The Remote Psychosocial Support Through Play for Elementary Learners: A Teacher’s Activity Guide and Resource Package forms part of the Department of Education’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) that aims to enable learning continuity amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This was developed under the direction and supervision of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), represented by DRRMS Director Ronilda R. Co, Mr. Paolo R. Aquino, and Ms. Joan Grace R. Llamado.
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Message From the Secretary
The Philippine Basic Education has been heavily affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as schools and learning centers are closed for the physical conduct of classes. To provide continuous learning opportunities to our learners, the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) was adopted (DO 12 s.2020) to guide learning delivery while ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all learners, teachers, and personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd).
DepEd is committed to providing all the necessary needs of the learners, parents, and teachers to achieve Patuloy na Edukasyon as we face the new normal in the education sector. With this, the BE-LCP prescribes various remote learning modalities depending on the context of our learners, including online and offline delivery, and the use of television and radio. With face-to-face classes still prohibited, we want to ensure that education will continue to give hope and stability and facilitate the continuing development of our learners.
In fulfilling Angkop na Proteksyon, we are continuously collaborating with the Inter-Agency Task Force, health authorities, parents, teachers, and learners in creating their localized plans to ensure the overall wellness and safety of the academic community. Our critical response in the protection of our stakeholders is the provision of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). This initiative aims to help learners cope with the situation and develop mental resilience. The provision of MHPSS is also a part of the Required Health Standards in Basic Education Offices and Schools (DO 14, s. 2020).
In times like this, it is also vital for the Department to provide Mabisang Aksyon. This is to ensure that every challenge is properly addressed, and necessary actions are taken. I am pleased that DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) has collaborated with the Unilab Foundation, Inc. (ULF) in developing the Remote Psychosocial Support Through Play for Elementary Learners: A Teacher’s Activity Guide and Resource Package.
Psychosocial Support (PSS) through play is important because it will help our learners recognize and understand their feelings, learn to manage stressful situations, and develop positive coping strategies through different play activities. Play can also help alleviate distress and is crucial for acquiring social, emotional, and intellectual skills.
I am confident that this Teacher’s Activity Guide will help teachers effectively facilitate PSS online during the first week of classes because learners will be provided with the related learning materials such as the COVID-19 Comics and the Learner’s Playbook which will be used for the activities, with the supervision of their parents or guardians.
The situation that we are in right now is indeed challenging. But together, we can continue to create safe learning spaces for our learners. It is said, “it takes a village to raise a child.” And together we need the help of all our stakeholders, so we can raise mentally healthy and future-ready learners.
Sama-sama tayo sa paghahanda sa ating mga mag-aaral,. Handang Isip, Handang Bukas!
READ: Remote Psychological First Aid to Secondary Learners
Remote Psychosocial Support Through Play for Elementary Learners
Remote Psychosocial Support Through Play for Elementary Learners: A Teacher’s Activity Guide
The Remote Psychosocial Support Through Play for Elementary Learners: A Teacher’s Activity Guide and Resource Package is intended for the use of Elementary Teachers, School Heads, and Non-Teaching Personnel of DepEd Region and Schools Division offices who have been assigned to provide psychosocial support to learners.
What are the main objectives of the Teacher’s Activity Guide?
This Activity Guide aims to:
- Enhance teachers’ or facilitators’ knowledge and understanding of how learners react and cope with disasters and stressful situations;
- Enable teachers or facilitators to deliver remote psychosocial support through the use of facilitated Play Modules; and
- Provide materials that can help learners improve their ability to cope and become resilient.
