How Self-Management Can Make the Best Life for Pre-K Students

The pre-kindergartners are beginning their learning journey toward becoming self-managers! Their first stop is to learn that self-management is a positive action that allows them to take care of themselves and build their self-concept. Using a classic story and a fun game called "What If," this lesson teaches pre-kindergartners they are in charge of themselves.

This lesson opens with a creative alternate version of a famous fairytale. Titled "How To Manage Yourself," it echoes the beloved siblings, Hansel and Gretel, and showcases their remarkable self-management abilities. In this adaptation, Hansel and Gretel want candy so much that they dream of eating it all day! One day, a wicked witch, who lives in an all-candy house, invites them to her sweet home to lock them up. Unlike in the original story, the siblings manage to refuse and avoid danger, thanks to their great self-management skills.

The pre-kindergarten students learn a lot from Hansel and Gretel’s example of managing themselves. They learn that self-management gives them the freedom that they want, so they try it too! Together, the students play a game of "What If" with the teacher, which challenges their understanding of how to self-manage. In this game, they explain how to manage the scenarios that are presented to them.

The class is great at applying what they have learned! They realize that effective self-management means doing positive actions for themselves and others. It helps them put the things around them in order that makes them feel positive about themselves. They end the lesson by reading their ICU messages from the ICU box.

Self-management, one of the five social-emotional learning competencies, clears the path to success as it allows one to be analytical of a situation and take charge. It prevents one from being pushed over by impulses or external circumstances. With the ability to manage themselves, pre-kindergartners can liberate themselves from stress and recover from any difficulties.