JUNE 1 — INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY
International Children’s Day is another opportunity to remember and remind that all children have the right to have a prosperous, protected, and happy childhood, as well as to receive an education in a safe and secure environment.
Ahead of International Children’s Day, the Republican Pedagogical-Psychological Center came up with an interesting initiative. RPPC employees created the “SAFE SCHOOL” methodological package with their own hands, which includes the following games: “Key,” “Wheel of Emotions,” “One Kind…” and “Safe School”, as well as educational posters.
The games are aimed at building and developing students’ emotional self-discovery, empathy, attentiveness towards their classmates, and a mindset focused on preventing bullying. The games are also notable for their accessibility: each class can make the game materials, such as cards, keys, boxes, colorful necklaces, and more, thereby encouraging student interest and involvement.
Next, RPPC hosted psychologists from Yerevan Basic School № 131 Named After Peyo Yavorov, Yerevan Secondary School № 87 Named After Hakob and Lutovika Ayntaplyans, and Avedisian School, participating in the “Introduction of Procedures on Bullying Prevention and Response in Schools” Pilot Program. Together with RPPC specialists, the psychologists participated in a unique “demonstration” of the games.
During the game, problems typical of school reality and possible “keys” to solving them were discussed.
The games also became a platform for:
- ✦ revealing the human qualities of the participants;
- ✦ recording the growth of social-emotional skills;
- ✦ re-evaluating self-esteem and self-expression;
- ✦ creating an atmosphere of mutual respect, which is an important prerequisite for establishing a safe environment in schools.
RPPC Deputy Director Haykuhi Adamyan noted: “One of the key responsibilities of school psychologists is the creation of a safe and secure environment in educational institutions, which makes learning easier. To achieve this, psychologists need resources, and RPPC is ready to provide those resources and tools.”
At the end of the “game meeting”, school psychologists were presented with the “Safe School” game packages — a unique gift for students of general education schools, their teachers, psychologists, and, why not, also for their parents.
The author of the games is Ani Khudoyan, Methodologist-Trainer at RPPC Department of Training and Methodological Support, PhD in Psychological Sciences.
01.06.2025
