Confident Kids
Confident Kids is a 4 session intervention by First Steps developed
with Carmountside primary school, for nursery children aged 3 – 4
years.
The overall aim is to help children feel more confident in transitions between nursery and reception and also become more aware of how to cope with their own anxieties and feelings as they grow up.
Session one aims to promote children’s self-esteem and acceptance of themselves as individuals. Session two introduces the children to the notion of feelings and helps them learn to identify different feelings in themselves and in others. During session three the children can experience different relaxation techniques including a relaxation CD that they can use when they are feeling worried or nervous. Session four is about our Superheroes and encourages the children to think about what strengths they can use to help them be brave and fight fear and worry.
Various activities are used including circle time, puppets and role play as well as stories, songs and hands on activities.
Parents are invited to a pre and post meeting to find out about the programme and have the opportunity to discuss the sessions with their children through home/school worksheets.
We are currently running an evaluation of the programme, below is some feedback from class teachers :-
“Children are becoming a lot more competent at talking about their experiences and feelings. All children have enjoyed the sessions and have been involved in the learning”
Story - The friends go to the duck pond farm (PDF)
Activity - Help Tommy, Aleena and Karl find their way to the duck pond and then back to school (PDF)
Outcomes
A recent evaluation of Confident Kids groups has been carried out, here are some of the findings:-
The main aim of the study was to evaluate the confident kids intervention which encourages assertive & confident behaviours, explores emotion and boost self esteem through modelling and play.
Children were able to correctly identify and name more emotions following the Confident Kids intervention.
These findings would indicate that following the intervention children have further developed the skills and language necessary for recognizing emotion in others.
The findings from teacher ratings indicates less ‘rough’ behaviour and more considerate behaviour which may be associated with more assertive less aggressive behaviour indicative of increased confidence and self esteem.
First
Steps is part of the Psychological Services for Children, Young People
and families within North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare