Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge & Selection

Storytelling is an essential tool that I and many of our staff use at work. I work at a

daycare center in the infant/toddler wing (4 months – 2 years old). The preschool wing makes  up the other half of the first floor of the building. We have many children raised on the infant  side that funnel into the preschool program once they are of age. Most of the kids that come in  have parents that work from 7am-6pm, so they spend a good majority of their time with us.  This means it is imperative to be patient, understanding, and flexible. Sometimes, we will have  children that may throw temper tantrums, act out, or display some other type of “problematic”  behavior. In the infant wing, it is easier to address such issues because our class size is  significantly smaller (our ratio is 1 staff member per 3 children). However, class sizes are larger  on the preschool side (typically 6-8 children per staff member), so it can be more difficult to  address individual concerns.

I had finished my shift one day and decided to visit the preschool side before I left. I

found two of my coworkers visibly frustrated with one boy in particular and I asked one of them  what was going on. She informed me that the boy had been hitting his classmates, calling  people names, and not listening to any of the female teachers (he would listen to the male  teachers, though). Instead of addressing his individual needs, my coworkers were becoming  irritated with him not listening and would repeat themselves over and over. He was slipping  through the cracks.

I decided to use the Storytelling tool to help deescalate this situation. The Storytelling

tool is essentially conveying a message that has logic. Often, it is used to create a sense of  connection and unity. Storytelling creates a cause; this cause has a larger purpose. For this  particular situation, I used the Storytelling tool in order to gain a sense of comradery with my  coworkers and for emotional connection- to open their hearts up a bit more to other things  that may be going on in that little boy’s life.

Application

I shared with my coworkers the story of a little girl I used to work with who had

displayed similar problematic behavior. One day, I was told to come to the preschool side to  speak with a little girl (will refer to her as “Jane”) that used to be in my class when she was an  infant. Her preschool teachers informed me that she had been acting out, hitting others, and  refusing to participate in class activities. I’ve known Jane since she was four months old and  found this behavior out of character for her. I was also aware of the fact that Jane’s dog had  died about a week prior to this behavior. I had spoken to her father about it a couple days after  it happened (it was sudden and not of natural causes). Jane was very close to her dog- the first  animal sound she ever learned was a bark. Her father showed us pictures of Jane riding around  on her dog’s back and of her crawling next to him on the floor. I had a suspicion that perhaps  Jane’s poor behavior was due to her coping with her dog’s death. Children do not grieve the  same way that adults do- their brains cannot process heavy emotion like that for long periods

of time. That’s why you will find them upset and angry one minute, and then up laughing and  playing the next. They grieve in spurts.       Insight/Approach

After I told my coworkers this story, you could see the anger and irritability slowly

vanish and in its place were empathy and sadness. The Storytelling tool was incredibly effective  for this because it gave my coworkers a deeper understanding of what these children go  through and how they process/deal with things. It reminded them that children are still people  (not just sweet, and loud, little energy balls). Children are far more observant than we give  them credit for, and they feel so strongly. They need us as adults to show them appropriate  responses to various emotional situations. One of my coworkers sat the little boy down and  they talked for a while. Turns out, the little boy was angry at his mother because she was  having another baby. From there, my coworker was able to talk with the boy about his feelings  regarding the situation and what they can do from there to make things work in class. That  individual attention was just what he needed, and it made class easier for everybody.

Next time, I would definitely reuse the Storytelling tool. I find it to be such a necessity

when trying to connect with someone on a deeper level, or to get someone to understand a  concept. It worked well this time and I’m happy to have had it in my mental toolbox.


Reflection – Storytelling Challenge & Selection Storytelling is an essential tool that I and many of our staff use at work . I work at a daycare center in the infant / toddler wing ( 4 months – 2 years old ) . The preschool wing makes up the other half of the first floor of the building . We have many children raised on the infant side that funnel into the preschool program once they are of age . Most of the kids that come in have parents that work from 7am-6pm , so they spend a good majority of their time with us . This means it is imperative to be patient , understanding , and flexible . Sometimes , we will have children that may throw temper tantrums , act out , or display some other type of “ problematic ” behavior . In the infant wing , it is easier to address such issues because our class size is significantly smaller ( our ratio is 1 staff member per 3 children ) . However , class sizes are larger on the preschool side ( typically 6 - 8 children per staff member ) , so it can be more difficult to address individual concerns . I had finished my shift one day and decided to visit the preschool side before I left . I found two of my coworkers visibly frustrated with one boy in particular and I asked one of them what was going on . She informed me that the boy had been hitting his classmates , calling people names , and not listening to any of the female teachers ( he would listen to the male teachers , though ) . Instead of addressing his individual needs , my coworkers were becoming irritated with him not listening and would repeat themselves over and over . He was slipping through the cracks . I decided to use the Storytelling tool to help deescalate this situation . The Storytelling tool is essentially conveying a message that has logic . Often , it is used to create a sense of connection and unity . Storytelling creates a cause ; this cause has a larger purpose . For this particular situation , I used the Storytelling tool in order to gain a sense of comradery with my coworkers and for emotional connection- to open their hearts up a bit more to other things that may be going on in that little boy ’s life . Application I shared with my coworkers the story of a little girl I used to work with who had displayed similar problematic behavior . One day , I was told to come to the preschool side to speak with a little girl ( will refer to her as “ Jane ” ) that used to be in my class when she was an infant . Her preschool teachers informed me that she had been acting out , hitting others , and refusing to participate in class activities . I ’ve known Jane since she was four months old and found this behavior out of character for her . I was also aware of the fact that Jane ’s dog had died about a week prior to this behavior . I had spoken to her father about it a couple days after it happened ( it was sudden and not of natural causes ) . Jane was very close to her dog- the first animal sound she ever learned was a bark . Her father showed us pictures of Jane riding around on her dog ’s back and of her crawling next to him on the floor . I had a suspicion that perhaps Jane ’s poor behavior was due to her coping with her dog ’s death . Children do not grieve the same way that adults do- their brains can not process heavy emotion like that for long periods of time . That ’s why you will find them upset and angry one minute , and then up laughing and playing the next . They grieve in spurts . Insight / Approach After I told my coworkers this story , you could see the anger and irritability slowly vanish and in its place were empathy and sadness . The Storytelling tool was incredibly effective for this because it gave my coworkers a deeper understanding of what these children go through and how they process / deal with things . It reminded them that children are still people ( not just sweet , and loud , little energy balls ) . Children are far more observant than we give them credit for , and they feel so strongly . They need us as adults to show them appropriate responses to various emotional situations . One of my coworkers sat the little boy down and they talked for a while . Turns out , the little boy was angry at his mother because she was having another baby . From there , my coworker was able to talk with the boy about his feelings regarding the situation and what they can do from there to make things work in class . That individual attention was just what he needed , and it made class easier for everybody . Next time , I would definitely reuse the Storytelling tool . I find it to be such a necessity when trying to connect with someone on a deeper level , or to get someone to understand a concept . It worked well this time and I ’m happy to have had it in my mental toolbox .