Positive Education Program for Children "Psicidadania +"

The global society, full of uncertainties and challenges, requires that we educate for active citizenship, advocating a developmental process that strives for a participatory, critical, and active citizen. On the other hand, Positive Psychology, in the beginning of the 21st century, brings a paradigm shift in conceptualization and intervention by focusing the study on optimal functioning and positive development. With the goal of positive child development and endowing them with positive, resilient, and citizen skills, it is necessary to bring together institutions such as the School and the Family, individual traits, and subjective experiences. In Portugal, educational interventions have focused on remediation and neglected, in general, the optimal functioning of children. Thus, based on the principles of Positive Psychology and Active Citizenship, we have conceptualized the Positive Education Program "Psicidadania +", aimed at children in the 3rd grade of elementary school. Psicidadania + is a 14-session educational intervention program, focused on a positive education and citizenship strategy for the optimal development of students, through the planning and execution of pedagogical activities and positive human relationships. It focuses on five thematic modules: knowledge of self and others; interpersonal relations in the class; positive classroom space; leisure space (playground) as a citizenship space; the Positive School; and the environment. These thematic modules are articulated with the virtues/strengths to be achieved and with the curriculum of the aforementioned learning year.