The Progressive Teacher Vol 04 Issue 04

teaching
A Note to Pre-school teachers
Pre-school teachers according to me are the most important part of any school faculty. They
have to be the most loving, empathetic, sensitive and understanding. They must appreciate the
psychological needs of the four year olds. The young ones at four are in their own unique world
which is a heavenly place filled with dreams. They live a life supreme totally unaware of anyone
else better than themselves. Their lives revolve around themselves and grown-ups who love them.
–Dr Shayama Chona
The natural tendency of the teachers
when the child is going through this
phase is to start lecturing. The little
ones do not understand words of wisdom.
They will only play if they are declared
winners, even before the game starts. It
becomes imperative for the teachers to play
only those games where everyone is a winner.
The children need to be given confidence that
yes, they are winners and the world revolves
around them. If the teachers accept them as
they are without pointing fingers at them,
do not argue with them or lecture them,
the children will turn out to be confident
individuals in their later life.
As necessary as it is to teach children good
values, one also needs to accept their need to
believe in their own super power. In their play
oriented classrooms focused on collaborative
learning, they are bound to pick up good
values from each other. It is good to make the
child feel like a king or queen by relaxing the
rules in the classroom. Do not take tantrums
seriously. They will disappear if the teachers
Sep/Oct 2017
are empathetic at this stage. It does not
matter if the children are racing up the stairs
or running around the room, as long as there
is no risk of getting hurt, go as slowly as it
takes to ensure that the children are happy
and victorious.
Similarly, if a child tells you she is the best,
fastest, smartest, tallest and most adorable
kid in the class or bus or park do not argue
with them. Just listen good naturedly. Do not
shatter their image by pointing out their flaws
or packing do’s or dont’s in their day.
Children take for granted their importance
and deeply fear the loss of this power. The
result is that they may crumble or get
extremely argumentative, if they are not
allowed their way or realise that there may
be another one who may get the better of
them.
Children do not understand competition
or code of conduct in classrooms at such
an early age. From being the centre of
attention at home the little ones are suddenly
surrounded with their peers each one having
his own air of supremacy.
Dr Shayama Chona, is the former Principal of Delhi Public
School, R K Puram, New Delhi; Founder President of Tamana
(NGO for physically & mentally handicapped children); Founder
of Anubhav Shiksha Kendra (a school for the under-privileged);
she has been a member of 96 Advisory Boards and Committees;
she has been nominated to Managing Committees of 46
schools and other educational institutions; she has been named
in the Limca Book of Records 2007. She has been awarded the
State Award for Services in Education 1993, National Award
for Services as a Teacher of Outstanding Merit 1994, National Award for Outstanding
Performance for Welfare of People with Disabilities 1997, Padma Shri 1999, Padma
Bhushan 2008, and 49 other awards. She lives at C10/8, Vasant Vihar, New
Delhi-110057. Email: shayamachona@gmail.com, tamanapresident@gmail.com
As the school year progresses children starts
noticing the world around them; they get
stronger in body and mind and start caring
little about winning or losing. This is the
time when they can be introduced to rules.
They can be informed about the rules of
the real world and that their friends long to
be number one just as much as they do so
everyone needs to get a chance to be first. If
they love their friends they will understand
this. While the children are playing, the
teachers need to be cautious as when the
child’s longing to be number one infringes on
another’s rights, he needs to be gently set
straight about the rules and can be made to
understand that the game may not start if
the he is not yet capable of being a gracious
loser or winner.
The delivery has to be subtle, the teachers
may need to reason out with the children
on multiple occasions but remember they
are butterflies just out of their cocoons
getting ready to fly. Give them wings, do not
discourage or bound them, give them the right
impetus so that they can fly.
At the beginning of the school journey, as
teachers, do not worry that if you indulge the
children they may not learn sportsmanship.
Play with them and love them. By indulging
them now you will give them something
precious that will benefit them all their lives.
Most of us have within us a little voice that
revs up when we are feeling down. When
things get tough, that little voice eggs on
us with the conviction that somehow we
will prevail. That voice is the vestige of the
four year old children. So if you want the
children’s future to be triumphant, do not
silence the voice. Let them ‘crow’ they are
only four.
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