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Calm Down Strategies for Kids: Taking a Break

This session teaches calm down strategies for kids, helping students notice early signs of stress during hard work and take a break to feel ready again. Through a short video, a discussion about what to do when a worksheet feels frustrating, and a quick game where they choose which break helps most, students practice calming strategies like slow, deep breaths. The takeaway: a short break can help their body feel ready to try again.

Created by Casey Reeves Curriculum Lead
Video modeling lesson
Extension activity
Skill
Self-Regulation
Goal
Managing Stress
Grade level
Elementary School

Get everything you need to teach the skill

These materials are part of a no-prep session designed by our clinical team, with all the structure, scaffolding, and support you need to teach included.

Engaging materials

  • Video modeling lesson

    Taking a Break to Calm Down

    Bobby is struggling with a worksheet. His anger escalates until he explodes and rips his paper. His actions disrupt the rest of the class. When Bobby tries again, he realizes he is starting to get upset and uses his strategies to calm down. After he takes a deep breath, he starts to feel better.

  • Extension activity

    Taking a Break to Calm Down Question Prompts

    Students are given examples scenarios and are asked to decide whether or not each person should ask for a break.

Plus everything you need to teach them

  1. Warm-up

    • Video: Hot Cocoa Breathing2:05
    • Video: Daily Intention2:59
    • Video: Body Squeeze2:12

  2. Session Opener

    Guiding Question: How can taking a break help someone feel ready?

  3. Practice

    • Discussion Question
    • Role-Play Activity
    • Mini Game
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How to use it with your students

  1. 1Watch Play the video modeling lesson so students see the skill in action.
  2. 2Practice Try the skill together with a discussion prompt, role-play, or mini game.
  3. 3Extend Use the extension activity to help students carry the skill further.

What's Covered

In this lesson, students learned how to notice the early signs that they are feeling stressed or upset, like a hot face or a tight stomach. They practiced asking to take a break and using strategies like deep breaths to help their bodies feel ready before things felt overwhelming.

Key Terms

Taking a Break
When you notice you are getting stressed or upset, you pause and step away for a minute to calm down. After your break, you can come back and try again feeling better.
Calming Strategies
Things you do to help your body feel calm when you are worried, like taking deep breaths or thinking of one good thing. They keep your worry the right size so your thinking stays clear.

Sample IEP Goal This Session Supports

  • Managing Stress

    Learner will recognize signs of stress in their own body or thinking (e.g., tight chest, racing thoughts, feeling overwhelmed) and apply a self-selected strategy (e.g., deep breathing, positive self-talk, taking a break) to manage the feeling in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).

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Send this tip home to support generalization

At home or in the classroom, when a student starts to seem frustrated, try offering a break before the feeling grows, like "It looks like this is getting hard. Want to take a minute?" Naming the option early gives them a chance to use it.

Ready to teach Taking a Break?

Get the video, activity and discussion materials with zero prep.

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More Self-Regulation Activities

Frequently asked questions

Is this intervention free?

Yes, this ready-to-teach session on Taking a Break is free. You can access this intervention free for 14 days through the Everyday Speech Session Library. Every user gets three free sessions, but you can get more or extend your access by sharing the Session Library with friends and colleagues.

What ages is this for?

These materials are designed for elementary school students.

What's included?

You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on Taking a Break to Calm Down, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Taking a Break to Calm Down Question Prompts.

What skill does this intervention teach?

This ready-to-teach session is on self-regulation - more specifically, managing stress.

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