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From Teachers:
“I thought that some of the strategies that you taught the children were quite useful and it seemed to provide them with the necessary skills to deal with bullies. I think the main benefit or your program is that children became more confident in their own ability to stand up for themselves among peers and in society.
The Life Skills For Kids book that you have written has many good ideas in it and I particularly liked the anagrams you used, such as:
ASK YOUR HEART WHAT YOU WANT ‘COS IT KNOWS THE TRUTH THE 3 C’S – ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH CLEARLY CONNFIDENTLY AND CARINGLY THE 3 P’S – ARE YOU FEELING PRESSURED? PUSHED? LIKE YOU MUST PLEASE SOMEONE?
The children remembered these strategies easily and therefore gained the greatest benefit from them. The children loved the massaging and perhaps more of those ‘tuning’ in type activities, such as more meditation, could also be included in the program.
The children thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and they could definitely see the benefit of the program. From a teacher’s perspective, I can see how this program can assist kids to become more resilient and confident to stand up to people.
Thank you for taking the time to test this program out on my grade. I hope that my feedback and the feedback of the students, has been useful.”
Darryl
Teacher
Year 5 & 6
“The lessons conducted were very engaging. The students were mostly cooperative, enthusiastic and excited to learn new strategies of how to cope and deal in difficult situations.
The resources provided (cards, sketches, cartoons, posters) were all very visual which guided the students for a better understanding. Students were very enthusiastic with the activity taken in the gym (creative dancing).
There were positive comments made about how they enjoyed moving in different motions. Massages were also a great favourite, I had students using those techniques in class time.
I was very impressed to watch students open up their thoughts and feelings with their peers. That is a sign of trusting and self confidence.
In conclusion, Kim I believe your program is great! It’s something that requires time and to develop students’ confidence and esteem takes time!
Thanking you for all of your great ideas and teaching strategies. Would love to see you back again! “
Sev
Teacher
Year 3 & 4
  
From Students:
(please note names have been changed for privacy issues):
“The first time I saw Kim, I thought she was just another substitute teacher but as time went on, I found out it she was really good.
She showed us how bullies can be obvious or not so obvious.
She showed us how to know if they’re trying to bully us into doing something or putting us into a lot of pressure.
On the first day Kim tried a little test on us for us to know more about us and how you feel and all that. She also showed us how to relax with some massages that she had learnt.
Most of the sessions with her, we had more on bullying and how to make them go away and stop. She showed us the stuck CD technique and that works for me with my brother.
The stuck CD works when someone is talking to you and maybe you don’t want to do what they want, so you keep saying no or no thanks, just like the Cd is stuck, everytime they say please play with me or something.
The 3C’S is when you’re under pressure and you want this person to get out of your face, you stay clear, confident and caring.
And she also showed us how the bully became a bully and try to put yourself in their shoes.
And if there is something you want to do and your friend wants you to do something else, you can do the ‘for what purpose?’ do you want to do this and that?
You finally find out why- what you want to do and what they want to do.
I think Kim Davis’ sessions are really good and they did help me with some problems.”
From Samantha
age 12
“When I first saw Kim I didn’t think the classes would be very good. When Kim started it was very interesting to hear her point of view on bullying and feelings inside.
Kim made me realize that when I was being bullied, at some stage I could have done something about it.
Kim asked us once, “do you know how to relax”. I thought I knew how to relax but I didn’t. I was surprised. Then she told us ways to relax and the best way was the massaging.
Some methods of Kim’s didn’t work for me, such as the ‘stuck CD’ or ‘the broken record technique’. I have tried it two times and it didn’t work for me yet.
Kim’s stories were fantastic. A lot of imagination has gone into that. The stories were good for putting a picture in your mind about the experiences people have.
Many of Kim’s methods you wouldn’t really use because most of them are experiences she went through. The massage treatment works great. When my partner was doing it to me, it was really relaxing.
I’ve had a great experience expressing my feelings and I feel a lot better about the past.
Thanks Kim you helped me a lot.”
From Suzie
year 6
“I learnt lots on life skills and can let out bad feelings and how to relax the mind. Please still come to our class. Kim is a great teacher and FUN. We listen to stories that she made herself and about making people happy. We did fun activities.”
From Maurice
year 4
“I think the Life Skills For Kids with Kim Davis was pretty cool. I actually think that the ‘stuck CD’ is a great technique and was fun to learn with her but I think on the other hand, the ‘what do you want for YOU?’ game, for me, was really pretty pointless.
This is the only fault in her program, that she ran in our class for the four weeks.
I really like the way she listens and cares about what others say. She is just TOO NICE!!!
She made a point about the fact that bullies being bullies and that they are just doing their job. It made it much easier to understand why bullies are like that and they too are just being themselves, like the rest of us.
I like how she has the 3C’S – say it in a caring, confident and clear way. I also like the 3P’S – watch for feeling pressured, pushed around or pleasing others too much.
She really put it in perspective that I don’t have to do what I don’t want to do and nobody can make me.
I think this was everyone’s favourite – including mine and that’s MASSAGING!!!
I learnt a lot of new techniques for massages but one bad thing now is that my mum is always asking me to give her massages at night while watching TV.
It’s just a pity that we only got a few classes of that! I also liked some of the stories she told us, like the story about her dog Jack.
I hope to see you again in our class. When your book is in store I’ll be in there in a flash buying it!
Oh and one more thing – thanks for listening and being so kind to everyone.”
From Nic
year 5 & 6
“This term in Life Skills For Kids with Kim Davis, I have learnt how to deal with bullies, the stuck CD technique- where you keep saying the same thing over and over, but so far, the 3C’S, 3P’S and ASK your HEART strategies has not been working the best for me.
I am trying with a lot of different people. But a lot of my friends have told me how it is working for them, so it might just be the people I am talking to.
The massage has helped myself and my family in many different ways. When either of my parents were stressed or had a headache, I would use the stroking technique on their forehead and they would feel more relaxed and calm.
When I go into a clothes shop I now always look at the sellers differently. I used to hate going into shops because I felt pressured but now I know they’re just doing their job and that’s just the way they are.
So now I have that knowledge, I know how to say no and refuse it. But if I feel really pressured and I can’t get out of the situation I ask myself what do I want???
If I still can’t decide I use the stuck CD. It’s a great technique.
Good on you Kim!
Kim I liked your stories but they were a bit plain and some a bit far fetched!
But as for the programme, I think that it was FANTASTIC!”
From Tom
aged 11
“What I have learnt!
The first time I saw Kim she looked really nice. I had missed the session where we had to write about ourselves and our feelings. Then we started massages and I never even heard of them before.
They feel really nice on your back as well as your forehead.
I have forgotten what all the different strokes are called but I am telling you that they fell good.
The second time I saw Kim I knew exactly who she was and I was ready for her this time because she is so much fun. I couldn’t wait for the next time and in this session she talked about our feelings and how we express them.
Then we started doing something with our feelings and writing them down and she said they are just like pancakes because they can stack up all on top of each other.
The third time I saw Kim she was talking about bullies and how there are different types of bullies. She showed us how you always have to use the 3C’S and they mean clear, confident and caring. Then she gave us a spot on our body so when we are unhappy we can touch it and it makes me laugh.”
From Eva
age 11
“The Life Skills activities with Kim was actually good for people who are having trouble with bullies and worried about stuff they don’t know what to do and relaxation with massages with a partner.
We had the programme for four weeks in our school and we had a lot of fun with Kim Davis. The first day she came, she gave us a sheet with some questions and we had to answer them in our own words.
Then we did massages with a partner. Kim told us instructions of what to do with massages. It felt nice afterwards. Then she taught us about all sorts of other techniques, about bullies and how to say what we really want to say and what to watch out for.
Then she told us about putting yourself into their shoes, advertising, the ‘what do you want?’ game and the ‘for what purpose game?’.
When she told us she was in a bad mood that laughter was the best medicine.
I’ll say that she was pretty good with the attitude she’s got.
The sessions really helped me getting through my life.
So I thank Kim for a great job!”
From Jane
year 5 & 6
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