February's Big Idea: Try New Things
For our preschoolers, every day presents new and sometimes intimidating experiences. During our classes, we provide a positive and safe environment that encourages children to step out of their comfort zones. We believe it is important to provide positive reinforcement and ample opportunities when trying new things. Our coaches provide small steps for our students to build confidence in their skills, while encouraging each milestone. During our classes, trying new things is a regular and necessary part of our curriculum.
How HappyFeet Encourages New Experiences
1. Use Brave Muscles
At the beginning of every class, we encourage our students to “put on their brave muscles” so they are equipped to try hard things. Since it is a part of our daily vocabulary, our students grow accustomed to trying things even when it is scary or hard.
2. A Fun and Supportive Environment
We believe that learning happens when children are engaged in a safe environment. All of our skills are taught with this in mind. We use their developing imaginations to encourage learning and trying new things. By keeping things fun and supportive, our students feel safe enough to try hard things.
3. Learn Through Small Steps
It can be overwhelming to learn new things all at once, so our curriculum focuses on breaking each skill down into bite-size pieces. We want to encourage our students to start small and master skills before moving on to harder things. By learning through small steps, our students can celebrate each step of the process and build confidence in their skills.
4. Focus on Repetition
Our classes focus on repeating each skill as many times as possible to encourage mastery of each new thing. Throughout the month, we will focus on one new skill and provide opportunities to attempt each skill
5. Celebrate Effort
Our coaches offer praise and encouragement for each child’s effort. We provide support when needed, and encourage each child to attempt everything on their own. We want the children to feel accomplished when attempting each move, whether it was successful at first or not.
Why its Important
It is important to develop the ability to try new things in children so they are set up for success later in life. It creates a positive mindset around growth and resilience through failures. By creating these situations in a positive environment, our students will develop confidence in their skills and in themselves. We want each of our students leaving class confident that they can do hard things.
