confidence Daily