If you are a parent or teacher chances are that you have felt like this at some point in your life!
There are so many things demanding your time, attention, and energy. If you don’t get some relief quickly you might just short circuit, explode, or errupt into flames!
This might be especially true if you have infants and toddlers or children with special needs in your care!
Let’s watch as Dr. Becky Bailey describes this problem and the solution she has created through Baby Doll Circle Time.
Although this program is designed for the Toddler and Twos population, the concepts and practical application are appropriate to infants, children with special needs, and children up to about four years of age.
In the back of the book there is an instructional DVD with many helpful tools. Dr. Bailey spends some time instructing viewers on the importance and basics of the attachment relationship, attunement, and social play. There are also many sample lessons and examples of how this might look in instructional settings.
The resource guide is packed full of tons and tons of helpful information and suggestions to help you set yourself up for success! There is a supply list, implementation plan, ideas for modifications and adaptations for children with special needs, tips to ensure success and further information about the structure of the program, attachment, attunement, and social play.
I have been using Baby Doll Circle Time with my three-year- old class this year. It is so easy and fun to use and the children are just delighted when they see that it is time to get the babies out!
This is a memorable moment from the very first time we got the babies out with this little guy. He has special needs and, at that time, very limited imitation, joint attention, and social play skills.
Before beginning this play session, I was very conscious of the critical importance of attuning to his lead. My goal was to find a connection that would be familiar to him. The curriculum was my guide, but he was my “dance” partner. It is so important that we adjust our instruction to the specific needs of each child in our care. When we do, a beautiful “dance of attunement” is the result.
Wouldn’t you know, after learning to “kiss the baby” at school he went to the babysitter’s house and started kissing the baby dolls there. It didn’t stop there! Before you know it he was giving kisses to mom and dad and other familiar adults and demonstrating other imitative skills! Just from one “lesson”!
For more information about Baby Doll Circle Time head on over to the Conscious Discipline website at: http://www.consciousdiscipline.com. It is definately worth taking a peek!