Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies

The boys and girls in the Rainbow Room have started a new programme aimed at helping them learn how to be good friends and cope with lots of different feelings. The programme is called P.A.TH.S.  (yup the capital TH in the title was deliberate!)

During the sessions children will be introduced to key characters through which they can safely explore situations and reactions with stories and role play puppets.

The main character Twiggle is a turtle although sometimes we get mixed up and all him a tortoise because that is more familiar to us and makes more sense that he walks about on land.

Regardless of whether he is a turtle or a tortoise he has a shell and that is key to the programme as he can retreat from difficult situations into his shell. This symbolises taking a pause to think before acting out. It is a mindfulness technique that engages the prefrontal cortex of the brain, the bit that talks us down. You can find out more about the prefrontal cortex and the brain and emotions if you are interested.

Helping children to identify and name different emotions makes it much easier for them to talk about them. When you are upset, the emotional part of the brain is in control. Talking uses a different part of the brain altogether so talking about feelings calms you down! Just thinking about the name of the emotion will ease the strength of emotion! So for us to be able to deal with difficult emotions, we need to be able to name them. That’s what our PATHS programme does.

We will also be introducing the concept of compliments and exploring the power of acceptance and responsibility. We will do this through our PATHS Kid of the Day. Every child will have the opportunity to be the Paths Kid, and receive compliments from every member of staff that day.  They will be the special helper for the day and get to wear a cape and put on the tidy up music. We will have a sign up on the door to share who is that day’s special child. Please join in with the strategy by paying them a compliment if you see them and watch their self esteem blossom!

So watch out for your child talking about Twiggle or the Paths Kid, and even getting to wear the Paths Kid Cape!