Prof. Susan Engel: “How We Should Educate Today’s Children”
Center for Nonviolent Communication: An International Organization
Topic: Family Meetings
Title: Feelings Leaves
Objective: To see the connection between feelings and needs (feelings arise from our met and unmet needs)
Type of Activity: Art
Materials: Large chart paper, several 6-inch squares of green paper, crayons, markers, tape
Preparation:
Introduce the concept of universal needs and create a Needs List prior to this activity. (For samples of needs lists, see Keys 2 See the Needs Behind Every Action & 5 Use a Language of Respect and the activity – “Needs List” in Topic: Family Meetings.)
Familiarize yourself with the connection between Feelings and Needs. (See Keys 2 & 5.)
Procedure:
1. On the chart paper, someone draws two large trees without leaves. One tree has upturned branches and the title: When Needs Are Met. The other tree has downturned branches with the title: When Needs Are Not Met.
2. Explore where feelings come from, suggesting that all of our feelings come from our needs. Some feelings arise when our needs are met.
Explore: What feelings do you have when your need for hunger is met? For play? For learning something new? Some other feelings arise when our needs are not met. Explore: What feelings do you have when your need for rest is not met? For understanding? For friends?
3. Make Feeling Leaves by folding squares of green paper in half and tearing them in the shape of a half leaf, then unfolding the paper to reveal a leaf. You can also use scissors to cut leaf shapes. Copy feelings words from the Feelings List in Key 5 onto the leaves, one feeling word per leaf.
4. Spread the leaves on a table or on the floor. Place them so the feeling word is showing. Then, one at a time, pick up a leaf, say the feeling word, and decide if you feel this feeling when your need is met or when it is not met. Then tape the feeling leaf to the tree you think it belongs to. (Note: Most feeling words are clearly associated with met or unmet needs. Some feeling words, like “surprise” could go on either tree.)
Topic: Family Meetings
Title: Chain of Gift Giving
Objective: To appreciate the many gifts family members have to give
Type of Activity: Interactive
Materials: Typing paper, strips of construction paper (1 x 9 inches) in many colors, glue, tape, or stapler Procedure:
1. Have each member of the family put his or her name at the top of a piece of paper and make a list of the gifts they have to give. Other members of the family can contribute to what goes on the list.
2. Cut construction paper into strips about 1 inch by 9 inches.
3. Each family member then copies each gift from their list to a colored strip of paper.
4. Assemble a chain of gifts family members have to give and tack it around a doorway or place it in some other agreed-upon place.
5. Keep adding to the chain.
Topic: Life-Enriching Practices
Title: Give Gratitude
Objective: To nurture your compassionate heart; to develop a practice that supports choice and respectful interactions Type of Activity: Family discussion, family journaling, individual journaling
Materials: One notebook for a Family Gratitude Journal or individual notebooks
Procedure:
1. Discuss the meaning and feeling of gratitude. Use the following quotes for inspiration:
Gratitude is the memory of the heart. – French proverb
The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for. This, of course, is a fact. Thankfulness does tend to reproduce in kind. The attitude of gratitude revitalizes the entire mental process by activating all other attitudes, thus stimulating creativity. – Norman Vincent Peale
2. Take turns giving one answer to the question: For what are you grateful?
3. Make a Family Gratitude Journal, where family members can add one gratitude per page, writing or drawing about what it is they are grateful for.
4. Individuals can make their own Gratitude Journal to fill in at the end of the day. You can use purchased notebooks with lined or blank pages or you can make your own book. You can also create Gratitude Journal pages with a form similar to this:
Date:
My need for… was met today… when ….
KEYS:
Key 1. Parent with Purpose
Key 2. See the Needs Behind Every Action
Key 3. Create Safety, Trust, & Belonging
Key 4. Inspire Giving
Key 5. Use a Language of Respect
Key 6. Learn Together As You Go
Key 7. Make Your Home a No-Fault Zone
