Introduction
Teaching young children the value of perseverance and positive thinking is crucial to their development and success. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity that educators can use to help PreK students understand the importance of staying positive and continuing to try when facing challenges. This activity is based on principles of Social-Emotional Learning and is designed to help students develop resilience, problem-solving skills, and a growth mindset.
No-Prep Activity
To begin this activity, have students sit in a circle and explain that sometimes we all face challenges that make us feel frustrated or want to give up. Share a personal story about a time when you faced a challenge and felt like giving up, but instead chose to stay positive and keep trying. Then, ask each student to think of a time when they faced a challenge and felt frustrated.
Next, introduce the concept of positive self-talk by explaining that telling ourselves positive messages can help us stay motivated and overcome challenges. Provide examples of positive self-talk phrases, such as “I can keep trying,” “I can do it,” and “It will be okay.” Encourage students to repeat these phrases out loud together as a group.
Now, ask each student to share their challenging experience and the positive self-talk they could use to help them persevere. As they share, encourage the other students to listen and provide supportive comments or feedback. After each student has shared, ask the group to practice using their positive self-talk phrases again.
Finally, have a brief discussion about how using positive self-talk can help us stay calm, focused, and open to finding strategies to overcome challenges. Encourage students to use their positive self-talk whenever they face difficulties, both in and out of the classroom.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to stay positive and keep trying when we face challenges?
- How does using positive self-talk help us when we feel frustrated or want to give up?
- What are some examples of positive self-talk phrases you can use when facing a challenge?
- How can we support our friends and classmates when they are facing challenges?
- Can you think of a time when using positive self-talk helped you overcome a challenge? Share your experience.
Related Skills
Teaching students to stay positive and persevere through challenges can also help them develop other important skills, such as:
- Resilience
- Growth mindset
- Problem-solving
- Empathy and understanding
- Self-regulation
Next Steps
If you found this activity valuable and would like to explore more resources to help your students develop social-emotional skills, sign up for free samples of skill-based materials and other resources at Everyday Speech. These materials can help you create a supportive and nurturing learning environment where your students can thrive both academically and emotionally.
