Meeting Developmental Goals:

Supporting Childrens Personality Development

Victoria Ramirez
Fresno Pacific University
Development Goal:
Children will weigh evidence and make
appropriate choices.
Create an environment that encourages choice and decision making by:

Having toys, materials and books available at childrens level; encouraging their
personal decision on what activity they would like to participate in

Implementing child-directed activities and lessons daily

Supporting but not directing childrens activity choices

Providing children with an adequate amount of time for unstructured play (free
play)

Providing enough choices, but not too many, reducing the risk of overwhelming
Make sure the choices you offer are:
Appropriate: practical, safe and within the childrens ability
Attractive: things the children enjoy and prefer
Available: the choices are accessible to the children

For young children, making a good decision comes down to having
choices first. Making options clear and obvious to them just makes
the decision making process much easier for them. When offering
choices, make sure you are clear, concise and concrete.

Clear Use simple words and phrases in the form of a command, not
a question.

Concise Keep it brief! Being concise is important if you want to
maintain the childrens attention.

Concrete Dont be vague. Offer choices that are real and specific.
Developmental Goal:
Children will set tasks for themselves
and will complete tasks they begin.
Allow children to decide what activity they would like to
participate in; encouraging them to set tasks for themselves
instead of providing them with one.

Activity idea:
What will you do today?
Before free play have each child decide on at least one activity/task
they will participate in during the unstructured block of time.

Developmental Goal:
Children will develop positive and
realistic self-concepts.
The development of a positive self
concept at an early age empowers children to
feel competent, try new things, and strive for
success.

Ways to help children develop positive self-concepts:

Provide children with many opportunities for success.
Give them age-appropriate tasks that they can complete
on their own. Having done so, will give them a sense of
pride and help build a "can do" mentality and positive
self-concept

Avoid unrealistic expectations and goals!

Identify each child's strengths and encourage them to
select activities that will build on them

Praise children's successes no matter how small or big





Activities that help young children
develop a positive self-concept:
Have children look at themselves in a
full-length mirror. Discuss their total
appearance and how they are alike or
different from the other children.
Help them see that no one is exactly alike.

Encourage the children to bring a
favorite item from home and discuss
why it is their favorite object.

Record each child's voice during an
activity period. Children listen to the
voices and guess which voice goes with
each child
Developmental Goal:
Children will develop feelings of
self-worth and self-esteem.

Activities that promote positive self-worth and self-
esteem:



"Special Me" Song
Tune: London Bridge
No one else has a smile like mine,
Smile like mine, smile like mine
No one else has a smile like mine
I am very special!


Activities that promote positive
self-worth and self-esteem:
Developmental Goal:
Children will begin to recognize their
own value and to choose from among
value.
Developmental Goal:
Children will understand their emotions
and express them in socially acceptable
ways.
Activities that promote healthy
emotional development:
References
Giorgis, C., & Glazer, J. (2013). Literature for young children. (7th ed.). Upper
Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.
Grossman, S. (2008, January 1). Earlychildhood NEWS - Article Reading Center.
Earlychildhood NEWS - Article Reading Center. Retrieved April 18, 2014, from
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=607
Preschool lesson plans. (2014, January 1). Circle of Ideas. Retrieved April 18, 2014, from
http://www.circleofideas.net/apps/blog/show/8989253-feelings-preschool-lesson-plan
Vandeberge, N. (2012, January 1). First Grade Wow: It's Hard to Fix a Wrinkled Heart. First Grade Wow: It's
Hard to Fix a Wrinkled Heart. Retrieved April 18, 2014, from
http://firstgradewow.blogspot.com/2012/09/its-hard-to-fix-wrinkled-heart.html