I knew that title would get your
attention! Actually, today’s ideas
are ways to help children calm down and relax when they are over excited.
Balancing Act – Ask children to
stand. How long can they balance
on their right foot? How long can
they balance on their left foot?
Can they balance on their right toes? Left toes? Can
they balance on their right foot and extend their left leg in the air? Can they balance on one foot with
their eyes closed?
Hint!
Classical music is lovely for balancing activities.
Deep Breathing – Inhale slowly as
you count to 8. Exhale slowly as
you count backwards from 8 to 1.
Breath in hot chocolate.
Breath out and blow the candles out on a birthday cake.
Vacation – Tell your class to give
their mouth and their eyes a “vacation” by closing their eyes and mouths. Next, ask them to practice
breathing through their noses.
You’ll be amazed at how this brings down their energy level and helps
them focus.
Lip Sinc – Make motions as you mouth
the words to finger plays and songs.
Invite children to join you when they recognize what you are doing.
“Eye” Exercise - Demonstrate how to
hold your two index fingers a few inches from your eyes on either side of your
head. Look at the right index
finger with both eyes and then look at the left index finger.
Tighten~Relax – Tighten up your body
as tight as you can and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze. Then relax and let it all go. Repeat several times.
*Starting with the toes, call out one body
part at a time for children to squeeze and then relax. For example, toes, feet, knees, legs,
hips, back, fingers, arms, shoulders, necks, faces, and then a whole body
SQUEEZE!
Rag Dolls and Soldiers – When the
teacher calls out “rag dolls” everyone flops over like a rag doll. When the teacher says, “soldiers,”
everyone stands up tall and stiff.
Continue calling out “rag dolls” and “soldiers” faster and faster.
Make Rain -
Ask the children to do what you do and they’ll get a surprise!
Tap right index
finger to your left palm 10 times.
Tap right index
finger and middle finger to your left palm 10 times.
Tap right index,
middle, and ring finger to your left palm 10 times.
Tap right index,
middle, ring, and pinky finger to your left palm 10 times.
Clap hands 10
times.
Clap hands and
stomp feet 10 times.
(Reverse
movements)
Place hands
quietly in your lap and smile.
Criss Cross Applesauce – Do this on
each other’s backs:
Cross cross, (Make
an “x” on back.)
Applesauce, (Wiggle
fingers down back.)
Spiders crawling up your back. (Crawl
fingers up back.)
Warm breeze. (Gently
blow on neck.)
Gentle squeeze. (Hug
from behind.)
Now you’ve got the shiveries! (Tickle fingers down back.)
Hint!
Have children stand in a circle and face right. That way they will each have a back to
write on.
Plant a Garden – Do on each other’s
backs:
Dig up the dirt. (Knead
back with fingers.)
Rake the ground. (Stroke
down with fingertips.)
Dig holes for the seeds. (Pretend
to dig holes with index finger.)
Cover up the seeds. (Finger covers up
seeds.)
Pat the dirt down. (Pat
back with both hands.)
Here comes the rain. (Lightly
touch the back with fingertips.)
Up come the plants. (Make upward
movement with hands.)
Then you pick, pick, pick. (Pretend to pick plants.)
Note!
If children are sensitive and don’t want to participate you should
respect their decision.