Activity Ideas
A few more activities to try at home if your child is feeling worried or anxious. They are designed to help them talk through and resolve the anxiety or create a sense of calm whilst focussing on texture or listening for instructions.
Simon Says
The Simon Says game is a great way to encourage getting the body moving and relieving tight body muscles whilst having some fun. It aims to get your child listening to another person and being able to follow instructions in a fun way.
If the adult starts by giving instructions, such as ‘Simon says jog on the spot’, ‘Simon says touch your toes’, ‘Simon says do star jumps’ and the child will follow these instructions. How well are they listening?
The child should only complete the instruction if it starts with ‘Simon Says’. Give a final instruction, ‘touch your nose’ and see if the child completes the instruction or not. If not, they can become the instructor and if they do, they try again.
Finger Painting
Finger painting is a great way to relax and have some messy fun. Either out in the garden or on a table indoors with a wipeable table cover. Start by putting out two trays, a different colour of paint in each. Kids can begin by mixing the two colours on paper and talk about what happens when mixed. Then make marks or patterns, using their fingers and talk about how the paint feels on their skin.
What happens when you put a dollop of paint on the paper and pull a comb or run a toy car through the paint? Is there anything else you could use to create a pattern? Why not take a print of the patterns you have created by gently placing a piece of paper on top, gently peal back and leaving it to dry?
Why not change the texture by adding sand? How does that feel when you mix it with your fingers? Or use shaving foam instead? How does it make you feel when you touch these different textures?
Worry Dolls
Worry Dolls are a great way for your child to explore the different emotions we experience by creating a doll for each emotion. Why not start with 6 feelings such as: happy, sad, worried, frightened, excited and tired. You can add to the collection as your child discovers new emotions.
Using large wooden clothes pegs, colour, paint or create clothes for their doll using fabric or wool. On the head (rounded top), draw in the emotion each peg represents and this will become the face.
Bedtime is a good time to use these, although your child can play with these dolls throughout the day to talk/work through or role play any emotions, comfortable/uncomfortable, they may be experiencing. It can aide a restful night’s sleep, if your child is able to discuss these emotions before bed, releasing the ‘worry’ or feeling that may be making it hard for them to sleep.
Stay safe!
