CosmoKidzTM
The CosmoKidzTM program consists of sets of conversational activities for adults to use with children and teens to help them develop constructive social and emotional intelligences. The CosmoKidzTM activities fit in with a new move in educational thinking: a shift from training students for cleverness and competition to helping them become fulfilled individuals and active, caring, compassionate people.
The conversational activities are developed for different age groups—from children, to tweens and teens—based on something we call a cosmopolitan sensibility. It’s a different way of looking at how we relate with children and how we’d like them to relate with others. It also helps us focus on important things that most people don’t pay attention to that happens in our communicating with others.
CosmoKidzTM—for children ages 4-8
The CosmoKidzTM initiative began as a series of conversational activities based on 31 scenarios exploring issues identified by parents, teachers and other caretakers, as well as by children themselves, as important to their social development at home, at school, and at play. The number of scenarios continues to grow as new topics and new social issues arise. This conversational set is freely available at http://cosmoactivities. in English, Norsk, Romanian, Farsi/Dari, and Pashto.
CosmoTweenz—for older children ages 8-11
1.Three Choices...and then what happens...? explores topics around social issues frequently encountered by older children, ages 8-11, asking tweens to imagine 3 productive choices for resolving or responding to a problematic social scenario and asking them to identify what they like, what they don’t like, and what they might be giving up for each option. These scenarios are also now freely available online at https://cosmoactivities/three-choices-and-then-what-happens/.
2.Environmental Awareness activities encourage older children’s spirit of exploration and investigation in their own communities by initiating discussion about how they can notice surroundings, make change, and connect to others. Investigate Environmental Awareness activities at https://cosmoactivities.com/cosmotweenz
CosmoTeenz—for ages 12-18
An international team of CMMI Teen Fellows is currently developing an interactive comic book addressing mental health concerns that frequently emerge in the fluid social worlds of youths ages 12-18. Watch this space for news.
