2nd Grade Lesson- Coping Skills

Well, after our slowed pace during the busy month of December, we are finally finishing the second Kelso's Choices conflict resolution lesson in kindergarten today. We'll start a new lesson in 2nd grade on Tuesday!

We'll learn about coping skills, or how to deal with difficult emotions in a healthy way. All of us are going to feel angry, sad, or upset sometimes- it's part of life. It is very important for young children to start learning positive coping skills that make them feel better but do not hurt other people, break things, or make the situation worse. This is a skill they'll need for the rest of their lives, to keep them safe and resilient. 

In our lesson we'll talk briefly about how emotions are like a roller coaster: you have ups and downs, but no matter how bad you're feeling you can always look forward to the track going back up soon and know that your sadness will not last forever.

Then the students will work in small groups to unscramble a number of different healthy coping skills that they can choose from in real life, like playing outside, drawing or coloring, talking to someone, reading a book, getting a hug, playing with a pet, listening to music, starting a project, doing something kind for someone else, building a block tower and knocking it down, dancing or singing, etc. Look for your 2nd grader to bring home a half-page list of 36 positive ideas for handling difficult feelings. You and your family might find it helpful to keep the list in a handy place for those times when people find themselves angry, sad, or upset at home! Of course you and your child also might want to add your personal favorite ideas to the list, since most of mine are general. If you come up with new ones that aren't on my list, please share them with me! I am always looking for good ideas to help kids cope!

I'll do this lesson next week with Bowlin, Frith, Hamner, Johnson, Singley, Horst, Smelley, Phillips, and Peake/Dover's classes. All other 2nd grade classes will take place the following week. If you have any questions or comments (or if you don't have a 2nd grader, but would like me to send a copy of the coping skills list home to you), please let me know!