One 11 year old boy was told by others that they admired his ability to deal calmly with other pupils' aggression. When asked to elaborate he said he had been surprised to find out how much he was liked. He appears to have gained a lot of confidence and joins in discussions much more freely. Faced with a barrage of compliments it can be difficult to remember or even believe them. In this way the recipient accepts it as an opinion and cannot contradict it.
Teachers record the comments while they are being said and the sheet is presented to the child.
You are nice to be with' is always a favourite. This part of the ceremony ends with the child being asked to name and tell us one thing about herself of which she is pleased, perhaps proud. It often causes difficulty and here we see the measure of low self-esteem. Part of the fun of Circletime is that the Special Child is asked if he or she wants to be called by another name for the day. Nicknames used among friends become universally accepted and other children take bigger risks and choose their popular heroes and heroines.