Why is Violence Harmful?

1.  How does violence impact the world you live in?
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the question]

• You may see violence in movies, television, video games, books, or music
• Maybe you've heard of stories in the news, where something violent has happened
• Maybe you have heard stories of war or live in a place that is going through a war
• You may have seen someone be violent

2.  How does violence impact those you may know? (You don't have to name a specific person or situation, if it makes you feel at all uncomfortable or unsafe.)
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the question]

• Maybe someone you know has been physically hurt in a space that is supposed to be safe

• Maybe someone you know in your community was a victim of gun violence
• Maybe a friend or peer has been in a fight and gotten hurt

3.  How has violence impacted you?
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the question]

• Maybe you play with toys that in real life would be considered violent weapons
• Maybe you have Active Shooter drills in your school
• Maybe you have personally experienced an act of violence -- either as the person being violent or having violence happen to you

4.  Why do you think violence is harmful?
[Go around the circle and have everyone take a turn answering the question]

• The feelings and emotions involved with violence can make someone feel so small and powerless
• Violence can hurt someone's body or mind, or even end a person's life
• Violence can make feelings like fear and anger so big, that it feels like there is no room for love or forgiveness

Rainbow of Feelings

Materials Needed:

• Hanger
• 2 large pieces of card stock or paper
• Yarn or string
• Scissors
• Tape or stapler
• Markers or crayons

Directions:

• Gather your art from the last session.
• Using the string, tape, tie or staple pieces of your artwork to the base of the hanger. If your child does not wish to cut up their art piece- they can create additional ones.
• Using the card stock or paper, draw and color two rainbows. (One on each piece of paper. Place your rainbow over the front and back of the hanger and tape it together.

Look at your amazing piece of art!

Story Time – Activity Option 2 

[In order to complete this activity, your group will need a copy of one of the suggested books. Our library has a collection of books dedicated to each Soul Talk which is updated constantly! You can visit our library at the link below. Search for the Violence & Nonviolence section.] https://spiritualplaydate.com/spiritual_playdate_library 

Since our Soul Talk was about Why is Violence Harmful?, we are going to read a book out loud. As you listen, start to think about how this story relates to what we just spoke about. 

[Invite the group to find a relaxing position, take a mat or towel, if you are working on a hard floor. They may sit or lie down to be comfortable. Speak slightly slower in a soft, soothing tone throughout, pausing briefly between sentences. You may play soft, instrumental music in the background while reading the meditation script]

Welcome to our Meditation Time: The time where we relax and connect to the spirit in and around us. I invite you to sit or lie down and make yourself comfortable.  Quietly do that now.  [Wait until the group is settled, then read the meditation script] [Optional: Begin music.] I am going to guide you through our meditation to help you relax. Let's close our eyes, and let's start by putting our hands on our bellies, and taking a deep, long breath in.  Feel your belly rise as you breathe in to the count of 1, 2, 3. Then feel your belly fall, as you slowly breathe out to the count of 1, 2, 3.  Now breathe in 1, 2, 3. And slowly breathe out like a tire losing air 1, 2, 3. Continue to breathe in and out slowly and steadily. Relax your body into the floor beneath you.  Keep breathing.

Violence is a heavy topic, isn't it?  And when we think of all the ways that violence causes harm to people, places, and things, it can feel even heavier.  Violence has real consequences, and none of them are good.  [Pause.]  People who lash out in violence can hurt or even kill someone. They cause fear, they cause damage to others and to themselves.  [Pause.]  Maybe you've seen violence sometime in your life ... in your neighborhood, school, on the news, or in a movie or TV show.  Think now about how it made you feel.  Were you scared?  Did you worry that something like that could happen to you?  Everyone has feelings, so think now about how violence makes other people feel.  [Long Pause.] What about when we do violence to others?  Maybe you felt like you just couldn't take it anymore.  Maybe you were copying the negative actions of someone you know, so you could fit in. Maybe there were too many bad feelings inside.  Violence never makes those bad feelings go away.  Violence only leaves us feeling worse because we hurt someone or something else. Violence causes harm that can last for years and years -- and even a lifetime.  [Pause.]  What can we do to avoid possible harm?  How do we learn to stop violence before it happens?  This may feel challenging sometimes, but it IS possible.  We can do this by opening our hearts and minds to thoughtfulness and love, even as our bodies and minds may feel like losing control, we can practice calming ourselves.  What are some things that bring you peace and calm?  [Pause.]  When we learn to do this, we can create peace within and around us.  We can choose the path of nonviolence.  We can rearrange our stormy feelings into something more beautiful, like a rainbow of peace.  We can be thoughtful, loving, non-violent people.  [Pause.]

Now let's take one more deep breath, and slowly let it out.  Now slowly open your eyes and slowly roll to the side and sit up to end our time of meditation.

[Optional: Turn off music] [Optional:  Say: Please return your cushion to its starting place]

After a storm there is often a rainbow. Take a moment to look at your artwork from the last session. Do you remember how you were feeling when you created it? How were the highs and lows that you were sharing affecting you? Life is always full of different highs and lows, no matter what age you happen to be. As you look at your rainbow, notice your highs and lows. How does it make you feel to see them in this new way: attached to something beautiful? Does your rainbow seem balanced? This rainbow represents how you have been feeling recently. If there is more pain, what is something you could do to relieve that? Maybe share time with someone you love; play; or read a book. If you are feeling more highs, why is that? What is happening in your life that is bringing on those emotions? No matter what you happen to be feeling, you are like a rainbow: beautiful, rare, and always showing up exactly when needed. And any stormy feelings always have the potential to end with a rainbow

Closing Choose One:

Closing Affirmation Option 1 

Turn to the person to your right, look them in the eye and say "I am happy I could share this time with you and hear about your beliefs."

 Closing Prayer Option 2  
The light of god surrounds us
The love of god enfolds us
The power of god protects us
The presence of god watches over us
Wherever we are, god is and all is well!