Young children are just learning how to be aware of their emotions; what it feels like in their bodies and what things cause them to feel that way. Being socially aware of others’ feelings and understanding that others can feel differently then themselves in the same situation, can be quite a challenge. We can help our children with this skill by modeling empathy when someone else is experiencing an uncomfortable feeling.
This week the Puppet Kids find themselves in a variety of scenarios and make the discovery that their friends might not feel the same way as they do about the same situation. They learn four steps to help them when a friend might not feel the same as them.
- Look at them to see if you can notice how they are feeling.
- Listen to them as they explain how they feel.
- Try to understand why they feel that way. Their preferences or past experiences can impact how that person feels.
- Extend kindness.
As your children watch the videos this week, see if they can relate to the scenarios; when a friend feels differently about an activity, an event, or a change in the schedule. They can use the poster to help them develop their own recognition of others’ feelings and how to build empathy.
This week of lessons includes four scenario videos that you can watch with your students Monday through Thursday with follow-up questions for class discussions. The bonus video for Friday is Grannie’s Games. Students can join Grannie in this fun partner game, which helps kids understand that others may feel differently about the same situation.
This week also includes a Simple Summary video in Spanish for students who are developing simple language skills, while focusing on the target social-emotional skill of the week.
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