[Power2 Thrive] was the perfect opportunity for the toddlers to have role models for their learning, behaviour and what it means to be a good person.
The toddlers benefit from having a mentor who helps them grow while discovering new things about themselves. Through fun and engaging play, they learn important life skills such as sharing, problem-solving and managing their emotions.
For the young people, the programme pushes them to step outside their comfort zones, encouraging them to be their true selves while developing valuable leadership skills.
“Before the programme started, we were very purposeful about how we paired the toddlers with the young people. One key strategy was matching them based on their native language, as English is an additional language for many of the children at our school. We also considered interests when making the pairings. For example, if both the child and young person liked football or building, we’d pair them together. Another strategy was watching the toddlers’ interactions and who they gravitated towards in the sessions.”
“From the very first session, the toddlers started calling the young people their ‘big brothers’. It was clear that they looked up to the older boys. Every week, they were thrilled to see them again!”
“At that stage in their development, there was a lot of teaching to be done around sharing and friendships.
Through their interactions and play, the young people helped the toddlers learn how to follow the rules. They guided them through conflicts by saying things like, ‘Why don’t we try it like this instead?’ It helped the toddlers to manage their emotions and taught them how to interact with other people.”
“Even outside of the sessions, the toddlers would practice the lessons they’d learned from their mentors.”
“The toddlers were also more motivated when their mentors were around. If they were struggling with an activity, they’d ask their mentor for help. They managed to step outside their comfort zones.”
