Another Gift from Becky Bailey,
Creator of Conscious Discipline
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Fireflies at Baby Doll Circle Time |
Miss Melissa sits on the ground and begins singing “Get your
baby, get your baby, get your baby, time to play” to the tune of “Oh My Darling
Clementine”. A group of toddlers
immediately gravitate towards her and one by one pick a baby out of the
basinet. They clearly already know the
routine well as they form a near-perfect circle and sit down with their
babies. Next she leads them in a chorus
of “My baby’s in my lap” which leads the children through holding the baby, sitting
the baby down and laying the baby down.
The children are clearly deeply engaged with their babies and each
activity -- as moving and heart-warming a group love-in as I’ve ever witnessed. Welcome to Baby Doll Circle Time.
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Butterflies take their Circle Time Outside |
Baby Doll Circle Time is the invention of Becky Bailey, the
brain behind Conscious Discipline. The
Little School chose Conscious Discipline as our approach to classroom
management because it provides a comprehensive social and emotional curriculum
to help children learn how to deal with their own feelings and get along with
others. Dr. Bailey developed Baby Doll
Circle Time as a way to offer young children ways to experience themselves as
nurturers and connect to their baby dolls in a manner similar to how they
relate to parents and other important caregivers. The goal of Baby Doll Circle Time is to
enhance the quality of the relationship between caregivers and children by
strengthening attachment, attunement and social play.
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Playing Peekaboo with their Babies |
Miss Melissa and the toddlers work their way through the
prompted activities -- they rock their babies, play peek-a boo, and do several
I Love You Rituals. Another invention of
Becky Bailey, I Love You Rituals are delightful interactions and games (usually
rhymes with gentle touches or tickles) that can be played with children from
infancy through to eight years of age that send a message of unconditional
acceptance and love. As the toddlers coo
and tickle their baby dolls, they are intently focused on their own babies with
a reverence and focus that is usually reserved for those special moments with
their nearest and dearest. While this is
the theory and intention behind Baby Doll Circle Time, it has truly amazed us
here at TLS to see it in action.
One Little School mother began doing I Love You Rituals with
her son. She emailed the school to share
her experience:
I started doing I Love You Rituals with my son, then age
two, at the recommendation of our teachers as a way address some anxiety he was
experiencing at nap time. At first I was
skeptical because we were already doing lots of nursery rhymes and snuggle
time, and I wasn't sure how a "ritual" was any different. However,
because I was desperate to try something to help him, we chose a couple rituals
from the book and started practicing them, whenever I thought about it-- before
bed time, putting on shoes, waiting in line at the grocery store, etc. Very quickly we both began to recognize the
rituals as special time. When he heard
the beginning of the rhyme, he'd beam and listen intently, then beg
"again, again!" Soon his
teachers were able to use the rituals at nap time to help him feel secure. I have found them to be a great "reset
button" to get my son's attention and reconnect when I need for him to
cooperate or calm down. It's amazing how
just a few moments of being silly together can change both of our moods. The ritual is familiar, comforting, and
reminds us of the history we've created of giggles and hugs.
When
this boy was participating in Baby Doll Circle Time and the I Love You Ritual
he and his mom do together was guided, he just lit up. He was so thrilled to know exactly what to do
and showed his baby the same love and attention that had been shown to him so
many times.
Another wonderful benefit we've experienced with the introduction of Baby Doll Circle Time is that the children begin to treat
each other with the same warmth and caring they have learned with their dolls. They now realize they are capable of comforting another and without prompting extend their affection to one another. It becomes a common fixture in these rooms
for children to cover their friends at naptime, pat their backs, and initiate a
favorite “I Love You Ritual” with a special friend.
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Friends do "Round and Round the Garden" - a favorite I Love You Ritual |
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