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Calm Down Strategies Games

Set students up for testing taking success by teaching them calm down strategies they can utilize if they find themselves overwhelmed on test day

Calm Down Strategies for Test Success

Calm Down Spin the Wheel Activity

What Emotions Do You See? Sunglass Sliders

Attendance Flipbook

Monster Zip/Unzip Calm Down Tool

Friendship Flipbook

Kinder Breakfast Bunch

Girl’s Group (Calm Down Control)

What Makes You Fintastic?

Playful vs. Mean Teases (Tease Monster)

Emotions Sliders (Empathy Builders)

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Looking for an engaging activity that doubles as a

Looking for an engaging activity that doubles as a way to help kids express their emotions and build self-awareness? This shield activity is perfect for small groups, classroom sessions, or even one-on-one counseling.

It encourages students to reflect on the people, tools, and strategies that help them feel safe and supported.

Here’s how to do it step by step:
1️⃣ Gather Materials:
- Paper plates (one for each participant)
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
Optional: stickers, glitter, or other decorations

2️⃣ Introduce the Activity:
Explain to students that the plate represents a shield. This shield is something they can imagine protecting them when they feel angry, sad, or scared. They’ll decorate it with images or symbols of things that help them feel safe or help them work through big emotions.

3️⃣ Get Creative:
On the front of the plate, draw and decorate what makes you feel protected. For example, it could be family members, friends, pets, calming strategies, or a favorite hobby.

Encourage students to use colors, symbols, or even words that represent their feelings of safety and support.

4️⃣ Reflect Together:
After completing the shields, invite participants to share their designs.

Ask questions like:
- Who or what did you include on your shield?
- How do these things help you when you feel upset or overwhelmed?

5️⃣ Discuss Use:
Explain that this shield can act as a reminder of their support system and coping tools when they’re having a hard time.

Benefits of the Shield Activity:
✅ Encourages emotional expression and self-reflection
✅ Builds a sense of safety and support
✅ Helps kids identify their coping tools and support systems
✅ Strengthens group connection when shared

This activity is simple yet powerful and a great way to foster conversations about emotional regulation and support.

➡️ Are you ready to try this with your students or kids? Let me know how it goes! 💬

🎄🎁 Counselors, educators, and parents, Decem

🎄🎁 Counselors, educators, and parents, December can feel like a whirlwind! Between holiday excitement, semester wrap-ups, and transitioning into the new year, there’s so much to focus on.

✨ Here’s a starting point of what school counselors might prioritize this month:

🟣 Holiday Support Strategies – Helping students manage the season's emotional ups and downs.

🧡 Fundraisers & Charity Drives – Cultivating a spirit of giving back.

💙 Reflective Sessions – Encouraging students to reflect on their progress and growth.

💚 Coping With Change – Supporting those navigating family, school, or social changes.

💛 Celebrating Progress – Acknowledge accomplishments to end the year on a high note!

💖 Food Aid Initiatives – Collaborate with your community to ensure no child goes hungry.

💜 New Year, New Goals – Set the stage for January with fresh starts and aspirations.

This isn’t an inclusive list, and please don't feel like you need to plan activities to check off each box. It's just a starting point to help get you thinking. Every child, school, and student population is unique, so always adjust based on your specific needs.

➡️ Need activities or resources to support these goals? Swipe to see what I'm using this month.

Drop the comment 'December' below, and I'll DM you a link for more info on my favorite December resource!

Let’s finish the year strong 💪✨

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours! 🦃🍂

Today, I want to take a moment to say how truly thankful I am for all of you. Counseling students and raising babies isn’t for the weak—it’s a journey full of challenges, growth, and love. Knowing I have this incredible community by my side makes it all so much more rewarding. 💛

To all the parents, educators, and counselors out there: Thank you for the work you do, the lives you impact, and the support you’ve shown me. Your encouragement and connection inspire me every day.

From my family to yours, I wish you a Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and gratitude. 🧡✨

What are YOU thankful for this year?

Let me know in the comments!

Teaching students the differences between good cho

Teaching students the differences between good choices and poor choices can often be a challenge, especially in those crucial in-the-moment decisions.

Equip your students with the tools to reflect, assess, and choose wisely with these engaging choice-sort puzzles. Let them explore scenarios, try out new strategies, and brainstorm solutions in an interactive and enjoyable way!

Here's why integrating these choice sort puzzles is effective:

🔑 Encourages Critical Thinking: Students learn to evaluate situations and consider the outcomes before making a decision.

🔑 Builds Problem-Solving Skills: As they navigate different scenarios, they're actively honing their ability to solve problems creatively.

🔑 Promotes Empathy: Understanding the impact of their choices on others is a powerful lesson in empathy.

🔑 Supports Independence: With practice, students gain confidence in their ability to make decisions without immediate adult guidance.

🔑 Interactive Learning: Puzzles make learning about choices a hands-on experience, catering to various learning styles.

🔑 Immediate Feedback: Seeing the good and poor choices within the puzzle framework provides immediate and tangible feedback.

🔑 Reinforces Accountability: Students learn that their choices have consequences, instilling a sense of personal responsibility.

Prepare your students to face decision-making moments with confidence and insight. Check out our choice-sort puzzles today and turn decision-making into an adventure that your students will look forward to!

👀 Discover more and give your students the decision-making edge by clicking the link in my bio or comment PUZZLE, and I'll DM you the link!

🌟 Without a doubt, these zipper pouches are amo

🌟 Without a doubt, these zipper pouches are among my top recommended emotional regulation tools for elementary students. Offer one to a student and you'll immediately capture their focus, lift their spirits, and perhaps even transform their entire day. 😊

The joy and surprise that light up their faces when they discover the pouch's hidden purpose are truly invaluable.

👹📝 I've also utilized these zipper pouches as 'Worry Monsters.' Students jot down their concerns and "feed" them to the monster, symbolically transferring their worries.

Once inside the monster, those worries are no longer the student's burden to carry! 👋

You'll always find a selection of these zipper pouches in the calming corner of my office, available for students to choose as a soothing aid. Their effectiveness never ceases to impress me! 🙌

📌 You can find the Amazon link in my bio, or comment 'ZIP' and I'll DM you the link! 🔗💌

https://amzn.to/3Q9tcCz?utm_source=ig_business&utm_medium=Mrs.+Bell+The+Crafty+Counselor&utm_campaign=publer

#affilatelink #schoolcounselor #emotionalregulation

Sometimes kids have big emotions, and it’s tough

Sometimes kids have big emotions, and it’s tough for them to put those feelings into words. This simple activity helps them organize their thoughts and communicate how they’re feeling in a safe, creative way. 🖍️

What You’ll Need:
- A blank piece of paper
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
- A quiet space to reflect

Steps:
1️⃣ Fold the paper into four equal sections.
2️⃣ In each section, write one of the following prompts:
I think...
I feel...
I am...
I need...
3️⃣ Ask your child to think about how they’re feeling in the moment and fill in each section. Encourage them to use different colors to express themselves!
4️⃣ Use their answers as a starting point for a conversation. For example:
"You feel sad. What made you feel this way?"
"You need help. Let’s talk about what I can do to support you."

This activity is a great way to teach kids emotional awareness and give them tools to express themselves clearly. 💛

👉 Pro Tip: Keep a few of these completed sheets to track their progress over time!

💬 Share below—what’s your favorite way to help kids open up about their feelings?

Got broken crayons lying around? Turn them into so

Got broken crayons lying around? Turn them into something fun and creative—emoji crayons! Here’s how you can do it:

What You’ll Need:
☑️Broken crayons (paper removed)
☑️Emoji silicone molds (or any silicone baking sheet!)
☑️Baking sheet
☑️Oven

Steps:
1️⃣ Prep the Crayons: Peel off any leftover paper from the crayons and break them into small pieces.

2️⃣ Fill the Molds: Place the crayon pieces into the emoji molds. Mix and match colors for a fun effect!

3️⃣ Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 250°F (120°C).

4️⃣ Melt the Crayons: Place the filled mold on a baking sheet (to keep it stable) and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the crayons are fully melted.

5️⃣ Cool Completely: Carefully remove the mold from the oven and let it cool completely before popping the crayons out.

6️⃣ Enjoy Your Creations!: Use them for coloring or as fun gifts for kids!

🎨 Pro Tip: Combine similar colors for a bold look or mix different colors for a rainbow effect!

💡 Want to grab these fun emoji molds?

Comment 'emoji' below, and I’ll DM you the link! 😄🖍️

Have you ever had one of those sessions where you

Have you ever had one of those sessions where you wish you had a more engaging way to reach your students? I’ve been there before 🙈

🍕🧠So, I mixed two of my favorite things: pizza and teaching calming strategies.

The result? This stratacheese pizza activity! 🎉

Since introducing it:
✨ Engagement levels? Skyrocketed!
✨ Conversations? More insightful!
✨ Learning outcomes? Better than ever!

Don't just take my word for it:
🌟 Sara B.: " Students really enjoyed this - I used it to introduce the term coping skills and introduce some new strategies. The scenarios cards were great - very on target. Thanks!"
🌟 Charlotte D.: "This craft activity is so cute! My students really enjoyed making the pizza and learned new coping skills in a hands-on manner."
🌟 Carly G.: “The kids loved the pizza theme, and it culminated into building their own pizza box to close the activity. I think it was really memorable for them! And the "stratacheese" wordplay is just perfect!"

Curious? 🔗

Comment 'PIZZA,' and I'll DM you the link to the preview 🧡.

Let’s share tools that make our jobs not only easier but also a lot more fun! 🍕❤️

https://bit.ly/PizzaCalm?utm_source=ig_business&utm_medium=Mrs.+Bell+The+Crafty+Counselor&utm_campaign=publer

In the world of elementary school counseling, one

In the world of elementary school counseling, one of our challenges is helping students explore the vast career opportunities that await them. You might be asking yourself, how do we show career options and help spark interest? How do we broaden their horizons beyond the familiar?

This is where the Kid's Career Choices Toolkit steps in to make a world of difference! 🌍✨

🌟 Why This Toolkit?
🚀 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗞𝗲𝘆: With 36 posters of popular careers and corresponding career cards, students are exposed to a wide range of professions, from the arts to emerging tech fields.
🚀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: The Career Clusters Exploration Coloring Sheet and Occupational Outlook Handbook Worksheet turn learning into an engaging activity.
🚀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁: Yearly updates of the 'Top 12 Careers of the Year' posters ensure students are informed about evolving job trends up to 2025.

This comprehensive resource is more than just a collection of activities; it's a gateway for students to explore and understand the diverse career paths that align with their unique interests and skills. 🌟📚

By using these tools, we help students delve into job descriptions, educational requirements, and essential qualities for various careers, encouraging them to think critically about their future.

Witnessing the moment a student connects with a potential career path is truly magical. It's about opening doors they never knew existed and empowering them to dream big. 🌠💼

Ready to guide your students on an exciting journey of career exploration?

Tap the link in my bio, or comment 'CAREER', and I'll DM you the link to more info about the Kid's Career Choices Toolkit! 🚀🎓

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