Not all Zen Dens are the same-and that's the goal! Each Zen Den is built to suit your specific needs while cultivating self-regulation skills. While some children may find breathing exercises helpful, others may find it challenging. The goal of these calming spaces is to provide a safe space for your child to unwind and reset-they may need longer activities to keep their mind occupied while doing so.
Here are some additional activities we've found that may help children to better unwind!
· Write out the emotions you're feeling like a grocery list
o When you make a shopping list to go to the grocery store, you usually write down the things you need. In a similar fashion, listing out all the emotions you feel helps to prioritize your most urgent needs that need to be addressed.
· Write out a letter to someone and never send it
o If you want to speak with someone but they are unavailable or you may feel uncomfortable, write all your feelings in a letter. Don't hold back-you won't be sending it so you can be as honest as you need to be.
· Imagine your anxiety as a villain and write a short story about it
o Turning your anxiety and/or stressors into characters can help make them feel more normal and easier to identify a weakness.
· Write an interview about your past as your future self
o Interview your past self by asking questions like: Are you scared of anything? What do you want to be when you grow up? What's your favorite memory? Then, interview your future self with questions like: How did you get to where you are today? What advice would you give your past self? What are your current fears and anxieties? Compare the two and see the similarities and differences.
· Imagine your favorite fictional character has the same problems as you-how would they solve them?
· Use colorful markers/pens and list the things that make you happy