Christian Family Solutions’ school-based therapists and wellness specialists use various grounding techniques to help children manage emotions. The goal is to encourage students to focus on things around them, rather than on thoughts and feelings of distress. These interventions are not only simple but also remarkably effective. Here we’re sharing one such technique from their arsenal, based on the picture book Count Yourself Calm: Taking BIG Feelings to a BIG God by Eliza Huie.
You may be familiar with the calming activity used with children where they count down from five to one, focusing on each of the five senses to distract them from a difficult situation. In Count Yourself Calm, the author introduces a spiritual adaptation. Instead of simply providing a distraction with the senses, the five to one countdown focuses the child’s attention on the provision and care God brings to their life.
"We teach grounding techniques, even to young children, to give them the skills needed to face the challenges of life. God tells us to place all our worries on Him because He loves us and to trust that He is working all things for our good. When our emotions are taking over, using grounding techniques focused on these promises of God is an amazing blessing. Discussing and practicing techniques ahead of distressing times, builds the skill needed to use these techniques when they are needed most.” says Kara Witthuhn, a Christian Family Solutions School-Based Wellness Specialist.
Ideal for preschool and young elementary school children, we encourage you to give this technique a try.
Count Yourself Calm Grounding Technique
Purchase the book HERE.
Click here for printable bookmarks you can share with children to remind them to Count Themselves Calm.
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