The section offered here is the third of six key points in the written materials. This section asserts that it is through a strong teacher child relationship that children learn peaceful conflict resolution, a positive alternative to a violent response to conflict. Prepared by Barbara Brooks, Child Care Connections, Boise, Idaho. While it is important to know about child development, the academic knowledge learned about children from books is not enough. It is important for teachers to spend time and energy building individual relationships with each child.
Every child is unique and has a diverse family background.
It is critical that a teacher learn as much as possible about each child, quickly. The early childhood teacher has choices to make about what to attend to while teaching. There are forms to fill out, plans to make, other teachers with whom to speak, and clean up to complete. In addition, there are young children with whom to interact. The primary teaching activity that supports young children in peaceful conflict resolution is developing on-going, individual, meaningful, supportive, and compassionate relationships.