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“The Identity Explorer” game encourages children to examine their sense of self and identity in a playful and non-judgmental way. By exploring different answers to the question “What are you?” children can begin to recognize that their identity is not fixed or limited to any single aspect of their experience.
Through the process of offering various responses and having them gently challenged by their partner, children learn to question their assumptions about who they are and to consider alternative perspectives. This can help them develop greater flexibility and adaptability in their sense of self, as well as a deeper understanding of the complex and multi-faceted nature of identity.
The game also promotes active listening, empathy, and respectful communication, as children take turns sharing their experiences and responding to each other’s answers with sensitivity and openness. By creating a safe and supportive space for self-exploration, the game can foster greater self-awareness, self-acceptance, and interpersonal connection.
Hey there, young identity adventurer!
Today, we're going to play a fun two-person game called "The Identity Explorer."
In this game, we'll take turns asking each other the question "What are you?" and exploring different answers.
The goal isn't to get the right answer but to discover new ways of thinking about who we are.
Remember, there are no wrong answers in this game, just opportunities to learn and grow.
Are you ready to start exploring your identity?
1. Explain the rules of the game to the children:
2. Encourage the children to be respectful and sensitive when responding to each other’s answers. If the children are close and trust each other, they can be a bit more playful with their responses, such as using a buzzer sound or a silly gesture.
3. Remind the children that the goal is not to get the right answer or avoid wrong answers but to explore different aspects of their identity and report what they seem to be at that moment.
4. Provide some examples of possible Player B responses, such as:
5. Allow the children to play several rounds of the game, taking turns being Player A and Player B.
To further explore the concept of identity and self-discovery, consider introducing your child to the book “The Way I Feel” by Janan Cain.
This beautifully illustrated picture book takes children on a journey through a wide range of emotions, from happiness and excitement to anger and fear. Each emotion is depicted as a colorful, expressive character that children can easily relate to and learn from.
Through simple, rhyming text and vibrant artwork, the book helps children recognize and name their own emotions, as well as understand the emotions of others. By normalizing the experience of different feelings and encouraging children to express themselves openly and honestly, the book promotes emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and empathy.
1. What is the main focus of this book?
a) Animals
b) Emotions
c) Weather
d) Food
2. Which of these emotions is NOT covered in the book?
a) Happy
b) Sad
c) Confused
d) Embarrassed
3. When the book talks about feeling “silly,” what might someone do?
a) Cry
b) Yell
c) Giggle
d) Sleep
4. In the book, what might make someone feel “proud”?
a) Losing a game
b) Breaking a toy
c) Accomplishing something
d) Being late
5. How does the book describe the feeling of being “scared”?
a) Warm and fuzzy
b) Light and floaty
c) Shaky and small
d) Big and strong
6. What color is often associated with feeling “angry” in the book?
a) Blue
b) Yellow
c) Red
d) Green
7. When someone feels “jealous” in the book, what might they want?
a) To share their toys
b) To be alone
c) What someone else has
d) To take a nap
8. How does the book portray feeling “thankful”?
a) As a negative emotion
b) As appreciating what you have
c) As wanting more things
d) As being tired
9. What does the book say about emotions in general?
a) They’re all bad
b) They’re all good
c) They come and go
d) They never change
10. What is the main message of the book?
a) Hide your feelings
b) All feelings are okay to have
c) Only happy feelings matter
d) Feelings are confusing
1. b) Emotions
2. c) Confused
3. c) Giggle
4. c) Accomplishing something
5. c) Shaky and small
6. c) Red
7. c) What someone else has
8. b) As appreciating what you have
9. c) They come and go
10. b) All feelings are okay to have
As children learn to identify and communicate their emotions more effectively, they can develop a stronger sense of self and a greater capacity for navigating the complexities of their inner and outer worlds. The book’s message of self-acceptance and emotional resilience can serve as a powerful complement to the lessons learned in “The Identity Explorer” game, reinforcing the idea that our identities are shaped by our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and that all of these aspects of ourselves are valid and worthy of acknowledgment.
By engaging with this heartfelt and affirming book, children can gain valuable tools for understanding and expressing their own emotions, as well as connecting more deeply with the emotions of others. This enhanced emotional awareness can contribute to a more grounded, compassionate, and authentic sense of self, laying the foundation for healthy relationships and lifelong personal growth.
Verse 1:
What are you? A boy or girl?
A name, a thought, or feeling?
Maybe you’re the whole wide world
Your true self keeps revealing
Pre-Chorus:
Ask and answer, back and forth
No right or wrong, just play
Chorus:
Who are you today?
More than meets the eye
Let’s explore and say
All the things you could be inside
Verse 2:
Are you laughter, are you tears?
The one who watches, listens?
Maybe you’re beyond all fears
A star that always glistens
(Pre-Chorus)
(Chorus)
Bridge:
You’re not just one thing, you see
You’re everything and more
In this game of you and me
We’ll unlock every door
(Chorus)
Outro:
So keep on asking, keep on guessing
Your identity’s a dance
In this game of self-expressing
We all deserve a chance
Remember, at QMAK, we don’t just teach; we empower. We don’t just inform; we inspire. We don’t just question; we act. Become a Gold Member, and let’s unlock your child’s full potential, one question at a time.