Core Skills Analysis
Psychology
Olivia took part in an activity called “Psychology with Amy,” engaging with psychology as a field of study. The activity introduced Olivia to the idea that psychology focuses on understanding people and their behavior. Olivia had an opportunity to consider psychological topics through the activity. This provided an age-appropriate starting point for learning about the mind and human behavior.
Tips
Tips — Olivia could extend this introduction by keeping a brief observation journal about everyday behaviors, describing what happened without guessing why. Next, explore how psychologists investigate questions by comparing an observation with a carefully phrased survey question. A discussion of how feelings, thoughts, and actions can differ would deepen understanding, while a simple role-play could help Olivia practice listening to another person’s perspective respectfully.
Book Recommendations
- The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz: A collection of stories that introduces how experiences can affect development and behavior; best suited to read with an adult.
Try This Next
- Observation worksheet: Record one everyday behavior, what happened beforehand, and what followed—without making assumptions about motivation.
- Reflection prompt: Write three questions Olivia would like to explore about thoughts, feelings, or behavior.
- Perspective-taking activity: Create a short fictional scenario and describe how two people might experience it differently.