Building Social, Emotional, and Problem-Solving Skills for Children
The Incredible Years®: Dinosaur School is an evidence-based prevention program that helps young children develop the social, emotional, and behavioral skills they need to succeed at home, in school, and in their communities. Through engaging lessons, interactive activities, role-playing, stories, games, and puppet characters, children learn important life skills in a fun, supportive, and age-appropriate environment.
Maumee Valley Guidance Center partners with local schools to deliver the Dinosaur School curriculum to elementary-aged children, helping them build healthy relationships, improve self-control, solve problems, and develop confidence in positive decision-making.
What Children Learn
The Dinosaur School curriculum teaches practical skills that children can use every day, including:
- Recognizing and understanding emotions
- Listening and following directions
- Managing anger and strong feelings
- Problem-solving and making positive choices
- Friendship and social skills
- Respect, empathy, and kindness
- Sharing and cooperation
- Bullying prevention
- Understanding the difference between tattling and telling
- Honesty and responsibility
- Teamwork and helping others
- Classroom readiness and self-regulation
These skills provide a strong foundation for academic success, healthy relationships, and lifelong emotional well-being.
An Engaging Learning Experience
Children actively participate in each lesson through:
- Interactive classroom discussions
- Puppet demonstrations featuring the Dinosaur School characters
- Stories and role-playing activities
- Games that reinforce positive behaviors
- Practice using new skills in real-life situations
- Positive reinforcement and encouragement
The curriculum is designed to keep children engaged while making learning both enjoyable and meaningful.
Benefits of the Program
Research has shown that children who participate in The Incredible Years®: Dinosaur School demonstrate improvements in:
- Emotional regulation
- Self-confidence
- Communication skills
- Cooperation with peers and adults
- Problem-solving abilities
- Classroom behavior
- Conflict resolution
- Empathy and respect for others
By teaching these skills early, the program helps children develop healthy coping strategies that support success both inside and outside the classroom.
Evidence-Based Prevention
The Incredible Years® is one of the most extensively researched social-emotional learning programs available. Developed by clinical psychologist Dr. Carolyn Webster-Stratton, the curriculum has been evaluated through decades of research and is recognized internationally as an effective program for promoting children’s social and emotional development while preventing behavioral challenges.
Our Commitment
At Maumee Valley Guidance Center, we believe prevention begins by giving children the tools they need to succeed. The Incredible Years®: Dinosaur School helps children build confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop healthy emotional skills that can benefit them throughout their lives.
By partnering with schools, educators, and families, we work to create supportive learning environments where every child has the opportunity to grow socially, emotionally, and academically.
Interested in Learning More?
If your school or organization would like more information about The Incredible Years®: Dinosaur School or other prevention and educational programs offered by Maumee Valley Guidance Center, please contact us. We are committed to helping children, families, schools, and communities build brighter, healthier futures through evidence-based prevention programming.