Activities for Growth. At Home or In the Classroom!

These carefully designed activities help children build confidence, regulate emotions, develop empathy, and reflect on their choices, all essential skills for becoming their best selves. Rooted in the practical strategies I use daily in my Year 2 classroom and adapted for my young son at home, these tools are proven to work in real-life settings. Research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child shows that mastering self-regulation in childhood is one of the strongest predictors of lifelong success, fostering wellbeing and positive relationships. Use these resources to empower children whether at school or at home, creating a foundation for growth that lasts a lifetime.

FINDING YOUR SUPER STRENGTHS! 

1.  Warm-Up Question — “What Makes You, YOU?”

Ask students to think or pair-share:
     “What is something you are proud of doing?”

Write a few examples on the board:

  • Helping others

  • Making friends

  • Solving problems

  • Running fast

  • Trying again when things are hard

2. Strength Sort — Let’s Make a List!

On your poster, list these three strength types:

Brain Strengths — What you’re good at thinking
Heart Strengths — How you care for others
Action Strengths — What you do well

Ask students to write one strength in each category.

You can include examples on the poster:

  • Brain: remembering facts, being creative

  • Heart: including others, calming friends

  • Action: sport, building, performing

3. The “Strength Spotlight”

Students draw a picture of themselves with a spotlight above.
Inside the spotlight write:

My Strength That Helps Others Is…
Examples:
– I include people so everyone can feel loved
– I stay calm under pressure to help guide my team through challenges 
– I try hard
– I make others laugh
– I keep practising so I can get faster 
– I don’t give up because I believe in myself 

Optional: Pair-share — How does your strength help your family, team, or class?

4. Power-Up Practice Plan 

Every strength gets stronger with practice!
Students complete sentence starters:

  • I can use my strength at school by…

  • I can use my strength at home by…

  • When things are hard, my strength will help me by…

 

Every strength you have makes a difference.
YOU ARE THE ONLY YOU — AND THAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER! 

This lesson reflects the research from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child. Where it shows that building self-awareness and recognising strengths supports confidence, resilience, and positive lifelong mental wellbeing.

Empathy Circle + Move & Reset

A calm-to-energy activity for ages 7+

Classroom or Home (e.g., around the dinner table)

Duration: 15-20 minutes

1. Create a Calm Space

  • Dim the lights

  • Sit in a circle

  • Soft music or quiet

  • One person speaks at a time

Circle promise:
We listen. We don’t judge. We don’t interrupt.

2. Share & Listen

Invite students to share:

  • A feeling

  • A worry

  • A proud moment

  • Something on their mind

Listeners respond only with:
“Thank you for sharing.” 
No fixing, no advice — just understanding.

Learning focus:
➡ We can feel different things, and that’s okay.
➡ Listening helps us understand others.

3. Move & Reset – 5 Minute Body Break

Head outside (or open space):
 Jog on the spot
 Silly dance
 Star jumps

 Stretch + breathe

Remember:
Movement releases energy, resets the brain, and helps feelings settle.

4. Link the Power of Both

How did listening feel? How did moving feel? What changed?

Empathy regulates the heart.
Movement regulates the body.

✔ Strengthen relationships
✔ Improve focus
✔ Reduce stress
✔ Help the brain learn better

"A regulated child is a learning child." — Dr Stuart Shanker

By listening with empathy and then moving the body to reset, children build the tools to manage challenges, reconnect with learning, and face the world with clarity.