P is for Problem Solving (Primary)
The brainy bit!
Problem-solving is a wonderful way to build our resilience but let’s be honest, it’s sometimes not very comfortable. Because we need to be ok with not knowing & this can make us feel worried or unsettled.
x+y=🤯🤯🤯
Sometimes we just don’t know what to do! And try as we might, the answer just doesn’t seem to come!
But the good news is that the magic happens in our brains when we let them try to work things out, without forcing anything or getting too upset when we fail! And the even greater news is we can train our brains to problem solve
Fun things to practice
1. Sometimes when we worry about a problem, our thoughts, our feelIngs and our bodies get in the way! If this happens, it’s really helpful to say HALT and ask yourself:
• am I Hungry?
• am I Angry?
• am I Lonely?
• am I Tired?
If you can say YES to any of the above questions, go and sort this out first before trying to solve your problem!
2. Get curious! Remind yourself that nobody knows everything!
Get curious about the problem itself - what really is it?
Can you ask someone for help? If you can’t, put yourself in someone else’s shoes and ask yourself what they would do under these circumstances?
Can you go and find some more information about it?
Do you really know what to do but are scared or afraid, what if it all goes wrong?
How about believe in yourself , in your own ability and tell yourself that there’s also a 50/50 chance of it going right! Get curious & put your thinking cap on!
3. Sometimes when we’re worried about a problem, we get carried away by our thoughts, we get all caught up in them! It can be helpful to drop our focus, just like we’re dropping the anchor, down into our tummy. Down into our breath. Down here there are no thoughts and worries, only food and breathing! Take some time to breathe. Give yourself some space. Go outside and play for a while. Sometimes our problems get smaller and sometimes they even go away when we don’t pay them any attention!
The not-so-small small print
There is none! Simply return to this part of the website daily to get the next part of the practice.. No payment or subscription required. This is a resource we are sharing with all of you through the website and aiming to help our youngsters, in the various stages of their lives. This program contains information and practices that are aimed for two different age groups and we intend to mostly post the primary level information in the morning and the secondary level in the afternoon. Please leave us a comment and let us know how you are getting on or get in touch if you require additional support.
Z is for Zebra, Summer Resilience Program Final Entry (Primary) with thanks to Brene Brown & Greater Good Science Centre at UCLA Berkeley Youth for their ‘zebra’ advice & to Education Scotland for their inspiration for this programme x