Introduction

Strong emotions like anger, frustration, or sadness can sometimes overwhelm students, making it difficult for them to make good decisions. To help students manage these emotions, it’s essential to teach them how to Change the Channel on their feelings. This technique involves recognizing the signs of strong emotions, changing their thought patterns, and giving themselves time to calm down before taking action. By incorporating principles of Social-Emotional Learning, educators can guide students in developing healthy emotional regulation strategies and promote safer, more positive behaviors.

No-Prep Activity: The Channel Changer

This activity helps students practice changing the channel on their emotions without requiring any materials or preparation from the educator.

1. Ask students to think about a situation that has caused them to feel a strong emotion, such as anger or frustration.
2. Encourage them to identify and name the emotion they experienced.
3. Next, ask them to think about a positive memory, a place they enjoy, or something that makes them happy.
4. Have students share how focusing on the new thought made them feel and whether it helped them calm down.

Remind students that it’s important to practice changing the channel on their emotions regularly, so they can develop this skill and use it effectively when faced with strong emotions.

Discussion Questions

• Why is it important to recognize and name the strong emotions we’re experiencing?
• How can changing the channel on our emotions help us make better decisions?
• What are some strategies you can use to give yourself time to calm down before responding to a situation?
• How can practicing this technique help improve our relationships with others?
• Can you think of a situation where changing the channel on your emotions led to a more positive outcome?

Related Skills

Besides learning to Change the Channel on strong emotions, students can benefit from developing other related skills, such as:

• Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness helps students become more aware of their emotions and thoughts, making it easier to recognize when they need to change the channel.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others can help students develop more effective emotional regulation strategies and foster healthier relationships.
• Communication: Learning to express emotions and thoughts clearly can help students navigate difficult situations and prevent misunderstandings.
• Problem-solving: Developing problem-solving skills can empower students to find constructive solutions to conflicts and challenges, which can reduce the intensity of strong emotions.

Next Steps

Teaching students how to Change the Channel on their emotions is an essential part of promoting healthy emotional regulation and decision-making. To explore more activities and resources on this topic and others, sign up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. By incorporating these materials into your curriculum, you can help students develop the skills they need to manage their emotions effectively and build stronger relationships with their peers and teachers.