6/11/2020 0 Comments Five Senses MeditationYou can use this activity to quickly ground yourself in the present when you only have a moment. The goal is to notice something that you are currently experiencing through each of your senses. Here are the steps to complete this exercise:
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Go Outside (safely, keeping social distance): Social distancing means keeping a recommended distance from other people to limit the spread of the virus. This is not the same as "stay in your house or apartment all day." If you have a yard and can supervise (and limit) your children’s contact with others, go play in the yard. Go for a walk in the woods — while keeping social distance (at least six feet) from others and not touching surfaces others may have touched. If you have a car take a ride to a state or national park and get out and explore — while keeping recommended social distance from others, of course. Research suggests outdoor activity reduces stress.
Be Physically Active: Go safely outside (see above) and play, have a catch or kick a ball around, walk, run, or hike together. If indoors, set aside a place and time to do some basic stretching and exercises. Many home-exercise videos, for children and adults, can be found online. Research suggests physical activity reduces stress. Teach Some Life Skills: Children of all ages can help cook or bake. Adolescents can, with some preparation and guidance, be made responsible for preparing and serving a family meal. Have your teen watch you one time, then help a bit, then do the prep and cooking or baking while you watch and guide, then, when ready, do it on their own. Same thing with doing laundry, so that eventually your teen is responsible not just for their own clothes but for the family’s clothes as well. Teach your older child or teen how to rake the yard or prepare a garden. Do your walls need re-painting? Have your child or teen help you paint. Oil change? Teach your teen how to change the oil in your car. You may even be able to teach them to vacuum or clean the toilets [insert smiley emoji here]. Older children and teens can be learning life skills in preparation for the time when they will, hopefully, someday, be out on their own. Knowing how to do these kinds of things also builds their sense of self-efficacy. Research suggests sense of self-efficacy ("I am capable," "I can solve problems and overcome obstacles") reduces stress. Be Kind to Others: Acts of common decency and kindness and providing support and aid to others reduces our focus on ourselves and our anxieties — and can also teach our children good, lifelong, values. Research suggests altruism reduces stress. Visiting with elderly or disabled neighbors wouldn't be a good idea at this time but you might consider supervising your children as they talk with and check in on these neighbors while keeping a safe social distance (at least six feet or more) — through an open window or door (you and your children on the outside, your neighbor on the inside) for example. Or make some calls or video chat — a great way to practice those phone skills. Or do some outdoor chores for these neighbors – rake or clean up a yard or flower bed, for example.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/atypical-children-extraordinary-parenting
6/9/2020 0 Comments Art for Kids HubCheck out Art for Kids Hub (and adults too!) for TONS of drawing videos. Below are a couple videos to check out. If those aren't your jam, go to YouTube (CLICK HERE) to find the channel. Mrs. Pohl and her family have found it tons of fun. We have drawn unicorns, ice cream cones, emojis, birthday cakes, flowers, flamingos, and many more. Also, the Folding Surprise videos are really cool. Comment below with what you drew.
6/4/2020 0 Comments Song BreakdownFollow these steps for a musical activity...
1) Pick your favorite song (or two!) 2) Listen closely 3) Use single words to describe what you hear 4) After you have a list of words, try to put them in categories (examples: instruments, tempo, melody, etc.) After you do this, reflect on what you learned about your favorite song, or how it made you feel! Today's activity gets you moving!
Take a look at the picture below. Write out your full name and complete the activity listed for each letter. Click on Comments and let us know what fit activities you completed! Art Therapy Postcard Activity
Most people would probably agree that it’s easier to express or recognize hurts and regrets when there’s the distance between yourself and the problem. This is why the postcard activity can be a good self-discovery exercise that helps answer the question, “What would I say to someone if I didn’t have to do it face-to-face?” This activity can be used in one-to-one or group therapy sessions. Here’s how to conduct the activity:
Words to Live By Collage Teens can be vulnerable to harsh, judgmental environments where they don’t feel they can be themselves. They may suppress their real character to avoid censure from their peers, and it’s for this reason that it’s essential for teens to identify their core values and identify who they think they are. It’s crucial when working with teens to create coping strategies that they can come back over to time and let them know that their ideas, feelings, and values will change with experience. The ‘Words to Live By’ activity helps teens to visualize their core values through creative collage. Here’s how to teach this activity: You will need:
The Softness Project Humans are all tactile creatures, but children especially are touchers, explorers, and curious feelers. Utilizing touch is a way for them to learn about the world and to find comfort. This activity is a form of art therapy that focuses on using comforting textures and allowing for a manageable exploration of uncomfortable emotions. It is a particularly useful activity with younger children. This activity can be carried out with a group or one-to-one. Here’s how to conduct the activity: You will need:
In a group with young children, we recommend using materials like glue sticks as opposed to glue bottles and having pre-cut pieces of material ready. Build A Safe Place Activity ‘Build a Safe Place’ is an activity that’s adaptable for all age groups, but maybe a sensitive project for kids and young adults who often have little control of their environments and who might struggle ever to feel safe. This project may help a child or teen reflect on ways to find a safe space, or may simply help them feel like they have some control over their environment. It can be conducted one-to-one or in small groups. Here’s how to carry out the activity. You will need:
Begin by:
What’s in Your Heart? This set of three worksheets includes exercises for children to express their emotions or define the things they care about. It’s a very quick and easy exercise that can help participants create helpful visual representations of the things they value. The worksheets include an empty outline of a heart. Here’s how to use it. You will need:
6/1/2020 0 Comments Keeping Calm & MindfulnessDuring this time, the days may seem to run together and it may seem that we are going through the motions without being fully aware. We may be distracted, worried about something or someone, or simply feeling down.
To help you feel more present, click HERE to get worksheets from Centervention.com to help you identify things that help you stay calm. You can print the sheets, type and save, or write your answers on a separate sheet. The first page will prompt you for things you can see, hear, smell, and think about that help them calm down. The second page is for you to draw a picture, cut out, or print out an image of something that helps you relax or calm down. Feel free to go to Mindful Schools for several videos to start experiencing mindfulness. Comment below with what keeps you calm. 5/29/2020 0 Comments Virtual Acts of KindnessDo you know what is AWESOME about KINDNESS? It can be done virtually! Go virtual with your acts of kindness for today and throughout this pandemic. See below for ideas. We can all benefit from being kind! Comment below with what you have done to be kind.
5/27/2020 0 Comments Learn a Choreographed Dance!Not only is dancing fun, it's also good for you. Through dancing, you get exercise (without feeling like you're exercising!) and you also get a mood boost! You may even discover a hidden talent! Check out the video below to learn a choreographed dance. 5/26/2020 0 Comments Future Self PortraitImagine yourself tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now, 10 years from now, or any other future date of your choice. How would you like to be? What places would you like to visit? Imagine yourself in any way you like, some time in the future.
Now create a self portrait that reflects how you see yourself in the future. For this exercise, let’s go with a drawing or painting. If you don’t have those materials readily available, then use anything you do have. It can even be a collage from magazines or other materials. Feel free to create more than one future self portrait. Once your self portrait is complete, you can hang it on your fridge, wall, mirror, etc. This will serve as a reminder of how you want to be in the future. Don’t forget to click on Comments and share your future self portrait. |
Welcome to our Activity of the Day! Every weekday, a new activity will post for you to engage in! Activities will range from arts and crafts, exercise, music, writing, reading, etc. We hope to help keep your mind and body active!
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