Overview | Curriculum | Training Schedule
Kids’ Connection: A Support Group Curriculum for Children Ages 4-12
Kids’ Connection Goal: To provide a safe place for youth to learn vital life skills that will help them make healthy choices, overcome adversity, and stay drug-free while gaining a greater understanding of themselves and others.
Session Content Summaries:
1.
Getting to Know You
Goal: To get acquainted and learn about the group process.
Key Points:
R
Kids’ Connection group is:
·
different from school and class - there are no right or wrong answers and there are no grades or tests;
·
a time to meet with others we may already know, make new friends, and have fun;
·
a time to learn about ourselves and about each other, and about important choices that can help us make a better life for ourselves;
·
a time for building trust with each other and it is a safe place where we can talk about our thoughts and feelings;
·
a chance to take a break from your usual routine and spend time thinking and talking about subjects different from the ones in your classroom.
R
In Kids’ Connection group there are Group Promises that will help us feel safe and comfortable.
R
Participants were selected and invited to be in group because they can benefit from and enjoy the group, not because they are “in trouble.”
Major Message: I AM not alone.
2.
A Celebration of Me
Goal: To recognize and celebrate the unique and special qualities of each participant.
Key Points:
R
Each of us is “one-of-a-kind” (unique). There is no one else exactly like me.
R
We are special because of who we are, not because of what we do or what we have.
R
Using alcohol and other drugs will not make me feel better about myself.
R
Part of how we feel about ourselves is how we feel about our family. There are many different kinds of families. Every family is special in some way, but no family is perfect.
Major Message: I AM special, capable, unique, and valued.
3.
Feelings
Goal: To identify feelings and learn appropriate, healthy ways to express them.
Key Points:
R
All of us have feelings. All our feelings are okay.
R
We can learn how to handle and show our feelings in healthy, positive ways – even feelings we don’t like to have.
R
D
rinking alcohol or using tobacco or other drugs to change our feelings is never okay for us to do.
Major Message: All my feelings are okay and I CAN choose how to express them.
4.
Handling Anger
Goal: To identify ways to stay calm and stay out of fights.
Key Points:
R
When we lose control and react to situations with an angry behavior like fighting, there can be negative consequences.
R
Steps to handling anger:
1.
S = Stop – cool down and gain control.
2.
I = Identify – what are you feeling and why?
3.
T = Take Action – respond to your feelings in an appropriate way that shows respect for yourself and others.
R
Alcohol and other drugs can cause us to lose control over the way we feel and act.
Major Message: I CAN stay calm when I feel angry and not get into fights.
5.
Dreams & Goal Setting
Goal: To gain or strengthen our sense of purpose and feel more confident in setting goals and taking steps that will help us in achieving our dreams.
Key Points:
R
D
reams can give us hope and give us a sense of purpose for our future.
R
There are steps we can take to help us set goals and achieve our dreams:
1.
Identify our dreams.
2.
D
evelop a plan.
3.
Ask for help.
4.
Be flexible.
R
Getting into fights and using alcohol and other drugs can keep us from reaching our dreams or achieving our goals.
Major Message: I BELIEVE there is a purpose for my life.
6.
Making Healthy Choices
Goal: To recognize that we have the freedom to make choices and that most people our age want to make healthy choices.
Key Points:
R
Everyone makes choices every day and all our choices have consequences.
R
Consequences can either be positive (healthy) or negative (unhealthy).
R
Most people your age want to make healthy choices and have chosen not to use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.
R
Using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs is never a healthy choice.
Major Message: I WILL be alcohol, tobacco, and drug free.
7.
Friends
Goal: To identify ways to make and maintain healthy friendships.
Key Points:
R
To have good friends, we must first BE a good friend.
R
There are some positive, healthy things we can do to have the friendships we want:
·
Be yourself and like yourself.
·
Be a good listener.
·
Be reliable and trustworthy.
·
Understand that having conflict is normal. Friends can disagree and still be friends.
·
Forgive one another.
R
A true friend will respect our choice not to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
Major Message: I CAN treat others like I want to be treated.
8.
Resisting Negative Peer Pressure
Goal: To develop the confidence needed to resist negative peer pressure that could lead to unhealthy choices.
Key Points:
R
Pressure from our peers can influence us to make healthy choices or unhealthy choices.
R
The “5-B’s of Saying No” * – we can learn skills that can help us say “no” when we are pressured: ▪Beware ▪Bad idea ▪Better one ▪Bye for now ▪Buzz me later
R
Resisting peer pressure to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs is a healthy choice and keeps us from getting in trouble.
Major Message: I WILL resist negative peer pressure and stay out of trouble.
9.
Putting It All Together
Goal: To review all the major messages and key points from the previous eight sessions.
Key Points:
R
We are special because of who we are, not because of what we do or what we have.
R
Part of how we feel about ourselves is how we feel about our family. There are many different kinds of families. Every family is special in some way, but no family is perfect.
R
Using alcohol and other drugs will not make me feel better about myself.
R
We can learn how to handle and show our feelings in healthy, positive ways – even feelings we don’t like to have.
R
D
rinking alcohol or using tobacco or other drugs to change our feelings is never okay.
R
Steps to handling anger are: Stop-cool down and gain control; Identify what we are feeling and why; and Take Action by responding in appropriate ways.
R
Alcohol and other drugs can cause us to lose control over the way we feel and act.
R
D
reams can give us hope and give us a sense of purpose for our future.
R
Getting into fights and using alcohol and other drugs can keep us from reaching our dreams or achieving our goals.
R
Using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs is never a healthy choice.
R
Most people your age want to make healthy choices and have chosen not to use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.
R
To have good friends, we must first BE a good friend.
R
A true friend will respect our choice not to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
R
Pressure from our peers can influence us to make healthy choices or unhealthy choices.
R
Resisting peer pressure to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs is a healthy choice and keeps us from getting in trouble.
Major Message: I HAVE learned many things about myself that will help me now and in the future
10. Celebration & Commitment
Goal: To celebrate one another and our Kids’ Connection group experience and to make a commitment not to use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
Key Points:
R
It is important to take time to celebrate our accomplishments.
R
I promise to be alcohol, tobacco and drug free.
R
Each one of us can decide how Kids’ Connection will affect our choices and the way we act both now and in the future.
Major Messages: I AM special, capable, unique, and valued.
I CAN treat others the way I want to be treated.
I HAVE people who care about me.
I WILL be alcohol, tobacco, and drug free.
I BELIEVE there is a purpose for my life.
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