The Georgia Early Learning Standards Activity Guides may - gapitc

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Friendship Fort
Set up a cozy area in your classroom that is large enough for two children.
For example, make a “fort” by covering a table with a bed sheet or turn a large
box on its side and put some comfortable pillows inside. (Be sure nothing is on
top of the table after you cover it.)
Allow two children to go inside at a time. They might want to take a book, a
small toy or stuffed animal with them.
Some twos will enjoy the privacy and go in to play by themselves next to
another child. Others will go in and begin to play with a friend.
Read books to the children about feelings and how to express them such as
Hands are not for Hitting and Words are not for Hurting by Martine Agassi, Ph.D.,
How are you Peeling? by Joost Elffers, and The Way I Feel by Janan Cain. Feel free
to skip some pages or just show the pictures and talk about them.
Make positive comments to the children when they are playing and working
well together and when one child comforts another.
Do activities with two year olds in small groups, rather than large groups,
whenever possible.
When you see a child who is upset, ask another child to come over and
comfort that child with you.
Put cars, trucks, and toy people in your block area to encourage children to
play together.
Teach children to “use words” to describe their feelings when they are happy,
sad, angry, or scared. Help them learn the words that match the feelings.
When children display inappropriate behaviors, try to figure out what the
behavior is telling you. Is the child scared, angry, lonely, over-stimulated? Help
the children learn what to do when they have these feelings.
Greet each child by name when they arrive, and encourage the other children
to so the same.
Invite children with leg braces, glasses, wheelchairs, and other special equipment
to talk about how these items are helpful to them. Help all the children
see how “cool” the adaptive equipment is.
Remember that you are a role model for children learning to play together
and resolve conflicts. They will imitate your actions, tone of voice, and the
words you say to other children and adults.
Maintain a calm atmosphere in your classroom. Strong emotions can be
frightening to children.