Online Support | Self-Management for Kids & Families

Practice skills like impulse control, executive function, stress management, self-discipline

As we all settle into new routines - learning from home, working from home (thank you essential workers!), and spending endless hours together in shared spaces - we have a sneaking suspicion you're experiencing a full range of emotions. We are, too! This is normal, healthy, and expected. So, what better time to intentionally practice - and grow - our social emotional skills?

We've put together a list of resources for you and your kids, broken down by competency and grade level. Below you will find a book to read with follow-up questions, discussion prompts for family mealtime, and a hands-on activity - all centered on self-management.

We hope that these social emotional resources find a place in your new routine and allow you and your family to have fun while checking-in with each other's emotional health. #We'reAllInThisTogether

For Grades K-2

Book to Read

Table Talk & Dinner Prompts

Activity

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day! by Judith Viorst | Read-aloud version

Use mealtime intentionally as a check-in time 

Yay for Yoga

Four Follow-up Questions:

  1. What surprises happened at breakfast for both Alexander and his brothers? What emotions did they feel?
  2. How did Alexander react to his friends Paul and Phillip Parker at school? What emotion do you think Alexander felt and what could he have done to relax?
  3. What surprise happened after school when Alexander's mom picked him up? What emotion do you think Alexander really felt?
  4. How did Alexander react at the shoe store when they didn't have his size in the color he wanted? What could he have done to calm down?
  • What is the last thing you were excited about?

  • What helps you calm down?

  • When have you had a hard time controlling yourself recently?

Goal: To practice resetting and relaxing through yoga
Supplies: Open space
Instructions:

  1. Guide your child through the following yoga poses, modeling each pose as a way to encourage their participation and understanding.
  2. Repeat this sequence several times.
  3. For more kid-friendly yoga tutorials click here.

For Grades 3-5

Clip to Watch

Table Talk & Dinner Prompts

Activity

Secret Life of Pets | Clip here

Use mealtime intentionally as a check-in time 

Blank Stare

Four Follow-up Questions:

  1. Did Chloe the cat practice self-control with the food in the fridge? Why or why not?
  2. Can you think of a time when you really wanted something but knew it wasn't going to be good for you? What did you do?
  3. Did Mel the pug practice self-control when he saw the squirrels? Why or why not?
  4. Can you think of a time when it was hard to control what you said? What helps you remember to stay in control?
  • What does stress feel like to you?

  • When do you feel impatient and struggle with controlling yourself?

  • There are a lot of surprises happening right now in the world. Let's make a list of the things we can control and a list of things that are out of our control.

Goal: To practice controlling emotions through a staring contest
Supplies: Pairs of participants
Instructions:

  1. Explain that on "go," each participant must stare until either you or they blink, laugh, or look away.
  2. Keep practicing control using this activity with other people in the house. If possible, kids can FaceTime or Zoom another family member or friend to play.