Young children who have trouble adjusting to school often act out, become aggressive or withdrawn, or have a hard time getting along with peers or adults. Research shows that these problems correlate to adjustment problems later in life. Primary Project, one of the most successful school-based programs for kindergarten through third-grade children helps detect and prevent these social, emotional, and school-adjustment problems.
PIXI, Playful Intervention by eXample In school, offered at both KMS and KCS, is an expressive play program that reduces negative adjustment behaviors and improves children’s self-confidence, social and learning skills and other school-related competencies.
PIXI students participate weekly for 30 minutes in Child-Led play, which maintains a ‘creative differences’ theory by creating an “intentionally different” place, with a relationship of safety. Students are accepted as they are by the Child Associate who provides non-judgmental, undivided-attention time by engaging in reflective listening activities in an expressive play environment. Research studies find that students are able to make a connection with the Child Associate, which in turn builds self-confidence and self-esteem, ultimately positively affecting the student’s ability to learn. Students engaged to learn can better assert their needs, control their behaviors, attend to the task at hand, and get along with their peers.
