Halloween is almost approaching! That means there’s a lot of extra sweets laying around my home that I can’t (shouldn’t) consume all by myself. If only I had access to a school full of youngsters who would gladly assist me in eating it… Wait a minute. Yes, I do. While I don’t normally like dosing primary pupils with sweets, I do believe it may be beneficial from time to time! Fortunately, there are several ways to include candy into your school counseling courses, so at the very least, the children are learning vital social-emotional skills while enjoying their sweets! They can learn candy packaging ideas as well.
Check out these 5 inventive candy-based school counseling exercises.
To Teach About Diversity, Use Candy
One of my favorite lessons for my young students is on diversity using candy. The image stays with them, and they, of course, enjoy the sweets!
For this class, I’ll start by discussing how we all look different. Some of us have blonde hair, some wear glasses, others are shorter, and some have various complexion tones. I invite the pupils to describe how they differ from their peers.
Then we discuss if these disparities make someone better than anyone else. Are brown-haired individuals somehow more superior to other people? No, it does not! To demonstrate this, I give each kid a few Candies. I urge them to examine the Candies and determine if they are all distinct or all the same. Students will make observations on the diverse colors and other characteristics of the Candies.
Then I let the pupils eat their Candies, encouraging them to do so one at a time. I then inquire as to whether the candy tasted different or whether one piece was superior to another. Again, the answer is no!
Then we discuss how individuals are similar to Candies. We may seem different on the exterior, but we are all the same on the inside, and our apparent distinctions do not make us superior to others.
Students should reflect on these questions
- No matter whose appearance they may have, what can you do to make them feel valued?
- Are there any ways you can encourage yourself that no matter how you appear, you are worth it?
- Why is it important to appreciate everyone, regardless of appearance?
Mindfulness Can Be Taught Through Candy
One of my favorite methods to teach and practice mindfulness is via food. Practicing mindful eating with a pack of Smarties is an exercise that both my students and I love.
First, I give each kid a pack of smarties and urge them to examine it, taking note of all they can about how it looks and feels in their hands.
Then I tell them to gently unwrap the gift, paying attention to how it appears, how it sounds, and how they use their motions to open it.
Once the box is opened, I urge them to examine each Smarties attentively – do they appear different or the same? What minor variations are they able to detect?
Then comes the enjoyable part: sampling the Smarties! Students will do this one at a time, very slowly and carefully, allowing the Smarties to dissolve in their mouths. Encourage your children to pay attention to how the Smarties feel in their mouths and to attempt to identify the distinct flavor of each flavor.
Questions for Student Reflection
- How did this experience vary from how you usually eat Smarties? Is there anything new you’ve noticed?
- Was there anything about this activity that was challenging for you? Why is it so difficult to be completely focused on the present moment?
- Being totally present in what you are doing is a component of mindfulness. What benefit may this have?
Candy may be used to teach self-control.
When working with small groups or individual students, I like to play this game. It’s fantastic because it can be done in addition to whatever else you’re doing – and it allows pupils to PRACTICE self-control rather than simply speak about it.
You will need numerous pieces of candy for this exercise, although the sort of candy does not matter. Playing this game is one of my favorite activities when working with small groups or individuals.
If they are willing to wait until halfway through the class, they can have two pieces of candy, and if they can wait until the end, they can have three pieces. If they can wait longer, I would also like to improve sweets’ quality.
I create a sheet of paper with the words “Now,” “Halfway,” and “At The End” and keep the candy in its rightful position. Students must then determine which option they will pursue. Will they be able to maintain their composure while waiting for the greater prize? It is critical not to influence the kids; instead, allow them to make their own judgments. Allowing them to make their own decision also offers you information on their self-control abilities. Also, ask them some unique and useful candy packaging ideas.
Questions for Student Reflection
- Was this a simple or challenging exercise for you?
- Are you happy with your choice, or do you wish you had done something else?
- Why is self-control necessary?
Keeping the sweets visible serves as a reminder to your pupils to exercise self-control!
Candy Canes Can Be Used to Teach Perseverance
This is a lesson that youngsters like since it incorporates sour candy, and my pupils constantly praise themselves for being able to withstand the sour flavor.
I’ve usually used Warheads for this lesson, but you may use anything that begins sour and then becomes sweet. Before distributing the candy to the pupils, discuss how the difficult things we undertake in life may frequently lead to amazing benefits.
Have your kids tell you about any challenging activities they have done and what the outcome was. Give each of them a piece of sour candy to better emphasize this notion. Encourage them to notice the first sour flavor as well as the sweetness as the sour taste fades.
Use this to indicate that if we can persevere through the tough times, we will be rewarded with a “sweet,” pleasant result.
Questions for Student Reflection
- Tell me about a challenging task you’ve completed. Were you able to persevere?
- Why is endurance necessary?
- How might see the eventual outcome help you persevere?
Any Topic Can Be Discussed Using Candy
If you want to utilize sweets to teach a social-emotional skill that I haven’t covered yet, don’t worry! This game is a great way to start kids talking about any subject!
For each color of candy, you will jot down one question. The questions might be “get to know you” questions or questions to assess your pupils’ grasp of a subject. This exercise is one that I like to utilize when I initially meet with students or during the first or final session of a small group.
Students will be given a tiny pack or cup of sweets and then asked to answer questions based on the colors they have. Students can work in groups or in pairs to accomplish this task.
Questions for Student Reflection
- Did this exercise teach you anything new?
- Which of the following questions was the most difficult to answer? Why?
- Which of the following questions was the simplest to answer? Why?
There are several ways like candy packaging ideas to include sweets into your school counseling courses to make them more entertaining!
