Prevention Activities

Non-traditional Gender Roles
1. Do an exercise that raises awareness of the roles themselves. (i.e. what does it mean to be a woman/lady in our society?, what does it mean to be a man?) Debunk the idea that these are natural roles, they are instead roles maintained through socialization (in kidspeak of course)
2. Push the children occasionally beyond their comfort levels around gender roles.
3. Include women when speaking about history, society, etc.
4. Read books and tell stories that portray women and men in non-traditional ways.
5. Have children do role plays where they get a chance to play the opposite sex/gender.

Affirmations/Self-esteem
1. Have children make a list of the things they like about themselves.
2. Encourage children when they say positive things about themselves.
3. Have children write stories in which they are the leaders and the hero/ines.
4. Charades-something you like about yourself.
5. Encourage assertiveness and problem solving techniques.
6. Art pieces about the children (collages??) that portray what they like about themselves.

Empathy/Respect/Kindness
1. When reading or telling stories always ask the children how they thought the people in the story felt.
2. Ask them how they would feel if _____________ happened to them.
3. Have them make a “kindness journal” where they can write about the kind things they, and their friends/classmates, do.
4. Help your child send “kind-o-grams” to their friends and family. (Notes that say something that they child noticed that was particularly nice or kind. )
5. Talk about control and respect with your child/ren. You can’t be respectful AND try to control another person.

Feelings Recognition/Expression
1. Ask them how they feel all during the day. When they seem to be having a feeling, but they can’t name it, try to do so for them. (i.e. Are you feeling disappointed that you couldn’t play with your friend today? Or are you frustrated?)
2. Read a story and ask them how they think the characters are feeling.
3. Have them write stories about times when they had a certain feeling. (Or stories with imaginary characters who experience certain feelings.)
4. Have them practice talking about how they feel-roleplays, skits. Have them write mini-plays, in which the characters have some intense feelings, and work them out.

Responding to Feelings
1. Skits and roleplays-how can the person in the skit/s respond to their feelings. What choices does the person in the skit have-act them out.
2. Have them think about options that they have when they are having tough feelings. Have them do the same for characters in stories or books they read.
3. Have them practice assertiveness:
Assertiveness formula-
Step 1- What happened?
Step 2-How did you feel?
Step 3-What do you want?
(-example-Yesterday you told me I was stupid, that hurt my feelings, I don’t want you to say that anymore.)
4. Have them practice assertiveness with you, family members, and friends. (Other important things to remember about assertiveness-talk clearly and loud enough for the other person to hear, clearly state what you want, need and feel, strong but not aggressive body language, eye contact, thinking about what you want and need) If you are facilitating the child’s acquisition of this skill make sure you don’t put them in a situation where they may fail at first. Definitely don’t have them try assertiveness with someone who is abusive or who won’t listen to or validate them.
5. Brainstorm options for responding to hard feelings.

Problem Solving
1. Have them practice problem solving.
Problem Solving formula
Step 1-What is the problem?
Step 2-What are the possible options/choices for solving the problem?
Step 3-What are possible consequences of the options/choices?
Step 4-Make an action plan-which option are you going to choose? Which one will have the best possible outcome?
Step 5-Evaluation-after you try the option-Did that work well? Do you need to try another option? Are you satisfied with the outcome?
2. Give your child possible problems and have them work on a solution. Roleplay problem solving.
3. If the child comes to you with a problem; help them solve it with the formula. If you don’t have enough time, at least have them brainstorm their options and possible consequences.

Accountability
Womenspace has an elementary domestic violence prevention and intervention curriculum called “I Can Choose”. If you want more information about the curriculum or how to go about using it please contact the Schools Program Coordinator.

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