Drive Thru Stress Relieving Menus

1. Drive Thru Stress Relieving Menus • These activities came from Tere Bowen-Irish, an Occupational Therapists. • Her website is www.Drivethrumenus.net So…How do we de-stress? How do we stress bust? Here are some ways we can relax along with our class and create a morecalm classroom environment!

2. Visual Play Lay your heads down and go on vacation! Self soothe and go wherever you want!

3. TIE IT IN A BOW • Using a Tae Bo motion, make a T with your body (arms out) and flex your fingers up then point them down, last pull your arms into your body slowly. Breath gently in through your nose and out through your mouth.

4. Belly Brain Waves • Breathe deep through your nose to expand the diaphragm, make your belly large, then as you exhale through your mouth make the SH digraph sound. • It will alleviate stress and quiet down your class!

5. Pat, Pat, Relax with That! • Chanting this sentence together 3 times for each movement. • Movement #1: Self hug and pat your back with your hands (count of 15 times) • Movement #2: Cross your arms and pat them with your hands (count of 15 times) • Movement #3: Pat your legs with your hands (count of 15 times)

6. A CALM HEART • Put one hand over your heart and calmly say names of students and have them echo after you. • You can also recite calming words such as: RELAX, CLEAR YOUR MIND, THINK FREELY, CALM YOUR BREATHING, and LET OUT ALL THE STRESS. • While you are saying these things gently rub your heart and if you are talented enough rub your belly at the same time and then switch.

7. It’s all in your head! Massage time: • Rub your temples and count to 15 • Rub your forehead and count to 15 • Rub your whole head and count to 15

8. Vital Eyes • Cover your eyes with your hands • Take 5 deep breaths • Gently rub and massage around the eyes • The eyes cannot rest unless there it complete darkness; nightlights are not always best utilized in a child’s bedroom, she suggested the hallway of being more effective placement for better sleep.

9. Cup of Calm • Rub your hands together to create friction and warmth • Self massage your face with your cup of calm hands • Repeat the process and massage your neck, shoulders, and head

10. Throw Away the Garbage and Gather in the Goodies • What is something you hate to do? ...Ride the mean bus!!! • Wad it up, mash it up, and throw it away! • What is something you love? ...Candy Land with Mommy!!! • Pull in those goodies, tuck them in your heart, and gather them in your mind! • Let your students tell you what they are struggling with and what makes them happy!

11. Relaxation Delivery • You will be playing follow the leader by making faces/acting out certain poses and your students will join you and can even invent their own. • Hold the pose for 3 seconds and then release • Use visuals from National Geographic or United Streaming to help show them poses and what face of motion they should be making.

12. Examples: Monster face, King Kong, Incredible Hulk, The Claw, Imaginary Chair, Whole Body Freeze.

13. Make Time To Escape • Monkey Arms: Drop your arms and swing them back and forth like a pendulum on a clock and the class must keep the beat of your tick “Tick tock goes the clock, come swing with me, tick tock goes the clock, swinging in our tree.” Remember you control the speed of the clock! • Quick calming song: Let it go, let it go, let it go! (To the tune of “Let it snow”)

14. Warrior Pose • With feet firmly planted and arms ready repeat after me: “ I am strong, I am invincible, I can do anything Mr. Bailey asks me to!” Together say: Hi-yah! And now take a bow to your class, you have completed Stress Busters 101!