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Building Skills for a Healthy Life
The “Friends from Sunshine Center” was designed by Prevention Professionals from Prevention Through Puppetry, Inc.  The program was created based on over 15 years of prevention programming and classroom application.  The program integrates prevention strategies (substance abuse and violence prevention) and social and emotional learning.

Social Skills                                                                                                                                        Children from preschool through third grade learn and practice important skills, such as expressing healthy feelings, decision-making, anger management, appreciation of diversity, and problem solving. This program aims to increase positive social skills and decrease negative behaviors in children.

The preschool curriculum begins with the Feelings Garden lesson.  Young children learn identification of feelings and healthy expression of feelings.  Children gain empathy for others when they are better able to understand others emotions. Empathy can also promote caring and can increase positive social behaviors.

Program Components and Facilitator Support
The “Friends from Sunshine Center” program includes educator-friendly curricula, training for educators, and parent-support tools. The program staff will provide continuous support, answer questions, and work with facilitators through the challenges of implementation and delivery.  This support is provided at no cost for staff of the schools and agencies which purchased and utilizes this curriculum.  

Enhancing Positive Social Skills and Reducing Negative Behaviors
Implementing the program about 30 minutes once or twice a week will increase children’s understanding of the skills.  The program components (the STEPS, calm-down techniques, etc) allow the children to practice positive ways of solving their problems, resolving their conflicts and expressing their feelings.  With less emphasis on problem behavior, educators can put more emphasis on academics.

Engaging Students and Families
The “Friends from Sunshine Center” program for preschool and kindergarten caters to the diverse learning styles and interests of young children.  The program utilizes creative prevention strategies, including the use of songs, puppets, discussions, role-plays, and art projects to reinforce the learning process. The program also includes a family-education component. Parents are informed through newsletters, family events, and other ways to assist them in learning the skills that their children are leaning and providing them with ideas and suggestions to follow-through with, and practice the topics at home.

Learn about our History

I became co-founder of Sunshine Prevention Center for Youth & Families, a not-for-profit charitable organization in 1992 because of her desire to make a difference in the lives of children and families.  I always had a dream to write children’s stories and create my own puppets and prevention materials.   I gained experience working with hundreds of children of all ages through the years.  I began to write stories and puppet scripts with the assistance of my youngest daughter, Amber who also wrote about her experiences growing up. 

I then designed a set of puppets, six  multi-cultural puppets and their concepts (what value and learning experience each represented and stood for).  The puppets came to life through the creativity and craftsmanship of my sister Kristi Dalske.  Kristi lost her son Chris, age 22 to suicide in 2001.  She had never touched a sewing needle until she had the desire to make a memorial quilt out of his clothes.  She took a chance and the “Friends from Sunshine Center” characters were born.  Each puppet was handcrafted with special love and care.    I am currently looking for a manufacture to reproduce the puppets.  Through the years special people came along to assist—Illustrator, Sara Sia, Curricula Design, Holly Carter, Musical Component, Annie and Dominic Chichuolo. Today My dream continues through Prevention Through Puppetry, Inc.  where I design and create character education and prevention –focused programs and products.  These include: children’s story books,  story board stories, creative songs & finger plays, puppets, children’s self-help books, teachers training materials and curricula, and more.   Through creative means my goal is to bring support, hope, inspiration and most of all joy to those we reach.   Thank You for Your Support, Carol Carter

We have finally found a manufacture to provide us with our Friends from Sunshine Center Multi-cultural Puppets!  Small 14” hand puppets will now be sold with the Preschool kit and 24” hand puppets will be included in the Elementary Kit!  Thanks Sunny & Company!