Michelle Dailey, LCSW

Mrs. Dailey's google classroom

mdailey@emersonschools.org

201-599-7580 ext. #2806

CAMP SEL with Mrs. Dailey...

Monday Mindfulness:

Hello! Thank you for visiting my Classroom site. Everyone have a great year!

Try IT ALL TUESDAY:

SUMMER BREATHING..... Way to cool down!!

19 Brain Breaks that You can do at HOME :)

By The Understood Team

Understood's resources for educators are backed by research, vetted by experts, and reviewed by classroom teachers.

Hey, you’re back! Can you give us some feedback?

Kids have been learning in new ways since the coronavirus pandemic began. If kids are doing distance learning, they may be sitting in front of a screen for many hours each day. If kids are learning in school, there may be rules for social distancing that don’t allow them to move around like they normally would.

All of this makes it hard for kids to pay attention and stay on track—especially kids who learn and think differently. Kids with ADHD in particular may struggle. Brain breaks and games can help.

Here are 19 breaks and games you can try both in school and at home. They can help all kids clear their minds, move their bodies, and stay more engaged in distance learning or socially distanced learning.

1. Create a sensory path using chalk on a sidewalk or blacktop.
2. Make a slideshow of GIFs. Ask kids to imitate the movements in the GIFs.
3. Create a YouTube playlist of mesmerizing videos, like the Live Jelly Cam from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
4. Try activities from a sensory diet.
5. Do some PE warm-ups, like toe touches, arm circles, and jumping jacks. Adapt as appropriate.
6. Have a dance party. (You might use a channel like Kidz Bop for younger kids. For older kids, look for non-explicit versions of their favorite songs.)
7. Play Charades. If you’re playing over video, one child can act out a vocabulary word and the others can put their guesses in the chat box.
8. Tell some jokes, or have the kids tell some jokes. (Why are teddy bears never hungry? They’re always stuffed!)
9. Take a movement break or play a game on GoNoodle.
10. Invite kids to do some animal walks.
11. Do some body-brain teasers. For younger kids, challenge them to rub their bellies while tapping their heads. For older kids, ask them to wink with their right eye while snapping their left fingers. Then switch.
12. Create a low-cost, sensory-friendly chair for kids to move around in.
13. Send kids on a scavenger hunt—it can be as simple as having kids find an item that starts with the letter t or something that is soft.
14. Do yoga or chair yoga.
15. Try out Google Quick Draw.
16. Invite kids to explore a virtual calming corner.
17. Play traditional games like Simon Says and Rock Paper Scissors. These work over video and with social distancing, too.
18. Try a breathing exercise like “ take 5 breathing.”
19. Do some mindful coloring or drawing.

Tips to Help Get You Started

- Keep brain breaks to under 5 minutes.
- Use a countdown timer so kids know when it’s time to get back to schoolwork.
- Ask kids to share their favorite brain breaks.
- Create a master list of brain breaks and every day pick two or three that kids can choose from.
- If you’re an educator, read about best practices for using brain breaks and explore this bank of brain breaks to use in the classroom.

https://wedolisten.org/media/

50 Great Calm Down Strategies:

https://gozen.com/50-calm-down-ideas-to-try-with-kids-of-all-ages/

https://childrenslibrarylady.com/self-awareness-resources/

Hello Families and Welcome Back!!!!

No matter which style of learning you have chosen to participate in, here are a few tips to prepare and practice with your kiddos before the school year kicks off.

Click on the link below for some more ideas....

https://bigfamilyblessings.com/social-distancing-greetings-for-kids/

What if a child is scared of wearing a mask, or too young to understand not to tamper with it?

If your child is scared of wearing a mask, parents should wear masks too so your child doesn't feel alone. Some other ideas to help make masks seem less scary are:
- While wearing masks, look in the mirror and talk about it.
- Put a mask on a favorite stuffed animal.
- Decorate a mask so it's more personalized and fun.
- Show your child pictures of other children wearing masks.
- Draw a mask on their favorite book character.
Have your child practice wearing a mask at home first.
For children under 3 years old, it’s best to answer their questions simply in language they understand. If children ask about people wearing masks or other face coverings, parents can explain that sometimes people wear masks when they are sick, and when they are all better, they stop wearing the mask.
An important way to reassure children is to emphasize how you are taking steps to stay safe. Children feel empowered and less afraid when they know what to do to keep themselves safe.
For children over age 3, try focusing on germs. Parents can explain that germs are special to your own body and we need to make sure they stay within your body.  The masks help keep your own germs to yourself. Some germs are good, some are bad – we can’t always tell which are good or bad, which is why you need to wear a mask.  Some germs can make you sick.  We to make sure you keep those germs away from your own body.
One of the biggest challenges with having children wear masks relates to them “feeling different” or stereotyping them as being sick. If this becomes more of a norm, it will help children not to feel singled out or isolated, and they may feel strange not wearing something.

Feelings Friday with Mrs. Dailey

Craft Activity: Color in and decorate

Meditation/Visualization

Feelings Friday with Mrs. Dailey (5/1/2020)

Craft Activity: Color in and decorate

Scavenger Hunt:

Click for Meditation

Book and Learn

Watch Rosie Revere, Engineer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sNVhNThxcc

Family Fun

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dXma_Z4AjJYhcpWpMYlpoMIJhZJpxLd9/view?usp=sharing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf5K3pP2IUQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBnPlqQFPKs

Time to Come in Bear: A Children's Story about COVID 19 closure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA_SsZFYw0w&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR044DpqqtWwfht6sCZqQSY1rNlM

VIRTUAL CALM DOWN CONER: Click link and make a copy

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N4158-uXV8oaOHX0YH9qeDbCg1rAuDlB/view?usp=sharing

Social Story: Wearing masks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgaKLpSxQag

- Mindfulness/Meditation Apps
- Journaling/Goal Notebooks
- Mindful Coloring Using Mandala Coloring Pages
  - Choose a coloring page that is age-appropriate to your child, one that will be enjoyable, but not frustrating. Younger children seem to gravitate towards animals in lieu of shapes (many can be found online).
  - Set the scene for zenful coloring. Adjust the lights to the desired level of the participant.
  - You may choose to put on relaxing music in the background if your child prefers. Always check on their preference or try a few settings out to see where your child is most comfortable.
  - To be “in the moment” we suggest choosing one color to work with at a time. Allow the child to choose where and how on the picture they will use that color. Too many color choices may prove to be overwhelming. Gauge your child's receptiveness to limited or extensive choices.
  - Embrace their style and ability, even if it is outside of the lines.
- 1 Hour Zen Music For Inner Balance, Stress Relief and Relaxation by Vyanah
- Zones of Regulation Toolbox: This is a model many of our providers use with most of our students. Your child will likely be familiar with the language used in this visual.

1. Ask your child what "zone" they are in today and why?

2. Ask them what strategy they can use if they want to get back into the "green zone".

- Worry Box: Sometimes it’s helpful to think about/talk about your worries, but it is important to limit the time you are dwelling on them. When you have a worry, write it on a post-it/piece of paper. Think about it or talk about it with a trusted adult or friend. Then put that worry in your box for safekeeping. You can bring that worry out of the box and discuss it again at a specified time. Put your worry box in a designated spot so that you are able to discuss your worries at the specified times while also giving yourself separation and relief from thinking about them constantly. Use any empty shoebox or tissue box and decorate it to make it your own!

- Feelings Jenga: Write down various emotions on small slips of paper (i.e., happy, sad, frustrated, excited, proud, disappointed, etc.). Tape these slips to Jenga blocks. Play Jenga and for every block pulled out, discuss the emotion, including a time you felt that emotion or saw someone feel that emotion and how it felt.