Positivity board

This will serve as a sample for a presentation I am doing for the National Youth Transition Database Reunion Conference I will be speaking at this week.  I will be presenting on being the best woman you can be.

Although I am still a work in progress I do believe that part of being the best version of you includes recognizing your flaws, accepting and embracing then, choosing to focus on your strengths and positive aspects of life.

Therefore I will have participants create positivity or vision boards. They will have the option of creating a poster focusing on positivity or a vision board focusing on goals and aspirations. (My vision board coming soon...that will take a bit more work on my end.)

So enjoy this entry and feel free to Be Positive!!

Dream Catcher

I  found this cool activity somewhere on Pinterest.  I plan to post a finished product within the next 2 weeks.  and will provide a PDF template that can be purchased on my TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS account. 

Basically you will have the participant write down negative thoughts and beliefs in the large circle.  Next he or she will write positive thoughts and beliefs on the outside of the dream catcher.  

You can enocourage creativity by providing craft feathers and beads for the hanging materials on the page.  yarn can be used to represent the rope or string used in an actual dream catcher.  If you are unable to get feathers, yarn, and beads, they can be drawn with different color markers.  

Sense of Peace: 5 Senses Relaxation Activity

I will post a finished product on here before June 1st.

This activity can be used to discuss how to engage the senses when using relaxation techniques.

5 SENSES

SIGHT    TOUCH    SMELL    TASTE   SOUND 

What Pushes Your Buttons? Trigger identification

WHAT PUSHES MY BUTTON ACTIVITY SHEET

(The actual activity sheet will be posted to my Teachers Pay Teachers Site for sale by June 1st)

This activity can be used to help the child or participant determine their triggers. 

             I often will have a child do this activity using 1 worksheet per emotion.                   They, then, are able to have a booklet to refer back to. 

Of course allowing the participant to put their own flare into this activity enhances a sense of self,uniqueness, and can make the process more entertaining. 

Allowing he or she to use crayons, markers, etc to fill in the blanks is a great way to encourage CREATIVITY!

HAVE A HAPPY DAY!

AYLA

About Me Book (Simple)

Here is an example of an about me book i create with kids. It allows them the chance to begin identifying what makes them unique. It helps to create a sense of identity. Depending on the particular client and situation I will either give them a blank book and allow the child free range OR i write the prompts in the book (my middle name is, i like to, i do not like to...etc) for them because i am seeking specific information.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Colored Paper (card-stock preferred for sturdiness but not necessary)
• White printer paper
• Crayons, markers, paint, color pencils etc

Extra items may include: oil pastels, stickers, glitter, puff paint, photos, etc. 

EXAMPLES OF PROMPTS ARE: ( but not limited to...:)

MY MIDDLE NAME IS...

MY FRIENDS...

MY FAMILY...

MY SCHOOL...

I LIKE TO...

I DO NOT LIKE TO...

I AM GOOD AT...

I CAN IMPROVE...

ONE DAY I WILL...

MY COPING SKILLS ARE...

MY FEARS ARE...

IN SCHOOL I...

MY DREAM IS TO...

IF I HAD ONE WISH...

IF I WERE AN ANIMAL...

MY FAVORITE COLOR IS....

These examples are probing, open-ended questions that can help you to obtain some pertinent information about the child.

Have a happy day

Ayla

Positive Me Puzzle

Here is an example of a self esteem activity to help a client or child identify positive qualities that make him or her who they are. For best effect, have the person cut out the puzzle pieces, mix them up, write a positive quality on each, and put them back together.

The lesson for this activity is to identify that we all have various qualities that make up who we are.

If the child or person struggles to identify positive qualities ask them to identify good qualities that make a good friend or family member. Then ask them to identify whether they exhibit any of those qualities.

HEART PUZZLE

HEART PUZZLE

I apologize for taking so long to provide info on how to administer this activity.  Hopefully my brilliant readers have found this self-explanatory, but even the best of minds need a little assistance at times...So here it is!!

HEART MAPS/PUZZLE/ WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO NAME IT...is a fun creative way for a person to identify and explore things they hold true to them.  It can be a representation on their inner most thoughts and feelings.  It can be completed in different ways.  You decide what prompts.  I choose different prompts for different clients depending on age, intelligence, maturity, the goal/objective we are working toward in that particular session, 

Okay, so this activity is quite simple.

1. First you draw a large heart.  I strongly suggest you, the adult, draw the heart outline otherwise you may go through 10 pieces of paper.  In my experience children tend to struggle with the concept of "LARGE".  Be sure the heart is large enough to fit writing.  The younger the child, the larger the writing may be. 

2. Next you draw squiggly lines throughout the heart to give the illusion of a PUZZLE. 

3.  Next you provide the prompt. Think about what you are working toward with the individual. And ask them to write down your list of prompts somewhere near the outside of the heart.  Basically they are making a “map key.”  I strongly suggest you give 3….maybe 4…prompts. You want the participant to be able to list more than one thing for each topic/prompt. (see photo)

Examples…

SELF ESTEEM= I AM GOOD AT/ I CAN WORK TOWARDS/ MY ACCOMPLISMENTS

FAMILY THERAPY= I LOVE/ I TRUST/ I CAN RELY ON/I WISH I KNEW BETTER

GETTING TO KNOW ME= I LIKE/I HATE/I AM GOOD AT/MY DREAMS/ MY FEARS

4. Now, ask them to assign a color to each.  In my example above I have things I do not like represented with the color red because in real life I cannot stand the color read.  Things I want are represented with green because it is my favorite color.  I decided to get creative after doing these over and over.  I made each prompt layered.  Feelings I enjoy are in light green and if I wish to experience them more I surrounded the light green with darker green.   You can choose to allow the person to be creative and do their own thing or be more directed and insist they choose 1 color per prompt.

5. Finally, process and discuss. You can also allow the participant to make a heart depicted what they wish their heart puzzle/map will look like once they have completed treatment. Or what they are hoping their heart will look one day if you are not using this for counseling/therapy.

SUMMARY

1.        LARGE HEART

2.      SQUIGGLY LINES

3.      LIST OF PROMPTS

4.      COLORS

5.       PROCESS/DISCUSS

Thanks for stopping by!!

AYLA 

I AM GRATEFUL FOR: Positive Thinking & Self Exploration Art Activity

Excuse the quality of this photo.  This activity allows for the participant to engage in identifying the things they can be grateful and thankful for.  It encourages positive self esteem, self image, gratitude, positive thinking, and humbleness.  (is that a word??)

1st: You can start the activity off for the participant by drawing a circle in the middle of the page and writing "I am grateful/thankful for..."

2nd: You can write down the topics (as identified by the participant) as though you are creating a start or flower petals out of words.  (refer to picture)  If they are unable to come up with enough things they are grateful for you may wish to provide examples.

If you end up providing examples keep in mind what the 

participant identified on their own vs your suggestions. 

**SOCIAL WORKERS/COUNSELORS:: And inability to identify positive things in life or things to be grateful for is something you may want to explore further if you are providing mental health services.
**PARENTS: If you are a parent you may wish to consult your child's PCP or mental health professional.

Topics may include but are not limited to:
STRENGTHS
MIND AND BODY
THIS MOMENT
LIFE
ANIMALS
LOVE AND PASSION
CREATIVITY
FRIENDSHIPS 
MEMORIES