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The Heart's Door
TARGET:
3-5 years
INTENSITY:
3–5 min / Post-conflict
LEARNING GOAL
Learning to Be Happy in a Group
PEDAGOGICAL INTENTION
Ability to Forgive (Accepting Apologies)
Target SKILLS
Socio-emotional Intelligence
Co-Intelligence Human-Human
MATERIALS
Stuffed animal
DETAILED PROCEDURE
Set up this activity in pairs. Step in when a classmate offers an apology after a conflict.
Step 1
Encourage the reconnection by saying: "They made a gentle gesture to repair things. Do you want to give them your hand now?"
Step 2
Invite the child to make a simple connection gesture - giving their hand or smiling.
Step 3
Validate the positive feeling: "Look - your heart and your friend's heart are happy again."
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
PROGRESS INDICATORS
The child gives their hand or smiles after an apology.
Research Foundations
Enright (2000)
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