Helpful Actions All Around
Here's What To Do
1
With your child, go on a “hunt” for helpful actions in your community or home.
2
Wherever you are, highlight how people help each other. Encourage your child to do the same. For example, point out how a taller person helps a shorter person reach something on a high store shelf.
3
Each family member can also share kind and helpful actions they noticed during their day as you eat or play together.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- To help your child focus first, you and your child can share one thing you see and one thing you hear.
E
Engage:
- “While we’re out, let’s keep our eyes out and notice how people are kind and helpful to each other!”
- “What are some ways people can be helpful or kind to each other?”
E
Encourage:
- Show your child a helpful action you notice. Ask guiding questions to help them understand why it is helpful.
- “What do you think would happen if that person didn’t help them to reach the can on the high shelf? Would they be able to reach it?”
R
Reflect:
- “What is one way you like to be kind or helpful to others?”
Not quite ready?
To identify others’ helpful actions, and how they control their actions and words.
Ready for more?
If you also notice unhelpful or unkind actions, talk together about what that person could have done instead. Or, think of things you might say or do to help the person they were being unkind towards.
As your child masters this skill...
Acknowledge ways others manage their behavior.