Take a deep breath and TRY to enjoy this week! Here’s an “Emergency Kit” to help you get through the week!
Whisper Day – Make a “whisper only” sign for your door. Explain that you will only use a whisper voice all day long. Talk, read, sing, and do all activities with a soft voice.
Turn off the Lights – Something as simple as turning off the lights can reduce stress and energy. You could also play some quiet music as children enter the classroom.
Quiet Game – One child is selected to be “it.” “It” stands in front of the room and says, “Mousie, mousie, how quiet can you be? When I clap my hands 1, 2, 3 (slowly clap 3 times), we shall see!” “It” chooses the classmate who is being the quietest and then that child comes to the front of the room and is the new “it.” (My class LOVED this game. It was a great way to develop self-regulation and calm them down.)
Give Your Mouth a Vacation – Challenge children to “give their mouths a vacation” and practice breathing through their noses. Demonstrate how to slowly breath in on a count of 8 and then breath out on a count of 8. Remind them breathing slowly in and out can help them if they are angry.
Shake Down – Children stand and shake their right hand 5 times as they count. Then shake the left hand 5 times. Shake the right foot 5 times. Shake the left foot 5 times. Next, shake body parts 4 times, then 3 times, then 2 times, then 1 time. Oh, yeah!
*Do this several times using a softer voice each time until you are doing the silent version.
Make Rain
Hold up your palm as you say, “Let’s make rain. Do what I do.”
Tap pointer finger on palm for several seconds.
Tap pointer finger and middle finger.
Tap pointer, middle, and ring finger.
Tap pointer, middle, ring, and pinky on palm.
Clap hands together loudly.
Clap hands and stomp feet and then reverse the movements.
Clap hands.
Tap pointer, middle, ring, and pinky on palm.
Tap pointer, middle, and ring finger.
Tap pointer and middle finger.
Tap pointer finger on palm.
Slowly bring palms together and put in your lap.
*This will really sound like a rainstorm is coming and going. Children will want to do it again and again. Woe be unto the child who does not cooperate with the group!