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The Words Shield
TARGET:
3-5 years
INTENSITY:
5–7 min / As needed
LEARNING GOAL
Developing My Ability to Communicate Harmoniously with Others
PEDAGOGICAL INTENTION
Expressing Myself Nonviolently and Respectfully
Target SKILLS
Socio-emotional Intelligence
Co-Intelligence Human-Human
Agency and Autonomy
MATERIALS
Cardboard shield (optional)
DETAILED PROCEDURE
This activity works best one-on-one, or with one child at a time within a small group. Explain calmly to the child: "We always use words to protect ourselves."
Step 1
In moments of tension, encourages child to extend hand in stop gesture and say: "I don't like that, stop."
Step 2
Model the scene by miming the aggressor stopping immediately at those words.
Step 3
Celebrate the power of language: "See? Your words were enough to stop the other's action."
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
PROGRESS INDICATORS
The child uses a verbal "Stop" before reacting physically.
Research Foundations
Denham (1998)
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