January's Value - Courtesy (礼) - Thoughtful In Every Action

January Value of the Month:
Courtesy (礼)

Courtesy (礼) is the act of showing politeness, consideration, and respect towards others. It embodies kindness, empathy, and thoughtfulness in our interactions, reflecting a deep respect for others' feelings and well-being. At the heart of Courtesy lies the understanding that our words, actions, and gestures have the power to uplift and support those around us. It's about fostering an environment of kindness and understanding, where every interaction reflects empathy and consideration - a values system we all share

The Foundation of Courtesy (礼)

The value of Courtesy has roots in various cultures and historical contexts, stemming from ancient teachings and societal norms. Its origin can be traced back to early civilizations where codes of conduct and manners were established to maintain harmony within communities.

In ancient Greece, philosophers like Aristotle emphasized the importance of 'philotimo,' a concept encompassing honor, respect, and kindness towards others. This notion laid the groundwork for courteous behavior within society.

Similarly, Confucian teachings in ancient China emphasized 'li,' encompassing rituals, propriety, and respect for others. Courtesy was seen as a fundamental aspect of social harmony and proper conduct.

During the Middle Ages in Europe, chivalry emerged as a code of conduct among knights, emphasizing courteous behaviour, bravery, and respect towards others, particularly women and those in need.

Across cultures and time periods, the foundation of Courtesy lies in the belief that respectful and considerate behavior fosters harmonious relationships and creates a more compassionate and cooperative society. It's rooted in the understanding that mutual respect and kindness form the fabric of positive interactions and social cohesion.

How we can teach it:

1. Storytelling:

• Choose Stories: Reading a story about a character who helps their friend when they fall down and discussing why helping is courteous and kind.
• Relate Stories: Use stories about the value Courtesy to showcase polite interactions to others and their positive impact.

2. Role-Playing:

• Pretend Play: Role-playing a situation where a child says 'thank you' after receiving a drawing from another child.
• Example Situations: Role-playing a scenario where one child asks another, "May I please borrow a crayon?" and the other responds, "Of course, here you go!"

3. Manners and Etiquette:

• Build A Habit: Encouraging children to say 'please' when asking for toys or activities during playtime.
• Practice Anytime: Practicing saying 'excuse me' before interrupting a conversation or when moving around the classroom.

4. Lead by Example:

• Show As Example: Children learn by observation, so demonstrating Courtesy in your own actions by saying "Thank you for waiting patiently! Now, I'll wait for my turn to play on the slide. Let's take turns to be fair and kind."
• Display Kindness: Highlight the importance of kindness in daily activities such as showing kindness by sharing toys with each other. Practice saying "I'll share my blocks with you, and you can share your stuffed animals with me!"
  
  

Engage with Activities

1. Collaborative Projects:

• Kindness Garden: Build a 'kindness garden' by planting flowers or plants together. Each plant can represent a different act of courtesy, and children can discuss how they can nurture these acts to grow and spread kindness.
• Collaborative Puzzle: Provide a large puzzle and encourage children to work together to solve it. Emphasize the importance of teamwork, patience, and communication to complete the puzzle, highlighting how these qualities relate to courtesy.
• Community Mural: Encourage children to create a mural together, depicting acts of kindness and courtesy. Each child can contribute by drawing or painting a part of the mural, showcasing courteous behaviors like sharing, helping, and saying 'thank you.'

2. Building Relationships:

• Friendship Bracelets: Encourage children to create friendship bracelets for each other. They can design and exchange bracelets as a symbol of their friendship and commitment to being courteous and kind.
• Gratitude Journals: Provide journals or notebooks where children can write or draw things they are thankful for. Encourage them to share their journals with each other, fostering gratitude and appreciation for one another.

3. Expressive Arts:

• Courteous Puppet Show: Assist children in making puppets and creating a puppet show where the puppets demonstrate courteous behavior. Children can script dialogues focusing on kindness and respect..
• Thank You Cards: Provide art materials for children to create personalized 'thank you' cards for their friends or caregivers. Encourage them to write or draw messages expressing gratitude and appreciation.

Stories about Courtesy (礼)

Here are some of our favorite stories about Courtesy (礼):

:

Where is the Baby? - This book is ideal for reading aloud in Chinese to your child. Beginning readers will enjoy reading the simple Chinese sentences on each page. Adorable babies are beautifully illustrated in this delightful Chinese picture book. Children learn to read on their own in a variety of ways. While reading about the where the eyes, ears, nose etc are, children and newbie Chinese readers can practice learning their Chinese. Bright and cheerful pictures of babies will keep the young reader's interest while they try reading Chinese on their own.

Being Nice to Others – A Book about Rudeness - The preschool and kindergarten years are some of the most important formative years of a person's life. Habits and attitudes developed during these crucial years affect a child for the rest of his or her life. These years are also a challenging time for parents as their children test boundaries (and patience). How parents and children respond makes all the difference in the world.

Kindness Makes Me Stronger - Spending a time on grandparents' farm little Nick meets new friends – funny animals that don't behave nicely. Having faced a great challenge our little hero manages to teach his new friends the power of kindness, caring and compassion.

Well-Mannered Alexander - In this story of Alexander’s dinner party, children learn about manners. Manners can be holding the door open for someone else or saying, “Thank you,” when receiving presents or compliments. Kids can use this book to see how many polite behaviors they can form from Alexander’s cat, Red. Red helps Alexander write an invitation. He also gives him advice on how to be a good host.

Conclusion

Courtesy (礼) is a fundamental value that shapes our interactions and relationships. By instilling the value of Courtesy in our nursery children, we equip them with the tools to navigate the world with kindness, empathy, and respect. Let's cultivate a culture of Courtesy, nurturing young hearts to become considerate and compassionate individuals who contribute positively to their communities.