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Valuing Differences

What you can talk about together

Explain that we are all different - sometimes we like the same things as each other and sometimes different things. This makes us special. Here are some questions to start a conversation:

  • What would it be like if everyone was the same?
  • Can you think of some reasons why it’s good that people are different from each other (e.g. we have different skills and talents, so we can help each other. It's good for teamwork. It makes life more interesting. Different people come up with different ideas, inventions, answers to problems and things that can help the world to be a better place for all of us).
  • Why is kindness important? 
  • What quick and easy ways to show kindness are there?
  • How am I different from my friends and family?
  • Do I have to like or enjoy the same things as my friends and family?
  • How can I show kindness to other people - in my family and at school?
  • Why is listening carefully important? How can I be a good listener? 
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What you can do together

We're all different, we're all special

We all have things that make us the same as each other and things that make us different - even from people in our family.

This can help to make life more interesting. 

Complete this activity with someone at home - you could include friends on your list, too!

 

Being kind

Talking points:

  • Think about things that you've both done that are kind - these can be very small acts of kindness, such as helping with jobs in the home, saying something nice to someone in the family etc. 
  • Think about how it feels when you give someone a present. That can feel almost as good as actually being given a present!
  • Acts of kindness don't all have to be about giving a present. Can you make a list of five small acts of kindness, such as holding a door open for someone? (maybe count them out on your fingers).

Being kind and doing kind things is something that helps everyone to feel good – including the person doing the kind thing!

 

Being a good listener

Listening skills are important for everyone to have – young and old. Play these listening games together to help develop your listening skills!

Simon Says

This classic game is excellent for encouraging children to pay attention and listen to instructions.

Call out instructions by saying, for example, “Simon Says put your hands on your shoulders.”

When you give an example that doesn’t begin with “Simon Says” such as “Stand on one leg!” your child must not do it.

This means that for each instruction, your child must listen for two details:

  1. Whether or not they must follow the order
  2. What action they need to do

Do This, Do That

This is a variation of Simon Says.

Standing in front of your child, perform certain actions by saying either “Do this” or “Do that”. For example, you could tap your head, clap your hands or do a jump.

When you say “Do this” your child should copy the action, but when you say “Do that” they should stand still.

It takes a lot of concentration not to move, first listening to whether they should perform the action or not. 

Take turns in being the leader.

Go on a Listening Walk

(Only do this if it’s safe to go outside – COVID-19 restrictions.)

This game is great not only for developing listening skills but also for teaching mindfulness and avoiding spending all day listening to the jumble of thoughts someone might have in their head. It's useful for adults, too.

Go for a walk together, in the garden, down the road or to the park. There are usually enough sounds close to home. 

Tell each other all the sounds you hear – leaves rustling, a dog barking, a car travelling down a road, a bird chirping, a child crying etc.

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