Amazing ME – Track Four

The content of Track Four covers:

1. Reinforcing STOP, THINK and ACT strategy
Suzy finds Ted feeling very disappointed. He is angry and he bites her. Suzy reinforces the need for Ted and the viewer to Stop, think and act.

2. Recognising that all people have feelings and there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to show them
Suzy shows her feelings verbally and by crying about her Grandad dying. The story is about death and helps children understand that it's a natural consequence of life. There are also certain rituals, which are attached to death, which are shown in the story.

Suzy gives a fun strategy to try when she invites viewers to help her say "Hey Ted, I feel angry because you bit me."

3. Learning to say no in an appropriate way
Suzy invites the viewer to join in the "no, please stop" game" which involves having fun tickling Ted while remembering to call out "no, please stop."

Possible learning experiences to support Amazing ME - Track Four

• Songs, stories and books about feelings, for example, the song If you're happy and you know it, and the book Where the Wild Things Are, written by Maurice Sendac.
• Use puppets to discuss feelings and behaviour.
• Find pictures and posters that show a range of feelings.
• Have a teddy bears picnic.
• Model problem solving, conflict resolution and talking about feelings.
• Encourage children to help each other solve problems that deal with difficult feelings like sadness and grief.
• Keep pets at the early childhood setting healthy and encourage the children to care for them.
• If a pet dies at the early childhood centre discuss the death and have a burial.
• Reassure children that even when their behaviour in unacceptable, they are still cared about.

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