A friend mentioned that around 8 years old some pre-puberty hormones start to kick in, and I think some of us are feeling it! In our homeschool co-op, the kids’ behavior has been getting out of hand lately, so we decided that it would be a good idea to focus on developing kindness and character this year.
This article will give you some social emotional learning activities for kids to use in your homeschool co-op or classroom, and some fun ideas for developing kindness.
Rules & Expectations
First, have clear rules and expectations. Kids need and want this. If things are getting out of control, we, as parents and teachers, have to ask ourselves, “Have I given these kids clear expectations?” In our homeschool co-op, we hadn’t been doing this regularly, and that is one reason the kids’ behavior was getting out of hand. So we decided to be more intentional and regularly communicate rules and expectations at the beginning of each homeschool co-op.
Kids will often rise to the occasion if they know what is expected of them. As an adult, I appreciate clear expectations when signing up for something new or joining groups, and kids are the same way.
Fun & Hands-on Discussion Activities to Develop Character and Kindness in Kids: Social Emotional Learning Activities
1) Difficult Situations: What Would You Do?
This activity helps kids explore how they might handle difficult situations. I created a printout of “What would you do?” difficult situations that you can buy here, or you can come up with your own. Cut the sentences out, put them in a jar, and have the kids take turns pulling one out. They can read it, or an adult can help read it for them. Then, they get the opportunity to answer what they would do in that situation. If they can’t think of anything or after they answer, the question goes to the whole group. What would they do in this situation? Then just take turns or go in a circle until you feel like being done.
For example, one of the situations is, “A kid makes a mean face at you, what would you do?” The goal is to imagine difficult situations and think ahead about how to deal with them. These discussions will give the kids the opportunity to share ideas on how to deal with difficult situations that will inevitably come up in life. And it is helpful to have an adult available to moderate and offer ideas if necessary.
2) Look for Kindness Activity
This is a simple activity, no materials are needed. At the beginning of co-op ask the kids to watch for someone else doing something kind during co-op. Then later, at the end of co-op, gather in a circle and ask them, “Who saw someone else do something kind today?” And then “What did they do?” It’s a simple but powerful activity, and the kids feel good about themselves when they are mentioned doing something kind for another person. This reinforces noticing kindness in others, instead of looking for the negative.
3) Situation Jar: How Would You Feel?
This activity is all about identifying feelings. I created a printout of both positive and negative situations. Cut out the situations, and put them in a jar. (Of course, you could make up your own as well.) Have a kiddo pull a situation out of the situation jar. Then ask the kids, “How would you feel?” For example, “Someone calls you a loser” is pulled out of the jar. Then ask, “How would you feel?” Another situation is, “You’re sad and someone gives you a hug, how would you feel?” This gives kids an opportunity to identify and name feelings, and this can help them grow their social-emotional skills.
A lot of the books I’ve read on relationships and health have similar themes. If you haven’t felt and dealt with your feelings, they will find a way to come back to deal with you later (in the form of anger, health problems, etc). Kids and adults alike need to be able to identify and articulate how they feel, in order to process their feelings.
4) Feelings Jar: Coping Strategies
This printout is made with various feelings written out. Cut up and put the feeling words in a jar. Then ask a volunteer to pull one out. Read the feeling out loud together. Then ask, “What can you do?” For example, if the feeling angry is pulled out, ask “What can you do?” See what the kids come up with, but some coping ideas could be: take a walk or run, take some deep breaths, or tell an adult.
Examples of Feelings with Ideas for Coping Strategies
- Sad, Lonely, Depressed: Listen to Music, Talk to a Friend, Ask for a Hug
- Afraid, Scared, Anxious: Take some Deep Breaths, Ask for Help, Think of Something Peaceful and Relaxing
- Happy, Energetic, Excited: Jump on a Trampoline, Help Someone, Work on a Project
- Angry, Frustrated, Overwhelmed: Take a Walk/Run, Count to 10, Take some Deep Breaths, Walk Away, Tell an Adult
If you’d like to purchase these printables to work on social emotional skills with your homeschool co-op, HERE is the link to purchase on Etsy.
5) Situation Jar: Using “I” Statements
This is an activity to do after you’ve done the Situation Jar: How Would You Feel (above) a couple of times, because it then lends itself naturally to putting those feelings into “I” statements. Pull a situation out of the situation jar. Ask the kids how they could respond to the situation using an “I” statement. For example, “Someone calls you a mean name. How do you respond using an ‘I’ statement.” They will need some examples of this before they can do it on their own. I would have the adult go first. And contrast it with a “you” statement. For example, someone pulls out the situation, “Someone calls you a mean name.” An “I” statement response could be, “I don’t like it when you call me mean names. I won’t play with you if you do it again.” And then you could contrast it with a “you” statement, “You’re mean. You’re the worst!”
You statements create defensiveness instead of an atmosphere for growth and change. Grown adults don’t know how to use “I” statements, so this will take time and lots of practice for everyone in your group to learn how to do this.
Situations & Examples of “I” Statements
- Someone lies to you: “I feel like I can’t trust you.”
- Someone starts a rumor about you that isn’t true: “I don’t like being lied about. If it happens again, I might need to make new friends.”
- Someone hugs you when you’re sad: “I felt comforted when you gave me a hug, thank you.”
Using and communicating with “I” statements also promotes the idea that we can speak up and be truthful, and still be kind. Being kind doesn’t mean covering up or ignoring our feelings or the truth. This activity is especially helpful to practice with quiet kids, or kids who may have a difficult time expressing themselves.
You can rotate all of these activities, and do them again and again until the kids really grasp the concepts. These printable cut-outs are ready to print and use in my Etsy shop. HERE is the link to purchase.
Giving Back to the Community
Having the kids involved in giving back to others is probably one the best things we can do to build character and kindness in kids. Make cards for the elderly, pick up trash on a trail, or stock cans at a local food bank; there are lots of ways for kids to give back and this is something our homeschool co-op is going to focus on this year. We hope to make giving back to the community a monthly activity.
Hopefully, your homeschool co-op will grow in kindness and maturity over the years. No grades are given to kids for having a strong and kind character, even though developing character is much more important than academics. What an amazing opportunity we have, as parents and teachers, to develop character and kindness in the next generation.
I hope this article gives you some ideas on how to promote social-emotional skills in your homeschool co-op or classroom!
More Hands-On Ideas for Homeschool Co-ops:
- How To Host a Fun, Hands-On Homeschool Co-op on Germs
- Everything you Need to Host a Fun, Hands-On Homeschool Co-op on Composting Worms
- How to Host a Homeschool Co-op on the Digestive System
- How to Host an Awesome Homeschool Co-op Christmas Party!
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