LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA• 27
- Discuss how they can help themselves and their friends when they are scared.
- Go to a person you can trust and will comfort you.
- Hold on to something that comforts you like a toy or blanket.
- Take deep breaths.
- Talk to a friend.
- Hold a friend’s hand.
- Assure the children that there is nothing wrong with feeling fear; even a soldier in the battlefield
feels fear. The advantage of recognizing our fear is that we learn to control it. In that case fear
helps us instead of harming us. For example, it is fear that makes us run from danger and can
save our lives.
Adaptation
For Younger Children:
Show a picture of a girl or boy who is very sad. Ask the children to brainstorm what that person may
be feeling. Write out the children’s responses on cards. Next ask the children how s/he may be
feeling. Write this down as well. Children can also act out the expressions and body language and
discuss how they felt.
Discuss why the child in the picture is sad. Accept all answers. If some of the fears are imaginary,
discuss these fears with the children. Next talk about what they can do when they are scared.
Reinforce behavior that helps and suggest behavior that may help them. (See list above in point four
for suggestions).Review
Discuss how the children can help themselves be less scared. Who can help them?
For Older Children:
How can fear affect our risky behavior? What decisions can we make for ourselves to reduce our
fear? How can we help our friends?Tips for the facilitatorTips for the facilitatorTips for the facilitatorTips for the facilitatorTips for the facilitator
This activity works well with the “Mix and Match Feelings” activity.