The Art of Managing the Self: What, Why, and How for Kindergarten

Life sometimes imitates a jungle: challenging, unpredictable, and competitive. It can be difficult to navigate these obstacles, especially at a young age. To stay on track and succeed, one must hone the ability to manage one’s thoughts, behavior, and feelings.

In this evidence-based SEL lesson, which marks the beginning of Unit 3, kindergarten students learn to navigate the challenges of life by learning the art of managing themselves. They join their beloved puppets, Picks-It Raccoon and Nix-It Panda, to the Jungle of Self-Management, where they meet new animal friends and learn essential social and emotional positive actions.

Through an interactive puppet play, this lesson successfully illustrates why it is important for students to manage themselves, particularly during challenging situations. In the play, Picks-it challenges Nix-It once again. He leaves Nix-It alone in the jungle until dark, feeling scared and alone. At first, Nix-It is unsure of what to do, and he keeps waiting for Picks-It to return, but he does not.

When morning comes, Nix-It learns to manage his thoughts and emotions, realizing that he is safe after all. Instead of giving in to his negative thoughts, he takes positive actions. He looks for something to eat for breakfast, finds a cool stream to drink in, and takes a relaxing nap in the peaceful forest. Once he awakens, Picks-It is beside him, announcing that he successfully passed his test. Feeling happy, Nix-It gets his key in the stream, where he sees the same thing in Units 1 and 2. Only this time, it is clearer and better.

What is the challenge of Nix-It, and how did he successfully overcome it? This is the focus of the class discussion that follows after the play. The students understand that the challenge requires Nix-It to conquer his fears and better control his actions during difficult situations. Doing so enables Nix-It to come on top of the situation, resolve his problems, and feel positive about himself.

At the end of the lesson, the young students draw a picture of a gift they wish to give to someone. The goal here is to hint at the topic of the subsequent lessons.

To sum up, life is filled with unexpected changes and challenges. Similar to what Nix-It has shown, having self-management skills equips individuals with the ability to adapt to new situations, overcome obstacles, and bounce back from setbacks. Individuals, even kindergartners, who can manage their thoughts, actions, and feelings and remain calm under pressure are better prepared to handle adversity and succeed in difficult times.