Healthy Minds Compact First Steps

First Steps introduces psychological fitness through play, stories, movement, modelling and shared everyday experiences. Children begin to notice feelings, practise kindness and listening, recognise strengths and explore simple ways of responding when things feel difficult.

The emphasis is on experiencing, noticing and practising rather than remembering lots of new vocabulary.

Children learn through five sessions: 1. Kind Hands, Kind Words Recognising and practising kindness through everyday actions. 2. Listen With Care Beginning to understand that listening helps us understand other people. 3. Name That Feeling Recognising familiar feelings, noticing simple body clues and beginning to think about what or who might help. 4. I Can Shine Noticing strengths through everyday actions and recognising that strengths can grow. 5. We All Shine Recognising and celebrating strengths in ourselves and other people without comparison or ranking.

Developmental focus Experience it → Notice it → Practise it

Children begin to notice what is happening inside and around them and experience helpful ways of responding.