PATHS

The PATHS program helps children develop important social and emotional skills that will support them throughout their lives. It teaches them how to understand and manage their feelings, get along with others, and solve problems in positive ways.

Reception

• Understanding Emotions: Children learn to recognise and express their feelings.
• Social Skills: They start learning how to share, take turns, and interact kindly with others.
• Problem-Solving: Simple techniques help them deal with frustration and resolve conflicts.

In Reception, your child will be introduced to these 4 main characters:  

These characters provide children with relatable examples of how to manage their emotions, solve problems, and interact with others in positive ways. By using these characters, children learn important skills like self-regulation, empathy, problem-solving, and emotional expression, all of which are vital for building strong social relationships and emotional well-being.

The PATHS Child

As the children become familiar with the characters and ideas of PATHS, they will be chosen as PATHS “child of the day”. Every child will get a turn to be the PATHS child of day where they are celebrated by their teacher and their peers and given compliments sheet to take home. Additionally, they will have special jobs to do around the class and playground such as helping with snack.

Year 1 

• Empathy: Children learn to understand and care about how others feel.
• Making Friends: They develop skills for making and keeping friends, and resolving conflicts.
• Emotional Control: They begin using strategies to manage their emotions better.

Year 2 

• Managing Complex Emotions: Children learn how to handle more complicated feelings and situations.
• Conflict Resolution: They practice solving problems and compromising when conflicts arise.
• Making Good Decisions: They start considering others’ feelings when making choices and taking responsibility for their actions.

Throughout the program, your child will gain skills that help them manage their emotions, make positive decisions, and build healthy relationships with others. The PATHS curriculum is designed to support their social and emotional growth in a fun and engaging way.

Year 3 

• Understanding Emotions: Children develop a deeper understanding of their own feelings and recognise emotions in others.
• Managing Emotions: They learn strategies for managing strong feelings, including anger and frustration.
• Positive Relationships: They develop skills for getting along with others, showing empathy and dealing with difficulties in friendships.

Year 4

• Friendships and Relationships: Children explore what makes a positive friendship and how to maintain healthy relationships.
• Problem-Solving: They learn a structured approach to identifying problems, considering different solutions and thinking about consequences.
• Responsibility and Caring: They consider how their actions affect others and develop responsibility, empathy and care for those around them.

Year 5

• Problem-Solving and Decision-Making: Children develop their ability to think through problems, consider consequences and make responsible choices.
• Goals and Identity: They reflect on their strengths, develop a positive sense of themselves and learn how to set and work towards goals.
• Managing Conflict: They develop strategies for handling disagreements, considering different perspectives and resolving conflict positively.

Year 6

• Responsible Decision-Making: Children consider increasingly complex situations and make thoughtful decisions that take account of themselves and others.
• Respect, Identity and Relationships: They explore respect, individual differences, relationships and their growing sense of identity.
• Preparing for Change: They develop strategies for managing change, increased responsibility and the transition to secondary school.