A note for the family of a student leader
Your child has been selected (or self-selected) for a 20-week student leadership program. They will be learning play-based lessons themselves and then delivering them to younger students in their school. This is one of the most powerful developmental experiences a child can have, leadership, public speaking, peer coaching and reflective practice all in one program.
This guide is for you. It tells you what to expect and how to support them through it.
What they will actually be doing
Each week your child will:
- Learn a new lesson with their cohort.
- Deliver that lesson to a younger class as a peer leader.
- Reflect on what worked and what did not.
- Build a portfolio of leadership artefacts over 20 weeks.
How to talk about it at home
Three questions that work better than "how was leadership?":
- "How did the buddy class go this week?", gets the real story.
- "What did the kids surprise you with?", frames them as the adult in the room.
- "What would you do differently next time?", builds reflective practice.
Two wobbles to watch for
Leadership programs surface real challenges. Watch for:
- Around week 6–8, "I don't want to do it any more." This is normal. It usually means the buddy classes have got harder. Encourage them to talk to their mentor at the school.
- Around week 14–16, they want to do MORE. This is also normal. Ask them what would help, then let them stretch.
Celebrate the small things
At the end of the program your child will graduate with a Certified Play Leader credential. The graduation is worth attending, these moments matter. In the meantime, name what you notice: "I saw you handle that disagreement at the park yesterday like a real leader."
