Rock and Water is a social and emotional learning intervention for young people aged 7 to 17 years. It is delivered by trained teachers, youth workers, or social workers to groups of children for a period of 10 weeks, and aims to improve physical, mental, and emotional resilience.
The information above is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
7 to 17 years old
Group
Rock and Water is a social and emotional learning intervention for children and young people aged 7 to 17 years. It aims to improve skills such as self-regulation, communication, and empathy. It can be delivered in a variety of settings, such as schools or youth clubs, by teachers, youth workers, or social workers.
It is typically taught over 6 to 10 sessions, during which the skills of physical, social, and mental resilience are practised and then considered in relation to daily situations. Video scenarios also facilitate discussion, and homework assignments are given to further reflect and transfer the learning to real-life situations. Specific topics covered include: mental strength, body language, empathic feeling, setting boundaries, bullying, breath strength, life goals, dealing with a threatening group, body awareness, intuition and listening, sexuality and sexual violence, and emotional control. Participants are taught self-regulation skills such as grounding, centring, effective breathing, verbal and non-verbal communication, self-reflection, and empathy.
The intervention cultivates mental and social skills by starting with physical action and experience. The emphasis on kinaesthetic learning patterns are practised through a series of exercises and games, some of which are martial arts based, and evoke a physical and psychological response. Participants learn about responding to life with either a ‘rock’ or a ‘water’ attitude. For instance, ‘rock’ represents a strong and uncompromising attitude, while ‘water’ symbolises flexibility, communication, and cooperation. The intervention teaches the consequences, both positive and negative, of responding to situations with either a ‘rock’ or ‘water’ attitude.
7 to 17 years
This intervention is a universal intervention targeting participating school students
Disclaimer: The information in this section is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
Science-based assumption
Lack of self-regulation and resilience can increase the risk of antisocial and violent behaviours in times of conflict, as well as sexual aggressive behaviour.
Science-based assumption
A greater understanding of acceptable and safe behaviours, and improved communication skills can increase the ability to develop and sustain relationships into adulthood.
Science-based assumption
All children and young people, who may be at risk of poor relational outcomes and antisocial behaviour.
Intervention
Children and young people are taught self-regulation skills, such as grounding, centring, effective breathing, verbal and non-verbal communication, self-reflection, and empathy.
Short-term
Improved understanding of acceptable and safe behaviours
Improved self-regulation.
Medium-term
Improved communication skills
Improved self-reflection and empathy.
Long-term
Improved ability to develop and sustain relationships into adulthood
Reduced risk of violent or aggressive behaviour
Reduced risk of aggressive sexual behaviour.
Children aged 7 to 17.
Rock and Water is delivered in 6 to 10 sessions of 1 to 1.5 hours’ duration each by one practitioner, to groups of children and young people.
The practitioner who delivers this intervention is a trained teacher, youth worker, or social worker.
The practitioners have 24 hours of intervention training. Booster training of practitioners is not required.
Supervision is not required.
Intervention fidelity is maintained through the following processes:
Contact person: Scott Neely
Organisation: Rock and Water
Email address: Scott@rockandwater.org.uk
Websites: https://www.rockandwater.org.uk/
*Please note that this information may not be up to date. In this case, please visit the listed intervention website for up to date contact details.
Rock and Water’s most rigorous evidence comes from one randomised controlled trial and one quasi-experimental design study both conducted in the Netherlands, consistent with Foundations’ Level 2+ evidence strength threshold.
These studies identified statistically significant improvements in self-efficacy, self-esteem, self-regulation, and reductions in depressive feelings, physical victimisation, bullying, and sexually aggressive coercive strategies.
Rock and Water has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome, but we cannot be confident that the intervention caused the improvement.
| Identified in search | 2 |
| Studies reviewed | 2 |
| Meeting the L2 threshold | 2 |
| Meeting the L3 threshold | 0 |
| Contributing to the L4 threshold | 0 |
| Ineligible | 0 |
| Study design | Cluster RCT |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sample characteristics | 1,203 children aged 7 to 14 years across 17 schools |
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities | Not reported |
| Population risk factors |
|
| Timing |
|
| Child outcomes |
|
| Other outcomes | None |
| Study rating | 2+ |
| Citations | Reitz, E., Mertens, E., van Londen, M. & Deković, M. (2019) Changes in social safety, feelings of competence, and depressive feelings of primary school children who have participated in the intervention program Rock and Water: A comparison study. Tijdschrift Klinische Psychologie. 49 (1), 38–57. |
| Study design | QED |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sample characteristics | 521 boys aged 14 to 17 |
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities |
|
| Population risk factors |
|
| Timing |
|
| Child outcomes |
|
| Other outcomes | None |
| Study rating | 2 |
| Citations | de Graaf, I., de Haas, S., Zaagsma, M. & Wijsen, C. (2015) Effects of Rock and Water: An intervention to prevent sexual aggression. Journal of Sexual Aggression. 22 (1), 1–16. |
No other studies were identified for this intervention.
Note on provider involvement: This provider has agreed to Foundations’ terms of reference (or the Early Intervention Foundation's terms of reference), and the assessment has been conducted and published with the full cooperation of the intervention provider.
Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.
Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.
Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.
Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.
Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.
Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.
Click here for more information.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.
Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing risky sexual behaviour & teen pregnancy: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing obesity and promoting healthy physical development: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.
Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.
Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.
Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.
Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.
Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.
Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.
Click here for more information.
