If–Then Solutions

Activity Overview

Our activities in this unit have featured familiar childhood nursery rhymes as a way to elicit action, reaction, and interaction. The student has been asked to notice the problem at hand, how the characters might be feeling in the situation, and what solution matches best in order to fix the problem and change the feelings. Students will now have the opportunity to review their problem solving skills by utilizing the If–Then behavior strategy. This simple but straightforward positive discipline strategy helps young children relate how actions lead to logical reactions and can be used as a tool to problem solve, modify our behaviors, and accept consequences for our actions in a variety of situations. The If–Then technique helps adults clearly explain what is expected of the child — and the positive outcome that will happen from following the expectation. Here are some examples of If–Then sentences:

• For children having trouble with transitions: “If you clean up your room, then you can go to your playdate.”

• For a child frustrated with drawing: “If you pick up the paper you crumpled up, then I will show you how to make a circle.”

• For noting logical consequences to preferred behaviors: “If you brush your teeth now, then we can read extra stories.”

In this week’s activity we will again utilize familiar nursery rhymes and the visual prompts we have introduced around problem-solving, and link these pieces with the If–Then strategy so that children have a chance to practice what the sequence of action/reaction looks like and sounds like in situations in which they are observers, that feel familiar and safe because they are not personal. This practice can lead to deeper understanding of how our actions can lead to positive outcomes, and that we have the power to move towards those outcomes at any time.

What You Need

• Nursery Rhyme Cards

• Solution Cards

• Stuffed animals for dramatic play

• Whiteboard and marker

• Stickers

• “If” and “Then” labels

• Clear packing tape

Steps:

1. Review the Nursery Rhyme Cards with students.

2. Discuss the problems on each card and use the If–Then strategy to solve each problem. Use the Solution Cards for inspiration to solve the problems.

• When used for problem-solving, we might say that if Jack falls down, then Jill should go get help.

• When used for behavior modification, we might say if Humpty Dumpty does not sit on the wall, then he won’t lose his balance and have an accident.

• When used for consequence-giving, we might say if the spider scares Little Miss Muffet, then she might not share her breakfast.

• When used for empathy-building, we might say if Little Bo Peep finds her sheep, then she will not feel lonely.

3. Act out the scenarios with the stuffed animals, pretending they are the characters in the nursery rhyme.

4. Decorate the border of a small, portable whiteboard with stickers to signify it is special. Create an “If” side on the left and a “Then” side on the right. We suggest writing or printing these words on paper and adhering the labels to each side of the board with clear packing tape – this will allow you to draw and erase as often as needed, without disrupting the structure of the board.

5. Share with your child that this special whiteboard is where you and they will work out If–Thens that come up every day. For young children, use visuals to help get your message across and maximize their connection to the sequence. For example, if you eat your veggies at dinner (draw a picture of broccoli), then you earn your dessert (draw a picture of berries).

Guiding Questions

• What is the problem in this nursery rhyme?

• Have you ever experienced a problem like this before?

• If ________does _________, then what will happen?

Extensions

1. Model for your student when you need the If–Then strategy yourself, and let them be in charge of drawing on the whiteboard what you need to do to achieve the preferred outcome.

2. Using a problem solving technique from the cards, have students participate in creative role play of problems that they would like to solve. It can be a problem that the characters had or a problem of their own.

3. Add these items to your Cozy Corner tools to access in that space as well!