Reduce Violence
The compassionate connection programs' purpose is to teach preschool through grade school students an appropriate use of our senses.
The program fosters a greater sense of belonging and connection to others. The process generates a positive and caring attitude towards peers, thereby increasing measurable pro-social behaviors in decreasing problem behaviors.
The goals of the program include
Increasing positive, caring behaviors (cooperation. sharing, helpfulness. responsibility. kindness, empathy and independence),
Decreasing negative, aggressive, problem behaviors (self-centeredness, aggression. temper control, attention problems and hyperactivity).
Enhancing overall self-esteem. self-worth and self-image.
Importance of language
Basic nutrition
Using our senses to create healthy growth
Compassion
Dr. John E. Upledger, founder of the Upledger Institute, director of the first compassionate touch program, believes this program will increase compassion and decrease violence in school-age children.
“When compassion increases violence decreases because you cannot hold the two - compassion and violence - at the same time.”
Compassionate Connections Program Outline
Unit 2 Character Development
Energy
Kindness
Virtue
Gratitude
Empathy
Unit 4 Relationships
Diversity, value of difference
Sharing /playing well with others
Attendance
Diplomacy
Manners
Unit 1 Who am I (Self-discovery primer)
Hearing
Touch
Smell
Taste
Vision
Unit 3 Healthy Confidence Building
Appearance
Respect
Problem Solving / adaptability
Patience / Self regulation
Resourcefulness, Reuse, Reduce Waste
Connecting Compassion
In Anchorage, Alaska 1999, Joshuah Shumelda oversaw the first compassionate touch program at Hillcrest preschool. He was the ambassador and lead preschool teacher. Facilitating both roles gave him a unique perspective that has allowed him to recognize the power of the program first hand and be the perfect person to help innovate and move the project forward.
After working with Dr. John Upledger and the compassionate touch program, Joshuah made a failed attempt at bringing the program into Alaska Public school System. The social climate at the time did not like the idea of teachers touching children or children touching each other.
As a necessity is the mother of invention, Joshuah removed the word touch and replaced it with connections creating the “Compassionate Connections Program.”
He recognized that children needed to learn about more than just touch they also needed to learn about what language was and about what food they put in their bodies. About how they connected to the outside world and their own thoughts.
He has since expanded the Compassionate Touch Program to the Compassionate Connections Program encompassing the healthy use of touch, speech, use of resources (sharing), and knowledge.
Over the past decade+ Joshuah has taught the program to Moms, nannies, and day schools. We invite you to schedule a workshop for your neighborhood, school or join us for our next class.