Family · Course G3 · Trial version

Family 2–8: The Foundation Hand

Parents, even one parent alone, build three foundations through 30 minutes of purposeful play: self-reliant habits, a curious, testing mind, and kind values. And there is less shouting at home.

For	Parents, grandparents and carers of children aged 2–8
Length	12 weeks × 3 sessions × 30 minutes. About 30 minutes of preparation per week
You need	Things already at home, paper, chunky crayons. Children need no screens
Status	All 12 weeks written in Vietnamese. Week 1 is translated and was tried in one family; weeks 2–12 are not yet tried

Help now (1–2 weeks)

A fun play time with your child every day.
Your child does at least one small job alone.
You have ready-made phrases to use instead of shouting.

Build for the long term

Executive function: attention, working memory, self-control.
The habit of asking, guessing and checking.
Honesty, gratitude, kindness, responsibility.

The Foundation Hand

Five fingers are five habits. Children look at their own hand and remember.

Hands-on science cycle — Every science session: look, guess, try, then tell what happened.

A 30-minute session — Connect 3′, breathe 1′, activity 15′, retell 5′, use it in daily life 5′.

Finger	Habit
Thumb	I can do it myself
Index finger	Look at the goal, then go
Middle finger	Important things first
Ring finger	Listen – understand – have fun together
Little finger	Grow well: sleep, food, movement, calm

The 12 weeks

Three sessions each week: T Habits, K Hands-on science (Look → Guess → Try → Tell), G Values and mindfulness. Week 1 is in English. For weeks 2–12, open the Vietnamese course page; your browser can translate it.

Week	T – Habits	K – Science	G – Values	Measurable goal
1	I can do it myself	Float or sink?	Honest and light	Older child: does the chosen job alone ≥4 of 7 days. Toddler: puts away 3 toys when reminded
2	Try – fail – try again	Water: pour, measure, soak	Three thank-yous	Older: says “I’ll try another way”. Toddler: pours water from a small jug
3	Look at the goal, then go	Bean seeds sprouting	Secret good deeds	Older: sets 1 goal and checks it. Toddler: picks 1 of 2 job pictures
4	Before – During – After	How tall is the sprout?	Stop – Breathe – Talk	Older: draws a 3-step plan. Toddler: points to 2 feeling faces
5	Important things first	Light and shadow	My own housework	Older: main job first ≥4 of 7 days. Toddler: tidies up with a song
6	Red light – green light	Slopes and force	Owning and fixing mistakes	Older: stops on signal ≥8/10. Toddler: ≥5/10
7	The talking stick	Mystery bag	Feelings detective	Older: repeats what someone said. Toddler: waits for a turn once
8	Big sibling teaches	Weather around the house	Thanking workers	Older: teaches the sibling 1 task. Toddler: follows 1 step
9	Grow well: sleep, food, movement	Dinosaurs and fossils	Walk slowly, eat slowly	Regular bedtime ≥5 of 7 days (both children)
10	A calm-down corner	Design a boat that carries the most	Keeping small promises	Older: uses the calm corner once. Toddler: accepts a hug or breathing together
11	The whole hand: a family vegetable pot	I ask – I test	Being kind to yourself	Older: asks a question and predicts. Toddler: names 3 plant parts
12	Foundation Hand celebration	Family science fair	Review values, draw a wish	End-of-course review

“Older child” = about 7 years old; “toddler” = about 2 years old. Adjust to your own children’s ages.

One 30-minute session

Connect (0–3′): say hello, sit close. The toddler sits on your lap.
Breathe for 1 minute (3–5′): “smell the flower – blow out the candle”.
Main activity (5–20′): two levels, for the older child and the toddler.
Child retells (20–25′): the toddler points, names or copies.
Take it into daily life (25–30′): pick one thing to do this week, add a sticker.

A 2-year-old joins for 10–15 minutes, then plays alongside. Don’t make them sit for the full 30 minutes.

Track progress

Score the observation chart (Vietnamese) at weeks 0, 6 and 12: 0 = not yet, 1 = with a reminder, 2 = on their own. Also count, over 3 days, how often you give specific praise and how often you shout. This is self-tracking, not a test.

Where the method comes from

Source	Idea we borrow	Evidence
Parenting for Lifelong Health (WHO/UNICEF)	One-to-one play, specific praise, clear instructions, non-violent consequences	[Verified] Randomised trial in South Africa (296 caregivers): observed positive parenting +39% after 4–5 months (Ward et al. 2019)
Executive function activities guide (Harvard)	Games by age, 18–36 months and 5–7 years	[Verified] Expert guidance, not a randomised trial
CASEL	Naming goals after five social-emotional competencies	[Verified] Meta-analysis of 424 studies (Cipriano et al. 2023), mostly in schools
Reach Up	Play with home-made toys for young children	[Verified] Long-term follow-up in Jamaica (Gertler et al.)
Lee, Talwar et al. 2014, Psychological Science	Stories that praise honesty	[Verified] 268 children aged 3–7; short-term effect

Limits, honestly

[Inference] Most of these programmes were tested in groups with a facilitator. Self-study at home has not been shown to work as well. This course is being tried in one family, with no comparison group. We make no promises about grades or IQ.

Watch before you teach

Safety for every session

Under 3s: keep small objects out of reach. Home tip: anything that fits through a toilet-paper tube is too small.
No button batteries, small magnets, plastic bags or sharp knives and scissors near the toddler.
Water play: an adult always within arm’s reach; empty the water right after.

Get help now

In Vietnam: child in danger or abused – call 111 (free, 24/7). Medical emergency – 115. Depression or thoughts of self-harm – 096 306 1414 (Ngày Mai line, Vietnamese). Elsewhere: call your local emergency number. More help.