3.3y–5y8 minFamily timeSocial playFree play

Happiness Ripple Praise

Coach the adult to give specific, warm praise for positive behaviour and explicitly link it to how others feel, helping your child notice the social-emotional impact of actions.

What you'll need

Essentials

a small everyday activity to do together (e.g., blocks, drawing paper, tidying a few toys)

Nice to have

5 small scraps of paper (or sticky notes) and a pen to make ‘kindness tickets’

Movement level: low

What you'll do

The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.

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What this develops

What it practices

Understands that own actions affect other people, for example, becomes upset or tries to comfort another child when they realise they have upset them.
Observable behaviour from Development Matters

Where it comes from

Framework: Early Years Foundation Stage (England)
Source: Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
Original guidance: “Affirm and praise positive behaviour, explaining that it makes children and adults feel happier.”
License: Open Government Licence v3.0