Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS)

Friendology in Year 2

Growing Kind Hearts: Learning Self-Compassion and Friendship Skills

This week in our Year 2 Social and Emotional Learning lessons, students have been exploring the important idea of self-compassion.  Students have been learning how to treat themselves with the same kindness and understanding they would offer a best friend.

In our Friendology 101 program, we discussed how everyone experiences ups and downs in friendships. Sometimes things go smoothly, and other times we might feel left out or make mistakes (and that’s okay!) What matters most is how we respond with kindness, courage, and honesty, both to others and to ourselves.

All classes revisited the Friendology Guidelines:

• Be kind to yourself and others
• Be open to learning and growing
• Be honest
• Be brave
• Have fun

Students learned that self-compassion means showing ourselves friendship, taking a deep breath when we’re upset, speaking kindly to ourselves, and remembering that everyone makes mistakes as part of the learning process.

We also explored what it means to be a Friendship Ninja, learning that this is someone who uses positive friendship skills, stands up for themselves and others, and approaches challenges with confidence and care.

To finish the lesson, students reflected on their own character strengths and the positive qualities that make each of them unique and resilient. They then created beautiful “I AM” self-portraits, celebrating their strengths and the wonderful people they are becoming.