Think Equal Program
Think Equal, a worldwide initiative, operates in early childhood settings to provide a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Program. This program is aimed at children aged 3-6, and covers 25 essential skills and competencies, such as understanding others’ feelings (empathy), treating everyone equally regardless of gender, and solving conflicts peacefully. The program helps build important social skills in young minds, which leads to more positive behaviours in life. It helps decrease chances of feeling depressed, facing discrimination, and engaging in negative behaviours as they grow older.
Think Equal’s focus on offering holistic support for children’s social, emotional, and global understanding. Using simple stories and lesson plans, it aims to improve the early learning experiences of children as their attitudes and behaviours are just beginning to form.
This classroom based curriculum comprises 3 levels (Level 1 for 3-4 year olds; Level 2 for 4-5 years old; Level 3 for 5-6 year olds), each containing narrative picture books, comprehensive lesson plans and engaging activities. Taught over 30 weeks, with 3 lessons weekly, the programme is designed by leading experts in psychology, education and human rights to create prosocial neural pathways in the developing brain.
In 2019, the Institute of Positive Education invited Niño ELA to be involved in a social and emotional learning pilot program with Think Equal. Participation in the pilot included children from a 4-year old classroom, the lessons were taken with the whole group, with 7 children being selected (with parental permission) to be included in the data provided back to Think Equal. The lessons consist of 1.5 hours per week over 30 weeks, comprising of books (storytelling) and lesson plans.
Nino ELA’s Point Cook Centre participated in the Think Equal pilot program as a treatment group, this meant that the data collected from the seven selected children was provided to the ‘Australian Randomised Control Trial Think Equal Early Childhood’ Program for analysis collated by Yale University.
The Program teaches children core values of empathy, compassion, and respect, and key skills such as critical thinking, self-regulation, and peaceful conflict resolution, which dovetails beautifully with our Positive Education goals.
Early Childhood Teacher at Niño ELA Saratoga Estate, Audrey Chow, has facilitated the Think Equal program since its first implementation:
“In terms of supporting children’s key skills such as critical thinking, self-regulation, and peaceful conflict resolution, the Think Equal Program fosters environments where children learn to consider multiple perspectives, manage their emotions, and resolve conflicts peacefully through dialogue and negotiation.
For example, in Lesson 1 – titled Me, Myself and I – the children learn about individuality and self-confidence, noting that we are all different and we are all special. The activities also include discussions about unique physical characteristics and abilities, skin colour and how each of us is an equal piece of the classroom puzzle.
After completing just three of the Think Equal lessons and engaging with parents about our classroom activities, I observed a noticeable improvement in the children’s empathy, kindness, and understanding toward their peers. They began to express acceptance and inclusivity, exemplified by statements like “it’s okay to be different, but we are still friends” and “He can also play the game with us – it’s not just for girls, boys can play too.” This shift has fostered more positive social interactions and relationships among them.”
Statistical analysis demonstrated that the children who participated in the Think Equal program were more emotionally regulated, less emotionally dysregulated, less anxious and withdrawn, demonstrated greater effortful control, demonstrated greater extraversion, and had lower negative affect. These findings provide very strong evidence-based validation for the extensive benefits of the Think Equal program within the Australian context.
The Think Equal program aims to cultivate empathy, kindness, and understanding in young learners. For more information on how this initiative fosters positive values, inclusivity, and contributes to creating a nurturing environment for children, we encourage you to speak with your local Niño ELA kindergarten teacher. They can provide further details about the program’s approach and its impact on the children.
Find out more about Think Equal Global »
