Scaredy

: Scaredy

Approach: One to one

288k

Resources: Video of children talking about diving at the swimming pool.

Film strip Come on David lets go up there, nah, David's scared, yeah, yeah he doesn't do anything. Can't you even jump ?. Look at the fear on his face, he even shows that he's scared. I might go off it one day. But not today. Come on guys, if he's not going to jump off...

Download the videoclip 2.1meg ( requires QuickTime plug-in )

Questions / instructions:
A lot of people feel scared about something at some time in their lives. We'll watch a video showing someone who is scared at the pool.

Show video

Jamie was probably made to feel bad about himself because he felt too scared to dive into the pool.

1. I want you to think of 3 different things the other children could have done to help Jamie, so that he wouldn't feel bad about himself because he was scared to dive into the pool.

As the student says each idea, write it down on the recording sheet (abbreviated as appropriate) and read it aloud. Where 2 or more ideas are given as one, suggest that they be written separately. After the student has finished identifying the ideas:

2. Now I'll read the things you have said, and if you want to change any of them you can tell me.

% responses

encouragement, confidence building
acceptance, respect (e.g. don't tease or dare, leave alone)
positive alternatives (e.g. play somewhere or something else)
give diving help or instructions
active physical encouragement
negative advice or behaviour

56
45
30
31
42
6

61
70
44
18
32
5

Make any changes offered by the student.

3. I want you to look at the things you've said, and I want you to choose one thing that you think is probably the most important Tick the chosen idea.

Preferred choice:

encouragement, confidence building
acceptance, respect
positive alternatives
give diving help or instructions
active physical encouragement
negative advice or behaviour

30
27
12
14
16
1

36
38
14
4
7
1

Commentary The two most popular options for both year 4 and year 8 students were to give encouragement and to avoid teasing, daring or drawing attention to the scared child. Year 4 students were more inclined than year 8 students to favour instruction or physical encouragement.

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