New Haven’s Farnam Center (formerly the Farnam Neighborhood House) not only gives kids a safe place to play basketball and ping pong, create art or get help on their homework. It also helps them learn how to resolve conflicts.
Long known for its recreational and arts offerings, Farnam recently partnered with the nonprofit Rain of Hope to integrate social and emotional learning into all of its programs.
Rain of Hope’s lessons focus on kindness, listening, respect, mindfulness and collaboration.
The goal is to “introduce children to the fact that our actions are ‘raindrops,’ creating ripples that impact ourselves and those around us,” according to the Rain of Hope website.
The new social and emotional curriculum has given both staff and kids better tools for resolving arguments and calming tempers, says Farnam Executive Director James Cotto.
The entire staff went through workshop training at the beginning of the year and infused the lessons into all of Farnam’s programs. The entire Farnam community, says Cotto, is already seeing positive results.
“In our afterschool programs we’re seeing a huge reduction in staff intervention with children because we are teaching them how to govern their emotions,” says Cotto. Continue reading.
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