Life skills and Personality Development Programme
Posted by Rita Aggarwal. Practising Psychologist, Nagpur, India
In the year 1992, a 15 day module on Life skills and personality Development was prepared for school children in the age group of 10 to 16 years. Another advanced module was prepared for undergraduate college students in the age group of 16 to 22 years. It was realised that formal school education seriously lacked the components of development of a good personality and psychosocial competence, as it focused mainly on school curriculum teaching and learning. The larger objective of the programme was to promote mental health and prevent mental illness by the development of the positive aspects mind, so as to prepare children to face big challenges of life with confidence and positivism. The aim was to help develop skills and positive attitudes towards self and life in general based on the code of ethical and moral living. Topics, such as, development of self-image, positive thinking, social skills of assertiveness and removing shyness and submissiveness; achievement motivation, goal setting, improving concentration and attention, and understanding emotions and emotional control were weaved into the programme. The techniques of behaviour modification, along with group discussions, role play, small group interactions, simulation exercises and games, inspirational story- telling of real life heroes, besides simple lectures were employed for experiential learning. This programme has been running very successfully since then till date, showing tremendous results.