How Does Koko Handle Unfair Situations?

🕐 4 min 9 sec 👦 Ages 6–8 🌍 English
Join Koko and Owlo as they explore feelings of frustration and learn how to handle unfair situations with kindness.
Identify feelings of frustration Understand fairness and unfairness Learn coping strategies for tough emotions
📖 Story Script
                    Koko:
                    Owlo, today was the worst day ever. I am so upset right now.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Oh my. Come sit with me, Koko. Tell me what happened.
                
                    Koko:
                    So at lunch, me and Benny both finished our veggie soup at the same time. But Mrs. Fern only gave the last cookie to Benny. It was so unfair!
                
                    Owlo:
                    That does sound really frustrating. I can understand why you feel upset.
                
                    Koko:
                    I wanted to yell, but I just sat there feeling all hot and grumpy inside. My ears were flat the whole afternoon.
                
                    Owlo:
                    You know what, Koko? That feeling you described, that hot and grumpy feeling, has a name. It is called frustration.
                
                    Koko:
                    Frustration? That is a funny word for such a terrible feeling.
                
                    Owlo:
                    It is the feeling we get when something seems unfair or does not go the way we hoped. Everyone feels it, even me.
                
                    Koko:
                    Even you, Owlo? You always seem so calm about everything.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Oh, I have had my share of frustrating moments. Just last week, I spent all morning preparing a science experiment, and then the equipment broke before we could even start.
                
                    Koko:
                    What did you do? Did you just give up and go home?
                
                    Owlo:
                    I wanted to, for a moment. But I took a slow, deep breath first. Then I asked myself a very important question.
                
                    Koko:
                    What question?
                
                    Owlo:
                    I asked myself, can I change this situation, or is it out of my hands?
                
                    Koko:
                    Hmm. So, could you change the broken equipment?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Not right away. So I decided to use that time to read instead. The frustration was still there, but I did not let it ruin my whole day.
                
                    Koko:
                    I think the cookie situation was out of my hands too. Mrs. Fern already gave it to Benny.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Exactly. And here is something important to understand. Feeling frustrated is completely okay. It is what we do with that feeling that matters.
                
                    Koko:
                    What do you mean, what we do with it?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Well, let me show you something. Come with me to the art room for a moment.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Here we are. Now, Koko, I want you to take this piece of paper and this pencil.
                
                    Koko:
                    Okay. What am I drawing?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Draw what the frustration felt like inside you at lunch today. Do not think too much. Just draw.
                
                    Koko:
                    Okay. It kind of looks like a big storm cloud with spiky edges. And maybe some lightning bolts.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is a wonderful drawing. Now, on the other side of the paper, draw what you wish had happened instead.
                
                    Koko:
                    I drew two cookies, one for me and one for Benny. And we are both smiling.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is perfect, Koko. You just did something very smart without even realizing it.
                
                    Koko:
                    I did? It just felt like drawing.
                
                    Owlo:
                    You named your feeling, you let it out safely, and then you imagined a fair solution. Those are three powerful steps for coping with unfairness.
                
                    Koko:
                    Coping. That means dealing with something hard, right?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Exactly right. Coping means finding a healthy way to handle a difficult feeling, instead of letting it take over.
                
                    Koko:
                    So next time something unfair happens, I can draw, or breathe, or ask if I can change it?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Yes. And there is one more thing you can do. You can talk to someone you trust, like a parent, or a friend, or me.
                
                    Koko:
                    Talking actually helped today. I feel way less stormy inside now.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is the power of it. Feelings are like clouds, Koko. They look huge and scary, but they always pass.
                
                    Koko:
                    Okay, so here is what I learned today. When something unfair happens, I will probably feel frustrated, and that is totally normal. I can take a deep breath, ask if I can change the situation, let my feelings out in a safe way like drawing, and talk to someone I trust. Oh, and feelings are like clouds. They do not stay forever, even the really stormy ones. Next time, I want to learn about what to do when a friend is the one being unfair, because that feels even trickier.