I wanted to share a few ideas I've used in the classroom that have really helped my ACEs students (mostly middle school, but could be tweaked to use for younger kids):
1. Write the event/name of person upsetting them on an index card. Have them slowly tear the paper and put the pieces in a trash can while calmly repeating, "you are not worth my anger." Write the event/name again on another index card. Tear up the card and throw away the pieces while calmly repeating, "I control myself." Write the event/name again on another index card. Tear up the card and throw away the pieces while calmly repeating, "I am a good and strong person." (Best done 1:1 in a quiet space with the teacher gently guiding).
2. Get a pack of foam craft sheets from the dollar store, and a small container. Allow the student to choose a color, then go off on their own to tear it up and put the pieces into the container. The tearing makes almost no noise, so won't distract others. The foam gives some resistance while tearing, so provides sensory input and more muscle engagement than tearing paper. Most of my students then enjoy runnign their fingers through the pieces in the container, which provides soft sensory input to help calm them after they get their negative feelings out by tearing. (Haven't tried this, but the pieces might be useful to make collages later).
3. DIY resistance band loops (https://www.andnextcomesl.com/...esistance-bands.html) for the instructions and sample photos of how to use it. All you need is spandex, a sewing machine needle for stretchy fabrics, and thread for stretchy fabrics (I don't sew, so my step-daughter made them for me). Since spandex does not fray, all you need to do is cut and sew a few rows to seam it into a loop. The link shows ideas about how to use it, but you can come up with/photograph other positions (including lying down). Students will also come up with poses that work for them that you can photograph and post on the wall. We call it Squeezy, but whatever name works. Great for anxiety, anger, sadness or when a student is feeling hype. The spandex provides gentle pressure to help regulate the student's body. RULE: the spandex has to be spread out flat at all times. If it bunches/rolls up, it doesn't provide the right kind of pressure, and can hurt the child. This one obviously has to be used with adult supervision.
4. Bubbles! Small bottles of bubbles have been a life saver during difficult discussions and when the classroom is tense. It also helps me calm and regulate just watching my students (even the hardest 16 year old boys) become giggly kids again.
5. Keep/Throw Away: give each student a small photo album from the dollar store for Keep, and provide a container with a lid for Throw Away. I used a small pitcher from the dollar store, and you can cover it with duct tape so no one can see inside. This exercise can be used at the beginning of the day, during advisory, during a group or 1:1 session, or at the end of the day. On an index card, students write or draw one thing from the week/day that they want to Keep (a good event, feeling, idea, thought, memory) and put it in their photo album. They write or draw one thing they want to Throw Away and put it into the container (some drop it in; some crumple it up; some tear it up). The Keep album is good to review at any time, not just when the student is stressed.
Please post any ideas/activities you use in the comments!
Comments (1)