Spotlight on Social-Emotional Learning: A Calm Down Area
The Collective is so pleased to be collaborating with Lisa Swain, ED.S. a consultant to the Office of Early Childhood regarding the Pyramid Model.
This week will focus on providing a calm down area for children who need a break or might be feeling overwhelmed by anxiety.
________________________________________________________________________________
A calm down area provides a place to calm down and take a break. It is one strategy that might be used when children are feeling anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed. Teachers and Families can help children learn how to take a break from activities or interactions that are challenging to them. Just like adults, young children might react to stress, frustration, and disappointment by becoming angry, shouting, refusing help from adults, or engaging in other challenging behaviors. Adults might use helpful strategies such as self-talk, deep breathing, or taking a break when they are feeling the need to take a break and calm down. The calm down area provides children with a place to let go of strong emotions and begin to feel calm and ready to engage with others again.
Visual Support:
Help us Calm Down: Strategies for Children
Help us Calm Down: Strategies for Children (Spanish)
Taking a Break: Using a calm down area at home
Taking a Break: Using a calm down area at home (Spanish)
Lisa is currently devoting most of her energy to the CT Pyramid Partnership, developing resources and training for the implementation of the Pyramid Model for Social Emotional Learning for the State of CT. Previously, she was an adjunct professor in Early Childhood Education at Naugatuck Valley Community College for 20 years, and a preschool teacher since 1995. She designed the Social Emotional curriculum for pre-k and infant/toddlers for the Chooselove foundation.
