Healthy Routes: The Confidence & Connection Workshop Series

Grades 5–6 | 4-Week Skills-Based Workshop Series

Location: Youth of Manotick (need to fill in the address), in-person only

 

Program Overview

The Confidence & Connection Workshop Series is a structured, skills-based program for children in Grades 5–6, designed to build confidence, communication, friendship skills, and emotional regulation.

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This educational workshop series supports children in developing social confidence, speaking up with respect, navigating friendships, and managing big emotions in real-life situations at school, at home, and with peers.

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This is not a play-based drop-in group. Each session follows a clear learning focus and builds practical skills over time. The series is led by a family counsellor and life skills educator.

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To support learning beyond the sessions, each route includes a brief parent support sheet outlining the key skills covered and simple ways families can reinforce learning at home, without added pressure or homework.

 

Workshop Structure: The 4 Routes

The Confidence & Connection Workshop Series is organized into four core learning routes, each focused on a key area that supports confidence, communication, friendships, and emotional regulation.

 

Core Route 1: Confidence From the Inside Out (week of March 24th -April 13th, 2026)

This route focuses on strengthening inner confidence and self-awareness without pressure to be loud or outgoing. Participants explore self-talk, body language, and how to feel secure and comfortable being themselves in everyday situations.

 

Well, suited for children who feel shy, unsure, or hard on themselves.

 

Core Route 2: Speaking Up with Respect (week of April 21st - May 11th)

This route focuses on communication and assertiveness skills. Participants learn how to express needs clearly and kindly, understand tone and timing, handle pushbacks, and speak up in ways that feel confident and respectful.

 

Helpful for children who struggle to speak up—or who feel misunderstood when they do.

 

Core Route 3: Friendships & Social Smarts (week of May 19th - June 9th)

This route supports real-life friendship and peer interaction skills. Participants work on reading social cues, navigating inclusion, setting healthy boundaries, handling awkward moments, and responding to peer conflict.

 

Often chosen when friendships feel confusing, stressful, or unpredictable.

 

Core Route 4: Calm Skills & Coping Tools (week of June 16th - July 7th)

This route focuses on emotional regulation and stress management. Participants learn why big reactions happen, how to read body signals, and how to use calming strategies to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting in the moment.

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Supportive for children who experience big emotions, overwhelm, or shutdowns.

 

Registration & Fee

Each Core Route is offered as a stand-alone workshop series (Tuesdays from 6:30pm-8:30pm). Between 8:15pm and 8:30pm participants will have an opportunity to network and try out their skills learned while they await being picked up. You are welcome to pick up during that time if they need to go early. Families may register for one or multiple routes based on their child’s needs (each of the 4 Route Workshops is different and the content each week is different). Maximum of 12 students per route workshop; minimum of 8 students. Parents do not stay for the sessions.

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Fees per Route Workshops

Registration: $250 covers all 4 weeks' sessions in a particular Route Workshop.​

Students, who attend all weeks in their Route Workshop, will receive a Certificate of Participation for attending the workshop, at the last session for that workshop. Registration below.