Coping Strategies for Preschool: Change the Channel
This session teaches coping strategies for kids, helping young students learn to Change the Channel by noticing a big feeling and switching to a happier thought. After a short video, students talk about a happy thing they could picture when a feeling like anger starts to take over. Then they play a quick movement game, stopping their bodies to listen and showing what they could do in different moments. The goal is to help them feel ready by choosing a helpful thought.
Extension activity
- Skill
- Emotional Recognition
- Goal
- Changing the Channel on Feelings
- Grade level
- Pre-K & K
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 lessonChange the Channel
An introduction video lesson on how to "Change the Channel" as a helpful self-regulation tool.
- Extension activity
Interactive Worksheet: How to Change the Channel
An interactive sequencing activity that teaches learners the steps on to how to Change the Channel successfully.
Plus everything you need to teach them
Warm-up
- Video: Lion and Cat Breathing3:12
- Video: Our Senses Calming Break2:27
- Video: Yoga Pose Library
Session Opener
Guiding Question: How can your body give you clues about how you feel?
Practice
- Discussion Question
- Role-Play Activity
- Mini Game
How to use it with your students
- 1Watch Play the video modeling lesson so students see the skill in action.
- 2Practice Try the skill together with a discussion prompt, role-play, or mini game.
- 3Extend Use the extension activity to help students carry the skill further.
What's Covered
In this lesson, students learned that big feelings like anger or jealousy can take over their bodies and choices, and that they can use a tool called "Change the Channel" to shift toward feeling calmer. They practiced noticing body clues that signal a big feeling and naming what that feeling was. Students also worked on choosing a calming strategy, like taking a deep breath, to help their bodies settle.
Key Terms
- Change the Channel
- Change the Channel means noticing when your body is having a big feeling and helping yourself feel more calm. You can name your feeling and choose something that helps your body, like taking deep breaths or using a coping strategy.
- Body Clues
- Body clues are signals inside your body that tell you how you are feeling, like a fast heartbeat or a tight tummy. When you notice them, you can name your feeling and choose a helpful strategy.
Sample IEP Goal This Session Supports
-
Changing the Channel on Feelings
When experiencing strong emotions such as jealousy, disappointment, frustration, or embarrassment, learner will use a self-selected coping strategy (e.g., taking a break, positive self-talk, deep breaths) to manage the feeling and return to the task or interaction in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).
Send this tip home to support generalization
At home or in the classroom, when a student starts to feel upset, try naming the feeling out loud before suggesting a way to shift it, like "You seem frustrated. Want to try thinking about something that feels good?"
Ready to teach Change the Channel?
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Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on Change the Channel 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 PreK and kindergarten students.
What's included?
You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on Change the Channel, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Interactive Worksheet: How to Change the Channel.
What skill does this intervention teach?
This ready-to-teach session is on emotional recognition - more specifically, changing the channel on feelings.
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