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Boost a Preschooler’s Sense of Belonging

A sense of belongingness is extremely important for all human beings, whether in the home, a community, or in a physical space. This is what makes us feel safe and accepted, which is critical to developing positive relationships and opening up to new experiences.  

When it comes to children, we must help them belong to their respective classrooms. When you boost a preschooler’s sense of belonging, it reflects not only in his or her academic performance, but also in their overall wellbeing. A sense of belonging also paves the way for building the individual identity of a child. Children develop a sense of identity through what they experience. They understand their own identity by leaning, playing, and trying out new things.    

Our children spend most of their time at home. In this sensitive and sometimes vulnerable time, increased sense of belongingness can help them build their identity and develop psychosocial skills. A child that feels he or she belongs to the school is likely to find it easier to shape their future achievements, interactions, ability to function, and relationships. These children are likely to display more optimism, resilience, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and sociability compared to their peers.   

How Can Teachers Help?   

Teachers can play a significant role in fostering a sense of belonging in their classrooms. In a classroom community that is collaborative and safe, children feel safe to share their thoughts and ideas because they know that even failure will be accepted as a part of the learning process. Recent studies suggest that children with a sense of belonging are more relaxed, happier, and have fewer mental health and behavioural problems. Here are a few things teachers can do to build this sense in their students.  

• One of the most basic things teachers can do is to call students by their preferred names. Greeting children in this manner makes them feel special and helps them settle down.  
• Teachers should make all possible efforts to find out the interests of their students and what they like to do outside the school. If activities and lessons are structured around a student’s specific interests, students are extremely likely to engage.  
• Most of the children love to have a rough idea of what will happen on any given day. With a set routine, it is possible to let them know what the day has in store for them. This may sound inconsequential, but makes a young person feel safe and secure about the day.  
• Along with teachers, parents can also be excellent role models for children. Therefore, it is important for the parents and teachers to be extremely cautious while responding to young kids around them. These adult interactions can help children observe, understand, and learn important social skills. 
• By knowing and understanding children and their characters, adults will find it much easier to interact sensitively with them. This is extremely important because the emotions and needs can vary significantly between children.   

If you want more insights about your preschooler’s developmental requirements, please get in touch with our expert educators at Valley Heights Preschool Long Day Care Centre.