8+Problem+Solving

Cool Down Options
** Here are some options that the students always have in the Journey Room. I would suggest having these options at home (if they are applicable) or tweaking them somehow so that your child can always have options like these at home. ** media type="file" key="wiki-cool.wav" width="300" height="50"

**Go to "My Spot"** Each child should have a spot that they feel is theirs and that feels safe to them. In my classroom, I have 2 tents, a table covered in fabric, a reclining chair, and many other "spots" in the room that students can choose to go to at any point to "cool off." These are spots that they are always allowed to go into, but must communicate with us (as their teachers) first that they need a break for long. It must be a reasonable amount of time (5-20 minutes) and they must agree to discuss with us how they are feeling at the end of their break at their spot. At home, think of a spot that your child can use at any time and that they are always allowed to go to. It might be their bedroom, a closet, a corner, or a chair. You might get a special tent or make a special spot with fabric or pillows that the child feels is their own and feels safe to go to. You will find it amazing that soon the child won't need it as often as they did at first. They will soon feel more comfortable to talk about what is wrong instead of having to run and hide. media type="file" key="wiki-cool1.wav" width="300" height="50"

 **Read a Book, Magazine, Newspaper, Letter,...** Many adults and children cool themselves off by getting their minds off the "now moment" and into something else. Reading is a good way to take a person's mind off the problems they are facing right now. However, if a child is currently learning to read or struggles with reading, this might not be the best "cool down" option for them. If reading already creates stress, make sure not to push a child into a more stressful situation when trying to get them to calm down. media type="file" key="wiki-cool2.wav" width="300" height="50"

**Bubble Breaths** This is a breathing technique, to control the student's thoughts, breaths, and heart rate. The student takes a firm stance either standing up or sitting down; they need to center themselves. Inhale as much air as they can-puffing out their cheeks, hold the breath, and count to 10. Then slowly let the air out. Have the child do this as many times as needed in order to get their breathing under control, and get their mind on their breathing instead of what they are upset about. media type="file" key="wiki-cool3.wav" width="300" height="50"

**Play with Blocks and/or Lego's** This is an easy option to get the child's mind on something else. A child needs to be able to do something with their hands in order to keep their mind occupied. Giving them something simple to build with and have a sense of achievement is a great way to get the child onto a new topic and starting to cool off. However, if your child isn't able to deal well with building and letting it fall down, this might put him/her into a more stressful situation. Everyone likes to build something up, but having a lesson on how to react when it falls down might need to occur when they are feeling less stressed. media type="file" key="wiki-cool4.wav" width="300" height="50"

**Do the "Feelings" Power Point** <span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Attached below is a PowerPoint meant for the child to work through by themselves. It is a time for them to be able to be alone and learn about the definition of their emotion, learn symptoms, rate their intensity on a scale, or find cool down options. The child may need help working through the PowerPoint the first few times, but it is meant for them to work alone to be able to reflect on their emotions and learn by themselves eventually. If the child has problems with reading, they can use the pictures to help guide them, and may need more assistance for a longer period of time. <span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">media type="file" key="wiki-cool5.wav" width="300" height="50"



media type="custom" key="11781500"

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Go Through the Steamroller** <span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a device that has rollers with pads on both top and bottom. It has springs supporting the top rollers so that it applies pressure to the child as they go through it. Have some kind of device like this is that applies pressure to the child (ONLY if the child says they like the feeling-some children react in the opposite fashion and can not take the pressure). Have a blanket that they could wrap tight in, giving them a hug, a tight vest or coat, etc. These are all different ideas to give children the pressure that some need to feel more comfortable and stable. <span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">media type="file" key="wiki-cool6.wav" width="300" height="50"

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Draw and/or Color** <span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a great way for children to get their emotions out without even knowing it. They will put their thoughts and feelings onto paper using color, shapes, people, and objects. Take note of what the child is using while coloring. Certain colors mean different things-dark colors they're feeling depressed or down, yellow they're feeling happy and satisfied. How they draw themselves on the page means a lot also-being small with everyone else towering over them on the page means they feel inadequate. Make sure to ask what they drew when they're done, and show that you're interested in them and how they're feeling and what they're thinking. <span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">media type="file" key="wiki-cool7.wav" width="300" height="50"

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Play on the Computer (only games that are behavior/academically appropriate for cooling off)** <span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a very tricky option. Never do I feel that a child should be rewarded while they need cooling off, but they do need to get their mind off what they are upset about. As long as the child is preventing bad actions, and cooling off before they make a bad decision, then using a learning game on a computer is an okay activity. However, if the student needs a cool down because they have already been violent (either verbally, emotionally, or physically) then something fun like a game should not be used. This will be looked at like a reward for not being able to control their behavior. When they are cooling off before making a bad decision, it is okay to reward them, because they did make the right decision by cooling off before being violent. <span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">media type="file" key="wiki-cool8.wav" width="300" height="50"

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Make and/or Add to the Chain** <span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We have made paper chains at school to see how far we could make it around the room. It's something simple and easy for the children to do that they don't have to think very much and still feeling a great sense of accomplishment. <span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">media type="file" key="wiki-cool9.wav" width="300" height="50"