• Home
  • Our Story
    • Our Vision
    • Our Approach
    • Our People
    • Our Trustees
    • Our Donors
  • Montessori Classes
    • Term Dates and Diary
    • Montessori School
    • Forest School
    • After School
    • Baby & Toddler
    • Therapy Classes
  • News & Events
    • Newsletters
    • Conferences >
      • 2020 MEfA Montessori Annual Conference
  • Training
    • MEfA Post Grad SEN Part 1
    • MEfA Post Grad SEN Part 2
    • Waldon Therapy Training
    • Our Alumni
    • Papers >
      • Montessori - Play as Therapy
      • What is Autism?
      • Montessori and Autism
      • Why the World Needs Resilient Kids
    • Book Reviews
  • Testimonials
  • Join Us
  • Contact Us
MEfA Montessori
  • Home
  • Our Story
    • Our Vision
    • Our Approach
    • Our People
    • Our Trustees
    • Our Donors
  • Montessori Classes
    • Term Dates and Diary
    • Montessori School
    • Forest School
    • After School
    • Baby & Toddler
    • Therapy Classes
  • News & Events
    • Newsletters
    • Conferences >
      • 2020 MEfA Montessori Annual Conference
  • Training
    • MEfA Post Grad SEN Part 1
    • MEfA Post Grad SEN Part 2
    • Waldon Therapy Training
    • Our Alumni
    • Papers >
      • Montessori - Play as Therapy
      • What is Autism?
      • Montessori and Autism
      • Why the World Needs Resilient Kids
    • Book Reviews
  • Testimonials
  • Join Us
  • Contact Us

MEfA Montessori Blog

Best Friends Forever?

17/8/2020

0 Comments

 
Before we head back to school it's a good time to help children examine their relationships with their peers.

There is so much that children have missed over the lock down period, but many were happy to skip the BFE, 'tween' and 'teen' dramas.

The physical and emotional distance from their friends has allowed children to reflect on which of their friendships they wish to take with them and which they wish to leave behind in the new school year.

We can ask our children what friendship really means to them - which three words come to mind?  Whether you ask this to a group of children, or your own child, it allows children to come up with descriptors such as, 'kind', 'loyal', 'trustworthy' or 'stands up for you'.  Ask, "When you think of your three best friends do they have these qualities?"

This type of question enables children to pay attention to their gut feelings - feelings that emerge as a kind of summary of their experiences and expectations that might otherwise be hard to put into words.

When children become mindful of how they feel, think and act when they are with specific people they learn to trust themselves.  Focusing on other children's positive traits helps them to discern who adds value to their life rather than fixating on who steals their joy.

Practising curiosity and pulling back from judgement keeps adults connected with children, without making children feel that we are criticising their choices; we have to allow them to make their own decisions.

Offering children compassion and empathy through their experiences keeps you connected and helps children to work through their feelings.

There will be positive and negative consequences from the social isolation that children and families have experienced during lock down, but there are also opportunities for growth that we can carry forward into our 'new normal'.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    wendy fidler

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020

    Categories

    All

​MEfA Montessori
Montessori House
135 Westcombe Hill
Blackheath
London SE3 7DP
​
Tel: +44 (0) 208 305 2202
​Mob: +44 (0) 7710 433994
mail@montessorieducationforautism.com


​Registered Charity No: 1136552
Picture
Copyright 2020
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Our Story
    • Our Vision
    • Our Approach
    • Our People
    • Our Trustees
    • Our Donors
  • Montessori Classes
    • Term Dates and Diary
    • Montessori School
    • Forest School
    • After School
    • Baby & Toddler
    • Therapy Classes
  • News & Events
    • Newsletters
    • Conferences >
      • 2020 MEfA Montessori Annual Conference
  • Training
    • MEfA Post Grad SEN Part 1
    • MEfA Post Grad SEN Part 2
    • Waldon Therapy Training
    • Our Alumni
    • Papers >
      • Montessori - Play as Therapy
      • What is Autism?
      • Montessori and Autism
      • Why the World Needs Resilient Kids
    • Book Reviews
  • Testimonials
  • Join Us
  • Contact Us