Grown-Up's Guide

Pip's Feelings Club · Episode 23: Helping Hands
"Do you need help?"Look first. Then ask
"Thanks, I've got it!"A fine answer. Say "Okay!"
"Can you help me, please?"Asking is brave, too

The steps from the episode

Look (who might need a hand?) → Ask "Do you need help?" → Help if they say yes, the way they ask you to. If they say "Thanks, I've got it," say "Okay!" That is good helping, too: asking is the helper's job, and the answer belongs to the other person. When your child is stuck: "Can you help me, please?" If someone is hurt, or it is a big problem, the best help is to fetch a grown-up.

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. Act out the asking with a teddy or a pile of cushions: the words come more easily in real life once they have been said in play. Finish with a play card.

What to talk about

Sheet
Ask them
Do together
Helping Hands
"What did Pip do before she helped?"
"What did Papa say?"
"Who could you ask today?"
Go on a helper hunt at home. A star for every ask, whatever the answer.
Ask First
"What did Kip say? Was that okay?"
"How did Echo want Pip to help?"
"What did Pip do when SHE got stuck?"
Take turns being stuck. Practise "Yes, please" and "I've got it."

When they jump in to help

1. "Stop. Look first. Do they look stuck?"
2. "Now ask: Do you need help?"
3. "Yes or no, you did the helper's job."

When they're stormy

Stuck and cross? Wait for calm first.
Then offer: "Can you help me, please?"
"No thanks" stings? "You asked kindly."

Do it out loud yourself

"Do you need help with that?" Then wait.
"Thanks, I've got it!" when you really have.
"I'm stuck. Can you help me, please?"

Catch them doing it well

"You asked before you helped!"
"They said no thanks, and you said okay."
"You asked for help. That was brave."

Try to avoid

Doing it for them before they ask.
Praising only the helping, not the asking.
Letting them touch sharp or broken things.

Every day (2 minutes)

Any time: "Who could we ask today?"
One "Do you need help?" each. You too!
A star for asking, whatever the answer.
Share the words with their teacher so school can use the same ones. Talk to your GP or child health nurse if your child is very upset most days when things go wrong, or you are worried about how they get on with other children.
Based on the helping and asking-for-help skills taught in the Second Step program.