It’s normal for everyone to feel worried at different times in their lives. As educators, we can help our students understand the difference between worries they can control and those they can’t, and teach them strategies to manage their emotions. This blog post will guide you through an engaging no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills, all focused on helping PreK students learn how to cope with their worries and make good choices.

Introduction

Worries can be categorized into two types: those we can control and those we can’t. When students understand the difference between the two, they can use appropriate strategies to manage their emotions and make better choices. In this blog post, we will explore a no-prep activity that helps students practice distinguishing between controllable and uncontrollable worries, as well as learn ways to stay calm and make good choices.

No-Prep Activity: Worries in the Air

This activity requires no preparation or materials, and can be easily adapted to any PreK classroom. The main goal is to help students identify the difference between controllable and uncontrollable worries, and practice strategies for managing their emotions.

1. Ask students to sit in a circle.
2. Explain that everyone feels worried sometimes, and that’s okay. Tell them that it’s important to know the difference between worries they can control and those they can’t.
3. Give examples of controllable and uncontrollable worries, such as finishing a task in time (controllable) and bad weather (uncontrollable).
4. Invite each student to share a worry they have. As they share, ask the class to decide if it’s a controllable or uncontrollable worry.
5. For controllable worries, discuss what choices can be made to help feel less worried. For uncontrollable worries, talk about strategies to stay calm, such as deep breathing or talking to a trusted adult.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the difference between a worry you can control and one you can’t?
2. Why is it important to know the difference between controllable and uncontrollable worries?
3. What are some strategies you can use to stay calm when you’re worried about something you can’t control?
4. Can you think of a time when you made a good choice to help you feel less worried? What did you do?
5. How can we support each other when we feel worried?

Related Skills

In addition to understanding and managing worries, there are other important skills that can benefit PreK students in their social-emotional development. These include:

• Emotion recognition: Identifying and understanding their own emotions and the emotions of others.
• Problem-solving: Finding solutions to challenges and conflicts in a constructive and positive manner.
• Communication: Expressing their feelings, thoughts, and needs effectively to others.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, and offering support and kindness.

Next Steps

By incorporating this activity and discussion into your PreK classroom, you can help students learn to manage their worries and make good choices. To explore more activities and resources related to social-emotional learning, we invite you to sign up for free samples at Everyday Speech. You’ll find a variety of materials designed to support the development of essential skills in your students.