Bounce and Balance: Building Emotional Strength Through Play
Empowering K-8 students with emotional intelligence, conflict-resolution skills, and positive communication through active play.
Bounce and Balance is Black Mental Health Canada’s signature child- focused social-emotional learning (SEL) program designed for children from Kindergarten to Grade 8. The program helps children develop emotional intelligence, conflict-resolution skills, and positive communication — all through engaging workshops, role-play, and real-life examples they can immediately apply during outdoor play and daily interactions.
What Is Bounce and Balance?
Bounce and Balance is an interactive workshop series that teaches
children essential emotional and social skills such as:
- Managing anger and frustration
- Problem solving and decision-making
- Assertiveness and healthy communication
- Teamwork, empathy, and kindness
Our trained facilitators lead fun, energetic sessions using stories,
demonstrations, and role-playing to model what positive behaviour
looks like in real-life situations — especially during
recess, sports, and outdoor play, where many social
challenges naturally arise.
How the Program Works
We Teach Essential Social-Emotional Skills
Children participate in a highly engaging workshop where they learn tools for emotional regulation, cooperation, and conflict resolution. They watch behaviour demonstrations, practice through role-play, and learn how to use these skills with friends, siblings, and classmates.
Schools Reinforce the Skills During Outdoor Play
After the workshop, teachers and staff observe children during recess or outdoor activities. When they “catch” a child using Bounce and Balance skills, the child earns a Bounce and Balance Sticker.
Positive Reinforcement Builds Lasting Change
Once a child collects a certain number of stickers, they receive a reward chosen by their school or centre — helping sustain motivation and reinforce healthy habits.
Why Outdoor Play Matters
Outdoor play is one of the richest learning environments for social-emotional growth. Recess is where children:
- Practice cooperation
- Manage conflict
- Build friendships
- Experience frustration and success
- Learn independence and self-advocacy
Bounce and Balance equips children with the tools to navigate these moments with confidence, maturity, and emotional awareness.
Program Benefits
For Children
- Greater self-control and emotional resilience
- Reduced conflict and improved peer relationships
- Increased confidence in social situations
- Recognition for positive behaviour
For Schools & Educators
- A simple, easy-to-implement SEL framework
- Less conflict and behaviour escalation during recess
- A positive reward system tied directly to real-life skill use
- A healthier, more supportive school climate
For Families & Communities
- Children develop lifelong emotional and interpersonal skills
- Stronger school-community collaboration
- Increased understanding of positive behaviour reinforcement
Who Is the Program For?
Bounce and Balance is ideal for:
- Elementary schools
- Childcare centres
- Community programs
- After-school programs
- Summer camps
It is culturally informed, trauma-aware, and designed to support the emotional well- being of Black children while being accessible and beneficial to all children.
Bring Bounce and Balance to Your School
Ready to create positive, emotionally thriving play spaces for your students? Contact Black Mental Health Canada today to book a workshop or learn more about implementing Bounce and Balance in your school or centre.
