Yesterday, we were fortunate to be graced with an amazing webinar by Dr. Becky Bailey, the renowned, down to earth, “get it done” founder of Loving Guidance, and author of the groundbreaking social-emotional program, Conscious Discipline. Dr. Bailey spent an hour and a half with over 1,000 of our closest friends, explaining the principles in her new book, Creating the School Family: Bully-proofing Schools Through Emotional Intelligence .

Dr. Bailey made the profound (yet seemingly so simple observation), that there are no bullies in preschool, just children who may become or not become bullies based on the practices early childhood professionals implement in their classrooms and programs. The session, now available as a streaming video, provided very explicit guidance about how teachers and administrators can help young children develop the skills they need to stand up for and calm themselves, and walk through problem-solving to gain control over their actions. The action steps and observations she outlined are powerful, so the video is a “must-see” and the book is a “must buy”!

The session left me thinking:  I wish we had the opportunity to turn the tables on the administrators in the audience to challenge them to look at their practices to evaluate how they support the school family, or not. In fact, I was left wondering if some of the policies, procedures, hiring practices, and internal dynamics in some programs might actually create breeding grounds for bullying and anti-social behavior.

I’m taking this opportunity to challenge you: If you didn’t attend the webinar, watch the recording. Or buy the book and read it! Sit down and think about a few of the key questions below, and  come back and comment here. Tell me and the readers of this blog:

-How do you support a school family in your program?

-How do your policies impact bullying and/or school families?

-How do you weed out staff  members who may contribute to negative climate in your program?

-How does your board of back office support positive approaches like those outlined in Creating the School Family: Bully-proofing Schools Through Emotional Intelligence?

-What are you going to do as a result of the information Dr. Bailey provided? Do you have any action steps?

I can’t wait to hear the great responses and the plans you all have to enhance emotional intelligence in your programs.  Tell it like it is!