Al’s Pals

Developing early social and emotional skills

Al’s Pals is a classroom program for children in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. Teachers use puppets to help students develop social and emotional skills such as self-control, problem-solving, and healthy decision making.

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Get in touch with Youth First staff for more information about this program.

Laura Wathen, Director of Programs

Through fun lessons, engaging puppets, original music and effective teaching approaches, Al’s Pals strives to:

Help young children regulate their own feelings and behavior, allowing educators more time for creative teaching by reducing the need for discipline
Create and maintain classroom environments of caring, cooperation, respect, and responsibility
Teach conflict resolution and peaceful problem-solving
Promote appreciation of differences and positive social relationships
Prevent and address bullying behavior
Convey clear messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
Build children’s abilities to make healthy choices and cope with life’s difficulties

Through fun lessons, engaging puppets, original music and effective teaching approaches, Al’s Pals strives to:

Help young children regulate their own feelings and behavior, allowing educators more time for creative teaching by reducing the need for discipline
Create and maintain classroom environments of caring, cooperation, respect, and responsibility
Teach conflict resolution and peaceful problem-solving
Promote appreciation of differences and positive social relationships
Prevent and address bullying behavior
Convey clear messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
Build children’s abilities to make healthy choices and cope with life’s difficulties

Students show significant improvement working well with peers

Students show significant improvement using words to express feelings

Students show significant improvement positively managing behavior

Testimonials

“The children use Al’s Place all the time. It was a great way for them to express their feelings in a safe and non-threatening environment.”

Teacher

“I have seen an improvement in [my students’] ability to express their feelings.”

Teacher

“I noticed many changes throughout the year. Many times the children would remind each other about lessons they learned through Al’s Pals as a way to interact with each other. At times they would even remind me to sing the “Calm Down” song when I was frustrated with my Smartboard.”

Teacher

“The children learned to problem-solve on their own. There was much less tattling in my classroom this year thanks to Al’s Pals. The children were able to work out problems without much help from me.”

Teacher

“The children went to Al’s Place to work out their problems with classmates, to calm down, to think about making good choices. Children felt that Al’s Place was a safe place for them to go in the classroom. [It] was always a positive place in our classroom.”

Teacher

“I’ve found significant changes in the children’s social skills. Having Al’s Place in the classroom helped children deal with their feelings. It also helped me facilitate my student with social/emotional needs.”

Teacher

“As the year progressed, the children were able to apply the lessons they learned from Al’s Pals to their daily lives. It became second nature to them and they started using Al’s Place as a safe haven to express their feelings with their classmates.”

Teacher

“My students used brainstorming as part of their problem-solving process. They also used the calm-down strategy to help them regulate their feelings and think things through.”

Teacher

“Al’s Pals has given my students the tools they need to help manage their own feelings. Many times I would have students ask to use Al’s Place to calm down, talk things out with a classmate or self-regulate.”

Teacher

“I have been using Al’s Pals for three years now. It has completely changed the way I teach behaviors and social-emotional topics. I love that it is easy to follow and the children really grasp the ideas, especially when their puppet friends come out to see them.”

Teacher

“This year I had several students with various behavioral issues (anger, defiance, anxiety). Al’s Pals has given these children, who have a hard time expressing their feelings, a positive outlet to express their feelings in a safe and encouraging environment.”

Teacher

“Youth First is such an amazing resource and their help with introducing Al’s Pals at my 4 year old son’s school has been lifechanging for him. I will randomly hear him singing the songs and using the tips from Al and his friends when dealing with emotions which makes me ever thankful.”

Anna KunkelParent

Al’s Pals

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