A Focus on Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health

November 2023

Circle Time and Morning Meetings 

This newsletter focuses on sharing information on infant/early childhood mental health and

the importance of relationship-based approaches and supports that help infants and young children feel safe, supported, and valued by the adults around them. The newsletter, and the Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) program, is made possible by a partnership between the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the Pennsylvania Key.

Welcome

The November issue of the IECMH Consultation newsletter dives deeper into the classroom routine of circle time, morning meeting, large group time--whatever you may call this time in your classroom. This time of day is important for a variety of reasons, the main one being relationship building.

We know all learning is done within the contexts of relationships, so this is a key part of the day. From the Sesame Street Workshop, “Circle time is a place and time in which children learn to listen, empathize, understand others’ perspectives, take turns, and share of themselves—all key to thriving in school and in life. When you gather children in a circle, you’re creating a space in which everyone can be seen and heard, and everyone is on an equal level.”  

Please keep in mind how much time we can appropriately expect children to sit and focus for a circle time. The consultation program would like to encourage teachers and program administrators to keep circle times to no more than ten minutes. Any longer and children may start to lose interest and find other ways to keep themselves entertained. 

Check out the Using Circle Time to Promote Social-Emotional Skills infographic for tips on fostering social-emotional learning during circle time, and preventing problem behavior.

Happy Circle Time!  

DEIB

As teachers, you can make meaningful connections with children and create safe spaces for important conversations.

Circle time provides that opportunity for children to learn about different cultures and customs. Through family visits to the classroom, stories and songs, children can gain an understanding of different cultures and the languages that are spoken in those cultures. This helps children to become more culturally aware and better understand the world around them. 

This list of 100 children’s books is only a start. There are thousands of resources available for teaching empathetic and inclusive classroom for all learners. Having open conversations and sharing stories will allow children to have more meaningful connections with their peers and their world.

Circle Time and Morning Meetings in the ECE Classroom 

Large group time is a scheduled (or unscheduled) time when the teachers and the children come together as a community of learners. To share thoughts and ideas, listen and converse with each other, participate in new learning experiences, introduce new concepts, read together, sing together and collaborate with one another.

Using Circle Time to Support Social and Emotional Learning. Circle time is an important part of the daily routines in an early childhood classroom, and it's one of the best places to work on social and emotional learning. Perhaps more than any other part of your day, your circle is the place for building community and collectively expressing thoughts and feelings. Tips on what you need to consider as you work on using circle time to support social and emotional learning.

Circle Time at Head Start 2:06. Watch as an early childhood teacher leads songs and reads books to children.

Circle Time Ideas for Kids Who Can’t Sit Still. These circle time ideas are the perfect way to provide support for wiggly, fidgety kids who can’t sit still.

Calendar Time for Young Children: Good Intentions Gone Awry. As teachers reflect on their practice, they may experience an inner conflict in terms of what they believe about children’s development and how and what they teach. Understanding how children learn should enable teachers to focus on calendar-related constructs such as patterning, sorting, and seriating during more natural and appropriate routines. In fact, many teachers will likely realize they already address these fundamental concepts during other parts of the classroom day.

Classroom Resources

These easy-to-use resources and tools were created for teachers and caregivers to target and support the Circle Time routine in the early learning environment.

Beginning the Day: Songs and Chants. The beginning of the day is typically when Morning Meetings and Circle Time occur. It’s the perfect time to welcome students to your classroom and remind them of the friendly environment they come to each day. Some of these songs focus on learning students’ names and others are just great for greeting one another. Starting the day with a cheerful song is a great way to set the tone for the day.

My Classroom Circle. So much learning happens in a circle! Children can bring their printed circles to circle time, talk about their favorite things, share their unique creations, and build appreciation for their similarities and differences.   

Cookie Monster at Circle Time. Circle time is such a special part of the classroom experience! It’s a time when everyone is on an equal level and has the space to be seen and heard. This story is about circle time, classroom community, caring friends, and... COOKIES!

Circle Time Mini schedule. Teach and use a mini schedule to show the order of circle activities.

What We Do in Circle. A social story that has words and pictures to describe the Circle Time routine and expectations.

School-Age Zone

Morning meetings in a child’s learning environment supports the development of social-emotional skills, creates a culture of respect and trust and prepares students for learning. The following content can be adapted for before and after school community meetings.

Morning Meetings: Building Community in the Classroom 4:53. Starting the day with this 15-minute activity helps students regulate their emotions and focus on the day’s learning.        

A Class Meeting with Kids that Builds Important Social and Emotional Skills. This informative post outlines how-to run an effective class meeting with kids and includes the schedule, topics, lessons ideas, and books.

A Comprehensive Guide to Class Meetings and How They Build Classroom Community. Class meetings help students feel more connected to their learning environment, teachers and each other. Teachers also feel a greater sense of connection to the children and their learning community. 

Family Focus

How to Use Family Meetings to Build a Closer Family. Family Meetings create connection. These meetings may emphasize both individual and family needs, goals and accomplishments. They give you a way to work things out when everyone's calm. They help your kids learn to solve problems. And because everyone's voice is heard and valued, family meetings give children a voice, ensuring that they know they are valued and that their ideas are considered which can be good for their self-esteem.

Office Hours

IECMH Consultation helps adults strengthen their relationships with young children and build capacity to respond to children’s social-emotional needs. IECMHC can help reduce caregiver stress, as well as increase caregivers’ reflective practice skills.

IECMH Consultants are available by appointment to provide IECMHC Virtual Office Hours consultation via telephone or video conference. IECMHC Virtual Office Hours is a short-term, collaborative, problem-solving conversation to help you find next steps for: Child Social-Emotional Concerns | Child Behavioral or Developmental Concerns Emotional Well-being of Teachers and Caregivers | Partnering with Families.

Appointments are held on the first and third Fridays of the month, or other days/times by request. Get more info.

Accessing IECMHC Services

The Pennsylvania Key has streamlined the process for Keystone STARS programs to request Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC). Child care providers can request services by using the Request for Service Form (PDF). Completed forms can be submitted via email PAIECMH@pakeys.org or faxed to 717-213-3749.

Programs and families can contact the program leadership directly at PAIECMH@pakeys.org with questions or concerns.

Accessing SACCMHC Services

With the generous support of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) the Pennsylvania Key IECMH Consultation team has expanded to include four mental Health consultants to support School Age Child Care (SACC) programs participating in Keystone STARS.  This service will be primarily tele-consultation support. Click here to request support.  

Share your feedback! We'd like to hear what you think about infant early childhood mental health.

Are there resources you'd like to see? Questions you have? Tell us! Send your feedback to PAIECMH@pakeys.org.