Building Social and Emotional Competencies in Preschool: Exploring Teacher-Child Relationships in Free Play

• In Event: Roundtable Session 48
  In Roundtable Session: Understanding and Facilitating Children's Play in Early Childhood Classrooms

Abstract

Early childhood advocates agree that positive teacher-child relationships are a critical component of classroom quality. Much of what has been studied about teacher-child relationships has emphasized quantifiable teacher characteristics and child outcomes. Although this is important work, the complexity of teacher-child relationships may not be fully captured in these studies. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the ways in which two preschool teachers created and maintained positive relationships with each other and the children in their classroom as they focused on the development of social and emotional skills in freeplay. Emphasis will be placed on how the teachers care for the children and their ways of being with and for them as they model and teach social-emotional skills.

Authors

• Kendra Hall-Kenyon, Brigham Young University

• Alessandro Rosborough, Brigham Young University

• Robert V. Bullough, Brigham Young University