Peer pressure is a common experience faced by people of all ages, even pre-kindergartners! That’s why it is important to learn to be honest with oneself and not give in to pressure at an early age. Fortunately, this social-emotional skill can be taught, and it is the focus of this exciting Positive Action lesson.
This SEL lesson opens with a puppet show, presenting two hedgehog puppets, Squeak and Mimi, having a conversation. Mimi pressures Squeak to attend her tea party. Squeak knows very well that he has given his brother his word to play ball. He also tells himself the truth that he doesn’t like playing tea parties. Despite Mimi’s many pleas, Squeak firmly resists. This puppet show aims to present an illustrative example of how self-honesty can help pre-kindergartners stay true to themselves and avoid peer pressure.
"The lesson successfully explains how self-honesty helps resist peer pressure and how resisting pressure helps students stand up for themselves."
Following the puppet play is a fun class discussion and an SEL exercise that helps the students practice saying, "No," “Stop,” or “Don’t do that.” The lesson successfully explains how self-honesty helps resist peer pressure and how resisting pressure helps students stand up for themselves. Learning this important skill makes the students feel good about themselves.
Peer pressure can be positive or negative. For pre-kindergartners, positive peer pressure is the influence to conform to positive behavior and aim for academic success. Negative peer pressure, however, is the influence to follow negative behavior, which leads to breaking the rules, bullying, or trying potentially harmful substances.
It is important for pre-kindergartners to resist pressure to maintain their focus on their goals and avoid regret. Using effective teaching strategies, this lesson is designed to help pre-kindergartners resist peer pressure by learning to refuse and to stick to their better knowledge.
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