Welcome to Zippy’s Friends
Zippy’s Friends teaches children social and emotional skills. |It’s designed for children age 5-7, and has been run successfully with over a million children around the world, in a variety of countries and cultures. Through its 24 sessions, in which they listen to stories and join in activities, children learn how to find their own solutions to problems. In this way they become better equipped to cope with difficulties in life, and to get on better with others.
Zippy’s Friends is evidence-based. Large, independent evaluation studies have consistently found positive benefits for children taking part. These include:
- Increase in positive coping strategies
- Improved social skills
- Improved class climate
- Reduction in bullying
- Improved academic performance
Zippy’s Friends- Activities
Loneliness
During Zippy’s Friends, we have tried to answer the following questions:
What is loneliness?
Does everyone feel lonely?
What can we do when we feel lonely?
We had a great discussion about friendships, support systems and the importance of treating others with kindness.
Conflict Resolution
Team Cowell have discussed importance of finding good solutions when we experience conflict. We followed the 4 important rules to choosing a positive solution. Great discussion, everyone!
The feeling of anger
Today in Zippy’s Friends we discussed the feeling of anger. We remembered why Tig felt angry in the story and suggested positive solutions to what we can do to feel better, when we are feeling angry.
We suggested:
* talking to a friend or teacher
* meditate or read a book
* watch a movie
We played the feeling card game, where we chose a situation card from the mystery box and thought of the best solutions to that situation, that follow Zippy’s Golden Rule.
Team Cowell, I am so proud of your excellent discussions this afternoon. Well done! ????????????
L.O: To improve children’s abilities to recognise feelings of anger and annoyance and to identify ways to cope with these feelings.
Feeling sad- feeling happy
In Team Cowell, we started a fun session called Zippy’s Friends which involves talking about many different emotions! Through its 24 sessions, in which children listen to stories and join in activities, children learn how to find their own solutions to problems and think of coping strategies, to help them in difficult situations.
First, we decided on some Zippy rules for Team Cowell and began reading the ‘Full of Feelings’ story where we were introduced to some of the main characters.
We also thought about times that make us feel a little sad or happy and discussed this in small groups. Excellent discussion Team Cowell! ????????????
Module 1: To improve children’s abilities to recognise different emotions and to identify strategies to cope with them.
Transition
In Apple’s Friends we focused on moving forward and discussed any worries or concerns relating to moving Teams in September. We completed a transition activity which involved writing worries in a cloud bubble and filling a rainbow with what we are looking forward to.
We placed our worries into a worry jar, talked about how we can deal with them and how by writing them down gives us an outlet to forget our worries, or what strategies we can use to help us feel better. We thought about our coping toolbox that we made a few weeks ago.
Superb discussion Team Cowell! ????????????
L.O To discuss transition and any concerns or worries we may have about different changes that happen in our lives.
L.O To help children to learn to cope with disappointment.
In Team Cowell we have discussed the feeling of disappointment in Apple’s Friends. In small groups we talked about how sometimes things don’t go well and not everything happens the way we would like. We understood why, but sometimes it might make us feel very bad and it can be hard to cope with.
Some children explained a time when they have felt disappointed and what strategies they use to make themselves feel better. Strategies included listening to music, having five minutes quiet time or drawing a picture to help us feel calm. In pairs we shared our drawings to the class.
Well done Team Cowell!
