Social Work Activities & Resources
This week's topic: Self-Awareness!
Hi students and families! I hope you enjoyed last week's resources on self-management!
This week's topic is self-awareness. Self-awareness is our ability to recognize our own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior.
Last week we focused how we control our emotions and behavior. This week we will focus on identifying those emotions, thoughts, and feelings that can influence our behavior.
Watch the video to the left first and then see the activities and resources below!
The video above discusses the importance of self-confidence. When we are aware of our own strengths and values, we develop confidence. Self-confidence and self-awareness is needed to get through hard times and accomplish goals.
Think about the following questions related to self-awareness and confidence discussed in the video:
What you're born with (genes), how you are treated, and the choices you make were all mentioned as where confidence comes from. Think about these three categories. Which do you think plays the biggest role in your life? Would you want to change that?
The video stated "we have the power to cultivate our own confidence." What tip do you think will work best to promote confidence in your everyday life?
Positive Words to Describe Me
Think about your own personal strengths and write them on this sheet. If you have trouble of thinking of them, think of how someone else might describe you or have a family member help!
Self-Exploration Activity
One way to work on our self-awareness is by figuring out our own values and beliefs. Try to finish the sentences and reflect on what some of your values are.
Self-Efficacy
Self-efficacy is the belief in your own ability to succeed and achieve a goal. It means having the confidence to know you can achieve your goals by managing how you think, feel, and behave.
The Disney movie Mulan is a great example of this. Watch the last minute of this scene and think about how having a strong self-efficacy allowed Mulan to accomplish her goal - even when others gave up on her.
Wheel of Emotions
One key aspect of self-awareness is knowing our emotions and how they impact us and those around us. Sometimes identifying these emotions can be tough. Use this wheel to remind yourself of other emotions you may feel. If you are unfamiliar with an emotion, try looking it up!
Self-Esteem Activity
Go through some of these situations that may challenge your self-esteem. How may you adjust your response to be more kind to yourself and build your self-esteem?
One very important part of self-awareness is knowing our strengths and developing a growth-mindset!
People who have a growth-mindset know that with hard work and determination, they can grow. Growth mindset teaches us not to give up and to face our challenges with gratitude!
Watch the video to the right on growth and fixed mindset. Think about a time you have used a growth or fixed mindset. How did it hurt of help you? What would you have done differently if you were to have that challenge again?
Activities for focusing on our strengths and building growth mindset:
Accomplishments Jar Activity
Create an accomplishments jar with you and your family. This can be a great activity for children and adults to help realize, even during this time, that they are growing and building on their strengths. Having children identify their own accomplishments and then acknowledging those will help building a growth mindset. Instructions linked here.
Well-Being Calendar
This 4-week Well-Being Calendar encourages you to choose one Action Card a day that will positively benefit your emotions and others as well. This can help increase self-esteem during this time.
Core Beliefs Exercise
Our core beliefs are the ideas we think most about ourselves. These act like a pair of glasses through which we see every situation. Sometimes our glasses our 'fixed' and make it difficult to see things positively. Think about your core beliefs and how they help or harm you.
Parent's Corner
This week's topic is especially relevant for adults too! Identifying our own emotions, thoughts, and feelings is vital right now for our own health and the health of our families. All the concepts above are so important for us to model to children, but we are all human and know that right now we may wear our emotions a little more visibly. Remember to take time for yourself and use the resources below to help if you need it!
Gratitude Journal
Gratitude journals help us reflect on daily good things in our lives. Print this journal to help find the positive daily.
Values Self-Reflection
During this time of change, it can be helpful to sit back and think about our own values. Why are they important to us? Are we putting enough time towards our most important values?
Additional Resources
Updates on COVID-19 in Champaign County https://www.c-uphd.org
Champaign County School District Sack Lunch Info Sack Lunch Info
Google Site created by Caitlin Yore