This week we read What to Do When You Feel Like Hitting by Cara Goodwin. The story helped us learn that while it’s always okay to feel big emotions like mad, sad, or scared, our hands should always stay safe.
Together, we practiced some of the calming tools from the book, including:
Putting hands on our tummy and taking slow breaths
Giving ourselves a big hug
Raising a hand to ask a grown-up for help
Squeezing fists tight and then letting go
Blowing bubbles or blowing on a pinwheel
Drawing a picture to show feelings
Going to a calm-down space
We reminded students that hands are for safe, kind actions; like helping, waving, or showing care; not for hurting or throwing rocks. By practicing these strategies, students learn positive ways to handle big feelings and keep everyone safe.