Introducing HeartSkills: Circle Time with Puppet Pals — “I Don’t Want to Share!” ( 5 Day Digital Unit Lesson Plan)

Learning to Solve Problems With Friends Through Play, Conversation, and Connection

Back-to-school season is about so much more than new backpacks, classroom supplies, and learning routines. One of the most important things educators build during those first weeks together is relationships.

Before children can fully engage in learning, they need to feel safe, connected, and understood. They need opportunities to practice how to be a friend, how to communicate their needs, and how to solve the everyday problems that naturally happen when children learn and play together.

That is why HeartSkills: Circle Time with Puppet Pals was created.

Introducing the first digital unit in the HeartSkills series:

“I Don’t Want to Share!” — Learning to Solve Problems With Friends

This ready-to-use 5-Day Digital Unit Lesson Plan is designed to help preschool and early childhood educators intentionally teach children important friendship skills through engaging puppet conversations, guided discussions, and hands-on learning experiences.

Meet Milo and Mya — Puppet Friends Who Help Children Learn

At the heart of this HeartSkill: 5 Day Unit Lesson Plan are two lovable puppet pals: Milo and Mya.

Milo and Mya bring classroom friendship situations to life in a way that feels familiar and meaningful for young children. Through their conversations, children can see themselves, their feelings, and their everyday challenges reflected in the stories.

Each HeartSkills: Circle Time with Puppet Pals Digital Unit will feature a different set of puppet pals with their own personalities, friendship challenges, and learning moments. This allows children to experience a variety of characters and situations while continuing to build important social-emotional skills throughout the year.

The first HeartSkills unit introduces Milo and Mya in:

“I Don’t Want to Share,” Milo wants to be the “dinosaur boss” and struggles with allowing Mya to share her ideas during play. Through their interaction, children begin exploring an important lesson:

Sharing is not only about toys.

Sharing also means sharing ideas, listening to friends, taking turns, and making space for others.

🎥 HeartSkills Unboxing Video: Meet Milo & Mya and Explore What’s Included

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcCUXA0Rukc

In this unboxing video, take a closer look at the HeartSkills resources, meet Milo and Mya, and see how these tools can help bring meaningful friendship conversations into your classroom.

Through Milo and Mya’s playful friendship moments, children learn that good friends can:

• Share ideas

• Take turns making decisions

• Listen to one another

• Use kind friendship words

• Work together to solve problems

• Respect each other’s thoughts and feelings

These are the everyday skills that help children build confidence, communication, cooperation, empathy, and problem-solving abilities.

A Ready-to-Use SEL Resource for Busy Educators

HeartSkills: Circle Time with Puppet Pals was designed with early childhood educators in mind.

You do not need hours of preparation or complicated materials. This digital unit gives you the tools to confidently guide meaningful social-emotional learning conversations with children while supporting you as the educator in observing, reflecting, and continuing the conversation beyond circle time.

The 5-Day Digital Unit includes:

• 5 complete teacher-led HeartSkills lessons

• Daily puppet scripts featuring Milo and Mya

• Teacher discussion prompts

• Lesson objectives

• Circle time guidance

• HeartSkills Lesson Chant

• Printable Lesson Chant Poster

• Printable Song Poster

• Printable Friendship Power Words Poster

• Teacher Reflection & Observation Handout

• Family Connection Letter

The Teacher Reflection & Observation Handout helps educators pause and reflect on what they are noticing during the lessons. It provides an opportunity to observe children’s friendship skills, recognize areas where children may need additional support, and think intentionally about how to continue encouraging positive communication, cooperation, and problem-solving throughout the classroom day.

The Family Connection Letter helps bridge the connection between school and home by inviting families into the social-emotional learning journey. Educators can share what friendship skills children are practicing, what conversations are happening in the classroom, and how families can continue reinforcing these important lessons at home.

When teachers and families work together, children receive consistent messages about kindness, communication, respect, and building healthy friendships.

Each lesson is designed to fit naturally into:

• Preschool classrooms

• Pre-K programs

• Childcare centers

• Family childcare homes

• Homeschool learning environments

• Early childhood programs

Whether you use it during circle time, morning meeting, small groups, or a dedicated social-emotional learning lesson, HeartSkills provides an easy way to intentionally teach friendship skills while creating meaningful connections with children and families.

Build Classroom Community From Day One

The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to establish classroom expectations while children are building relationships with their teachers and classmates.

Instead of only telling children classroom rules, HeartSkills helps educators create conversations around why those expectations matter.

Children begin learning:

“What does it look like to be a good friend?”

“How can we solve problems when we want different things?”

“How can we use our words to help others feel valued?”

These conversations become the foundation for a classroom where children feel supported as they learn, play, and grow together.

Bring Milo and Mya Into Your Classroom

Make the lessons even more engaging by adding the Milo & Mya Puppet Pals (sold separately).

These handmade puppet friends are designed to bring the HeartSkills lessons to life. With their unique personalities and playful interactions, Milo and Mya help children connect with friendship lessons in a memorable way.

Children love learning from characters they can relate to, and puppets provide a wonderful opportunity for imagination, discussion, and meaningful classroom connections.

Add a Hands-On Friendship Reminder

Extend the learning with the Friendship Power Wand Creative Art Project (sold separately).

Children create their own Friendship Power Wand to use as a visual reminder of the friendship skills they are learning.

The Friendship Power Wand connects with the Friendship Power Words Poster and encourages children to practice:

• Using kind words

• Solving problems

• Taking turns

• Listening to friends

• Making thoughtful choices

  
  

This hands-on activity gives children something they can proudly use as they continue practicing friendship skills throughout the day.

Start the School Year With HeartSkills: Circle Time with Puppet Pals

Creating a positive classroom environment begins with connection.

When children are given opportunities to practice friendship skills, talk through challenges, and learn how to work together, they gain tools that will support them throughout the school year and beyond.

Prepare your classroom for back-to-school success with a resource that helps you build relationships while teaching children how to be thoughtful, caring friends.

Order HeartSkills: Circle Time with Puppet Pals — “I Don’t Want to Share!” Digital Download today for $24.99 and begin building friendship skills one circle time at a time.

Visit The Boutique for Curriculum Bundle Options

Your classroom rules are important—but the relationships you build while teaching them are what make them meaningful.