Self-regulation helps students know how they feel and learn how to handle those feelings so they can manage them. During a school day, self-regulation activities for kids can make all the difference between a hectic, hot mess and a couple of bumps in the road. Picture being able to handle a student on the verge of a meltdown while giving instructions to 20 kindergarteners with glue and scissors in front of them.
Routines
You get a routine! You get a routine! And you get a routine!
Routines for everything. It will sound over the top, but write down all your routines and teach them like you do anything else. If something needs to be improved, double-check to see if there is a straightforward routine that students have been taught.
What are some typical routines you use?
- Coming in in the morning.
- Getting materials.
- Lining up.
- Packing up at the end of the day.
- Going to the bathroom.
Calm Corners
These spaces provide a safe place for students to use and improve their self-regulation skills. There are a couple of skills and rules that need to be in place to help calm corners work.
Movement Breaks
Differentiate breaks to be responsive to students and show them how different activities can help them regulate.
Morning Meeting and Closing Circles
These class meetings set the tone for the beginning and end of the day. They are a consistent activity that students know will happen. You can use morning meetings to preview the schedule for the day, do a feelings check-in, and learn a skill. Closing circles can be a way to debrief about the day and preview the next day.
Direct Teaching
Directly teach self-regulation to your class and, in particular, to small groups of students who struggle with these skills. Morning meetings and SEL blocks are a great time to incorporate self-regulation more directly. Some essential skills to include are:
- Identifying feelings
- Telling the difference between little problems and big problems.
- Using positive thinking
- Developing go-to coping strategies
Self Regulation Small Group Bundle
Lessons and games that cover coping skills, emotional awareness, problem solving, goal setting, assertive communication, and behavior change.
You can often find these topics covered in children's literature you may already use. These four are my go-to books for learning about feelings.
Role Play & Model
One self-regulation activity for kids that can be helpful is for students to plan what they will do when challenging situations come up and then quickly act out their plan. When teachable moments arise, rather than just providing a verbal correction or explanation, have students replay the situation with different actions and outcomes.
Also, it can be compelling for you to model and think out loud when you are in a situation where you have to manage your feelings and what you do. Students can see not only how you would handle it but that adults have to manage their feelings, too.
Lastly, books are always a great medium. Highlight how different characters do and don't handle their feelings and the consequences.
Goal Setting
For students or classes that struggle with self-regulation, setting goals can be an excellent strategy to incorporate. This will help students focus on improvement and make plans to reach goals.
For example, say the class or a student wants to work on raising their hands. They can identify when they have trouble raising their hand, brainstorm strategies to help them remember, and set weekly goals.
One of the key focuses of any goal setting with self-regulation should be on getting 1% better all the time, not worrying about perfection. With the hand-raising example, from week to week, students should aim to see fewer call-outs but not expect to zero that week.
SMART Goals are even better and simple to add to your routines.
Reflection
Reflection is a crucial part of self-regulation activities for kids. Thinking about how you can manage or could have managed your feelings takes some practice. But the better you get at it, the better you get at self-regulation.
You can build some reflection time into closing circles or morning meetings.
Try having students use daily or weekly self reflection cards like these free Reflect and Get Set Daily Goal Setting Cards in my store.
Here are the 5 self regulation activities for kids you can incorporate that will support students.
- Routines
- Direct Teaching
- Role Play and Modeling
- Goal Setting
- Reflection
Which of these do you already do? Which do you want to work on adding in?
Helpful Self Regulation Resources
Self Regulation Small Group Bundle
Lessons, games, and printables that cover coping skills, emotional awareness, problem solving, goal setting, assertive communication, and behavior change.
Self Regulation Classroom Tools
Get 5 self regulation tools you can add to your classroom or office. This includes an interactive calm corner, brain breaks, yoga cards, feelings posters, and reflection sheets.
