Amazing ME – Track Three

The content of Track Three covers:

1. Learning through discussion about different families and living environments
Suzy enjoys singing about and discussing different family make-ups
This helps to reinforce that all families are different. Suzy looks at having fun within a
family and talks about families having arguments and fights.

2. Helping children talk about how they feel
Suzy talks about sharing feelings and that it's great to tell people if you're scared, happy or sad.

Developing children's self confidence and awareness of themselves as individuals Suzy tells a story of courage with "Amazing Sam" who tells a scary secret and solves a problem all by himself. This story deals with sexual abuse by a "trusted" family friend. The issue is resolved and the child empowered. This is a good springboard for helping children understand their rights as well as supporting their confidence and equipping them with strategies to stand up for themselves.

Possible learning experiences to support Amazing ME - Track Three

• Find puzzles, books, matching games and stories that explore relationships.
• Ask parents for information about the child's family and discuss this with the child or set up a big display of information about all the children. The display could include photos, pictures, stories or special items from home.
• Display children's whanau / family photos.
• Have special days where you invite whanau / families to visit the centre.
• Have discussions with children about touching they like and don't like.
• Talk to children about what they can do if someone touches them in a way they don't like.
• Have discussions about what "being good" means. Sometimes children think being good means they have to do what every adult tells them to do. Discuss times when being good means not doing as they are told.
• Giving specific praise to children, for example, "You took turns with that toy beautifully, thankyou".

You will be able to think of more ideas for learning experiences based on the children's strengths and interests.