Kindergarteners from various Lithuanian cities and towns have the opportunity to learn how to manage their emotions, resolve conflicts, build friendships, and other social-emotional skills. Nearly 30 preschool teachers teach 4-6 year olds daily under the program “Second Step for Kindergartens” in which they learn about these important topics.
By performing interactive tasks and using playful tools (dolls, emotion cards, songs), children learn to focus, listen, recognize their needs and feelings and name them. The classes teach how to overcome frustration and anger, to wait and calm down when overwhelmed by strong emotions. Communication and problem-solving skills are also developed, such as the ability to invite or join a game, name a problem and look for possible solutions, and express their opinion.
Teachers working with The “Second Step for Kindergartens” program notices that after just a few months, children’s aggressive behavior has significantly decreased, they have become much friendlier, they try to help each other and teachers more often, they calm down faster when angry, they share toys more easily and involve each other in games, and they stay focused longer.
The project, which is funded by the Eika Group, involves 29 teachers from kindergartens in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Širvintos, Jonava, Molėtai, Utena, Telšiai, Druskininkai, Lazdijai, Pagėgiai, Mažeikiai, Akmenė, Tauragė, Elektrėnai, and Plungė. It is planned to conduct 4,060 social emotional skills lessons 558 for children.
Preschool educators who want to teach children social-emotional skills are invited to join the program “Second Step for Kindergartens” and participate in training on April 4-5 in Vilnius. More information and registration: https://forms.office.com/e/fzTJMhLLLt
The social-emotional skills program “Second Step for Kindergartens” is implemented by the Public Institution Child Support Center. More information: https://pvc.lt/antras-zingsnis-darzeliams/