This page will show strategies for how to help our students regulate strong emotions such as anxiety, stress, anger, etc.
Scroll down for tips on how to set up our homes for calming corners and academic spaces. =)
For ideas on how to connect with others or how to be calm during E-Learning, please take a look at the following document! PowerPoint
Please see the following videos to help students with remote learning:
Wearing Face Masks​
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Comfort with Virtual Learning
Understanding Sensations and Feelings in our Body
Using Calm Down Skills to Work Through Anger and Conflict
Is Worry Brain Taking Over?
Try grounding and deep breathing! Counselor Keri models flower breathing and 3 excellent grounding exercises to help when worry leads us to feel a loss of control:
Setting Up a Calming Corner
at Home
What is a Calm Corner?
A calm corner is a space where your child can go to regulate their emotions when they are having strong feelings. It can be in their room, in a private area in your home, or just a cozy corner of the living room.
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When to Use the Calm Corner
When your child has or is showing signs of big feelings like anger, frustration, or dis-regulation, a visit to the calm corner can be helpful. Make sure they know that the calm corner isn’t a punishment! It’s a place for your child to take a break and regulate and a great way for us to remind kids that it’s okay to step away from a situation to calm our bodies and minds before we move on.
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What to Include in Your Calm Corner
You don’t need to purchase all of these items, but maybe you and your child can find some things they gravitate to and like to use to regulate. Stock your corner with calming activities they like!
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Comfortable seating (pillows, floor cushions)
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Calming strategy cards or visual aids (or use a digital version on your iPad)
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Noise-canceling headphones
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Sound machine with soothing noises
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Timer
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Sequin pillows or animals
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Weighted lap animals
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Sensory toys like squishy balls or fidgets
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Water or gel drips
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Favorite books
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Coloring materials
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How to Use the Calm Corner
To start, visit the calm corner together. Start by identifying how you and your child are feeling. Use a feelings chart if you have one. Then try out some of the things you have in your calm corner. Sit quietly and use the sensory items, watch a water or gel drip timer, color, or just listen to the sound machine. Choose an activity and do it together or independently for a few minutes. Then, describe how you’re feeling after you try it. Feeling better? Move on. Not feeling better yet? Try another activity in the calm corner.
After visiting a few times together, let your child go independently when needed. They’ll already know what to do and how to use the items!
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My Child Used the Calm Corner. Now What?
Spend some time processing what happened and what went well. These conversations will normalize the experience of having big feelings and remind your child that it’s okay to feel and to take time to manage those feelings!
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How were you feeling before you went to the calm corner? What happened right before that?
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What did you try in the calm corner that helped you feel better?
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How does your body feel now?
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What can we do next time before you feel that way?
Tips for Student eLearning Success
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Keep a consistent routine at home. This would mean going to bed, waking up, bathing, and eating breakfast as we would for a typical school day.
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Have times set aside for specific subjects, like a regular school day, with snack breaks and lunch worked into the schedule (see sample schedule to the right for ideas)
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Have a workspace designated specifically for school work. This way, we can easily identify where work is done and where play is done.
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Have a special space to cool down if child becomes emotionally escalated (see section above)
