According to the VIA Character Strengths website, “Hope” is one of the two-character strengths most associated with life satisfaction and well-being.

We know that learning about and practising character strengths can act as buffers against ill being (the opposite of wellbeing). This is why we use fun activities in PosEd classes (formally known as “interventions”).  The character strength “Hope” means being optimistic about the future. Hope involves agency as it is connected with motivation and confidence to achieve goals and the knowledge that there are many different pathways to achieving the desired future.

At BHPS, Hope lies within the ‘Positive Emotions’ arm of our PERMA wellbeing model because people with hope ‘have lots to look forward to’.

With Christmas and the Summer holidays around the corner, what are you looking forward to?

What We’ll Build by Oliver Jeffers

What Do You Do With A Chance?  A book about making the most of opportunities.

We all love Kid President and this is a report about his personal story which gives us an insight, possibly,  as to what a resilient and hope spreading person he is!

 

People who are prudent think carefully and make sensible and smart choices. Prudent people plan carefully and think before they act or speak.

Prudence sits within the “Meaning” arm of the BHPS starfish and there are quite a few goals that  people who are keen to be more prudent can aspire to. These include:

• Doing things that make a positive difference,
• using the character strengths of positive role models and
• helping others.

Being prudent can also mean making sensible decisions about where you can seek help if needed and knowing who you can help.

 

Motto: Think before you act.

“Make smart choices,” is a rule that can be easily applied to primary school students. There are many ways to see how it works. Think about the smart and foolish choices made by characters in a story, famous historical individuals and/or students in the playground.  Prudent decisions are wise decisions and making thoughtless choices without thinking before acting are the opposite.

Some examples of books wherein the characters display prudence (or not!) include:

“The Ant and the Grasshopper” is a fable wherein the organised ant plans for the Winter while the arrogant and lazy grasshopper makes fun of the ant. The grasshopper regrets his not so prudent decision making later!

“Can I Join Your Club” shows the main character being rejected by the other animals and making the decision to make his own club where everyone belongs.

 

Finally, “How to Heal a Broken Wing,” by Bob Graham shows a little boy in a sea of adults making the prudent and kind decision to help a bird lying injured on the pavement.