Teaching PreK Students to Stay Calm and Solve Problems
Introduction
When problems arise, it is natural for young children to become upset or act out. However, it is important for them to learn how to stay calm and make good decisions in challenging situations. This blog post will discuss a no-prep activity for educators to use with their PreK students, along with discussion questions and related skills to help students learn how to pause, calm down, and pay attention to others when faced with problems.
No-Prep Activity
The “Freeze and Breathe” activity is a simple, no-prep way to teach children how to pause and calm down during difficult moments. Start by having the students stand in a circle. Explain that when you clap your hands or say “freeze,” they should stop what they are doing, take a deep breath, and count to three before continuing. Practice this a few times, then incorporate it into other activities or games. When a problem arises, remind the students to use the “Freeze and Breathe” technique to help them stay calm and think about the best course of action.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to pause and take a deep breath when we are upset or angry?
- Can you think of a time when you felt angry or frustrated? How did you handle it? What could you have done differently?
- How does staying calm help us make better decisions?
- Why is it important to consider other people’s feelings when we are upset?
- What are some other strategies you can use to stay calm during a problem?
Related Skills
Teaching students to stay calm and solve problems is just one aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. Other related skills for PreK students include:
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
- Active listening: Paying full attention to what someone else is saying and responding appropriately.
- Conflict resolution: Learning how to resolve disagreements in a peaceful and constructive manner.
- Self-regulation: Managing emotions and behaviors in a socially appropriate way.
Next Steps
Helping your PreK students develop the skills to stay calm and solve problems is an essential part of their social-emotional development. By incorporating the “Freeze and Breathe” activity and discussing the importance of staying calm during problems, you can create a more positive learning environment for your students. To access free samples of this skill and others, visit Everyday Speech’s sample materials and discover more resources to support your students’ growth.
