Fairfax Early Childhood Partnership's February 5-4-3-2-1 Early Childhood Tips for Today!

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 02/23/2021 07:08 PM EST

Considerations for Planning Preschoolers' Play: Understanding Boy Play

Tips from the Fairfax Early Childhood Partnership Team

 5 Things to Know or Do 5 Things to Know or Do

  1. Preschoolers are expelled at three times the rate of children in K-12.  Boys are four times as likely to be expelled as girls are, and it disproportionately impacts Black boys.  
  2. Boys and girls need different support at different times, depending on their individual needs.  It is important to remember that not all boys are the same, and not all girls are the same.  Caregivers can provide a wide range of experiences for all children, and provide supportive ways for boys to engage with the physical world. 
  3. Boys need to move.  Provide multiple opportunities for physical activity throughout the day.  Offer plenty of space, both indoors and outdoors, for running, moving, climbing, digging, and exploring. 
  4. Boys need a sense of “power.”  Children can feel powerless in a world where the grown-ups in their lives make decisions for them throughout the day.  Offer opportunities for boys to make real choices about their play and explore roles that help them feel in control: 
  5. Boys need rough and tumble play.  This type of play supports cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.  Smiles and laughter are tell-tale signs of this type of play.

4 Children Read Alouds 4 Children Read Alouds

  1. Can you Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas (Fairfax County Library/Amazon)

    This interactive picture book starring a bossy little ladybug and a giant hungry frog will have children leaping up and down and out of their seats to dance and make silly scary faces of their own.

  2. I Stink! by Kate and Jim McMullan (Fairfax County Library/Amazon)

    With ten wide tires, one really big appetite, and an even bigger smell, this noisy truck eats all the garbage and loves every stinky second of it!

  3. No, David! by David Shannon (Fairfax County Library/Amazon)

    David's good humor, mischievous smile,and laughter-inducing antics underline the love parents have for their children - even when they misbehave.

  4. Tough Guys Have Feelings Too by Keith Negley (Amazon)

    Did you know wrestlers have feelings? And knights. Even superheroes and ninjas feel sad sometimes.  In fact everyone has feelings - especially dads who love their children!

3 Links to Visit 3 Links to Visit

  1. Earlychildhood NEWS: The Challenge of Boys in our Early Childhood Programs (earlychildhoodnews.com)
  2. NAEYC: Black Boys Matter Series (naeyc.org)
  3. Zero to Three: Are there any differences in the development of boys' and girls' brains? (zerotothree.org)

2 Points to Access Research 2 Videos to View

  1. Superhero Play for Preschoolers (youtube)
  2. ‘High Quality’ Rough & Tumble Play (youtube)

1 Video to View  1 Point of Research to Access

  1. Yale Child Study Center: Do Early Educators’ Implicit Biases Regarding Sex and Race Relate to Behavior Expectations and Recommendations of Preschool Expulsions and Suspensions? (ziglercenter.yale.edu)