Students Learn to cope with change and loss through Zippy's Friends Programme

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Students learn to cope with change and loss through Zippy's Friends Programme

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Students learn to cope with change and loss through Zippy's Friends Programme

Tuesday, May 3, 2016 – Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

School children throughout Trinidad and Tobago are being taught how to effectively cope with stressful situations that they may encounter in their everyday lives, through the interactive emotional literacy programme Zippy’s Friends.

Designed specifically with youngsters aged 5-8 in mind, the Programme has six modules that cover topics on: Feelings, Communication, Making and Breaking Relationships, Conflict Resolution, Dealing with Change and Loss & Coping.

On May 3, 2016, school teachers Paula Lewis and Pearl Toussaint from the Las Lomas RC Primary School, conducted a Zippy’s session on - Dealing with Change and Loss and Coping – with the students from the Standard 1 class.  The teachers used multimedia and other innovative learning tools to enhance the teaching environment.

The lesson began with a skit where one of the teachers told the children that her puppy had died. She encouraged the youngsters to come up with their own ideas as to how she could cope with her loss.

Throughout the session there was open dialogue with the little ones on death and what happens when someone you love dies, they were also shown various images of different funeral rites depending on the religious belief.

They discussed and learnt the difference between death and change, such as when parents separate.  

Ms. Toussaint reassured the students that “Sometimes sad things happen and it’s not anybody’s fault.  It just happens.”

Zippy’s Friends programme has been supported by the Digicel Foundation since 2013 and is being implemented by the School Leadership Center of Trinidad and Tobago. It is fully endorsed by the Ministry of Education.

Students Learn to cope with change and loss through Zippy's Friends Programme