Introduction

Teaching young children to recognize when they need to take a break is an essential skill in their development. This skill, which is a key component of Social-Emotional Learning, helps children develop self-regulation, manage their emotions, and engage in healthy social interactions. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity to teach Kindergarten students how to take a break when they need it. We will also provide discussion questions, related skills, and next steps to further support educators in fostering self-regulation in their students.

No-Prep Activity: The Turtle Technique

The Turtle Technique is a simple, no-prep activity that can be used to teach children how to take a break and calm down when they are feeling upset or overwhelmed. Here’s how to do it:

1. Explain to the students that when they feel upset or angry, they can pretend to be a turtle going into its shell to take a break and calm down.
2. Teach the students to cross their arms over their chest, tuck their head down, and take deep breaths while imagining they are a turtle in its shell.
3. Encourage the students to practice this technique whenever they feel the need to take a break and calm down.

This activity not only helps children learn to recognize when they need to take a break, but also provides them with a concrete strategy for calming themselves down in a non-threatening and age-appropriate way.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to take a break when we feel upset or angry?
2. How can taking a break help us make better choices and interact with others more positively?
3. What are some other ways we can calm down when we feel upset or overwhelmed?
4. How can we help our friends when they need to take a break?
5. Can you think of a time when you needed to take a break? How did it help you?

Related Skills

In addition to taking a break when needed, there are several other related skills that can help Kindergarten students develop healthy social-emotional habits. These skills include:

• Recognizing and labeling emotions
• Developing empathy for others
• Practicing active listening
• Using positive self-talk
• Resolving conflicts in a healthy and respectful manner

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about the importance of teaching Kindergarten students to take a break when they need it, we encourage you to explore more resources and activities that can support your students’ social-emotional development. To help you get started, sign up for free samples of skill-building activities and resources at Everyday Speech. These materials are designed to help educators like you foster essential social-emotional skills in their students and create a more supportive and inclusive learning environment.