Grown-Up's Guide
Pip's Feelings Club · Episode 15: Nice Words
"I like your..."Start like Pip does
Look for something good. Say what you see.The two steps
"Thank you!"When someone gives you a nice word
The steps from the episode
Look for something good → Say exactly what you see. A nice word is about something real you can point to: "I love the shell windows!", not "You're the best!" When someone gives you one, you can say "Thank you." In the episode Rory's sandcastle stays lumpy, and nobody calls it the best on the beach. Pip says what she can see, and Rory ends up liking his castle, lumps and all.
Doing a sheet
Watch the episode together first: scan the code on Sheet 1, or visit pipsfeelingsclub.com. A calm 10 minutes, never as a consequence. You read the comic, your child does the pens. Hunt for good things in the pictures together first: noticing takes practice, and a sandcastle is an easy place to start. Finish with a play card.
What to talk about
Sheet
Ask them
Do together
Nice Words
"Why was Rory sad?"
"What good things did Pip see?"
"Did the castle stop being lumpy?"
Look at something your child made. Each say one thing you see and like.
Nice Words Circle
"What did Pip like about Kip?"
"What did Miss Wren say back?"
"Who could you give a nice word to?"
Have a nice words circle at dinner: one good thing each, then "Thank you."
When someone feels flat
1. Notice together: "They look a bit sad."
2. "Can you see something good?"
3. "Tell them what you see." Then step back.
When they're stormy
Calm comes first. Nice words can wait.
Don't make them say one.
Try again later, when everyone is settled.
Do it out loud yourself
Say what you see: "So many colours!"
Let them hear you do it for other people.
Take a nice word well: "Thank you!"
Catch them doing it well
"You noticed her drawing. She smiled!"
"You looked closely. That was a real one."
"You said thank you. Lovely."
Try to avoid
Big, vague praise like "You're the best!"
Comparing: "Yours is better than hers."
Only noticing looks. Notice what they do.
Every day (2 minutes)
At dinner: one nice word each.
"I like your..." or "I like how you..."
Then everyone says "Thank you."