Managing the feelings in the Classroom

I have found that many children are really struggling to manage their feelings. When they are frustrated some children are responding by hitting their friends.

To prevent this and to help the children to manage their feelings I have put a few new routines in place in the classroom. I have put a red bean bag in the classroom as a cooling down area. This is where the children can sit if they need some quiet time.I also have created a rocket out of cardboard and tin foil. This is another place the children can go if they need some quiet time. This is a more private place if they do not want to be noticed and want privacy.

 The children at the moment are not very comfortable using the calming area as they feel that they are being naughty and will get negative attention for using it. I have been trying to promote this use by prompting children to go there if they are frustrated. I am praising those children who use it. I am using a puppet 'Stanley.' He makes lots of mistakes. I am using role play with him to model when it is a good idea to use the thinking spot.

However, when the children do hit, they have broken the classroom rules and they are sent to the timeout area. This has a visual traffic light where the children can read it for some prompts to think about their actions. They can also use the Calm Down Thermometer to mark how they are feeling.

The children are aware of the routines of the cal down area and the time out area. I need to continue to promote the calm down area.