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.  

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

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.

Conversation Starters -Social Skills

              ~~ !!!!! SCHOOL'S BACK !!!!!~~

70 CONVERSATION STARTERs

Ever felt nervous when you first met someone, because you didn’t quite know what to say?  Here is a list of questions to get a good conversation started with a potential new friend. (Kids and teens may wish to practice on their family, friends, pets, counselors, social workers, or therapist, etc.)

    BE PREPARED to have to answer the questions yourself.

If you wish to be creative print out this list, cute each line into strips, ball them up and place them in a bag or box so that you will not know what question  is coming next

1.    Did you have a nickname? How did you get it?

2.  Do you do when you feel anxious? (I.e. nail biting, hair twirling, leg shaking, pacing, etc.)

3.  Do you have a hobby? What do you do in your free time?

4.  For you, what was the worst thing about being a (insert grade or year in school)?

5.  Have you ever committed a RAK? Random Act of Kindness? Explain…

6.  How often do you check your media outlets vine? Instagram? Pinterest? Kick? E-mail? Facebook? Texts?

7.  How would you describe your “style”?

8.  If one of your 5 senses could have supernatural abilities, which one sense would you choose?

9.  If you could be one age for the rest of your life, how old would you choose to be?

10.       If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be?

11.  If you could choose anyone name 2 people you would take on a road trip.

12.        If you could cure one type of disease, which one would you cure?

13.If you could design the perfect TV channel, what would be on it?

14.        If you could guest star on any Reality TV Show, which one would you choose?

15.        If you could have any animal in the world as a pet, what animal would you choose?

16.        If you could have any one super-power, which one would you choose and why?

17.  If you could invent a holiday, what and when would it be?

18.        If you could plan your own birthday part, what would you do?

19.        If you had $10 to spend, how would you spend it? $100? $1000?

20.     If you had a theme song (one that played every time you entered a room), which song would 

    you choose?

21.        If you had a YouTube channel what would you call it?

22.      If you had an unlimited gift card to any store, which store would it be?

23.      If you were stuck on Stranded Island, what are 2 things you would bring with you?

24.      Name 3 tv shows you have recorded on your DVR? Netflix? HULU?

25.      So far who has had the most positive influence on you?

26.     What are 3 qualities you want your friends to have?

27.      What are some positive changes you have seen in your life?

28.      What cartoon character do you most identify with?

29.      What do you plan to do when you graduate?

30.     What do you struggle with the most in life?

31.   What helps you to feel most content or peaceful?

32.      What is one gadget or electronic you’d like to own?

33.      What is one of the most adventurous things you’ve ever done?

34.      What is one regret you have from last week? Last Month? Last year? Your lifetime?

35.      What is one statement that you hope people will say about you when you are no longer    

     around?

36.      What is one thing you wish you had more time for in your life?

37.      What is one thing you’ve never done that you would really like to do?

38.      What is some place that you would really like to visit?

39.      What is something you are looking forward to doing within the next six months?

40.     What is something you like about yourself?

41.        What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?

42.      What is the most important thing that makes a friendship great?

43.      What is the most recent book you read?

44.      What is the scariest thing you’ve ever seen in real life?

45.      What is your earliest memory?

46.     What is your favorite animal?

47.      What is your favorite ice cream flavor and your favorite topping?

48.      What is your favorite thing to do with friends?

49.      What is your goal in life? Or goals?

50.     What is your least favorite chore to do?

51.         What is your most favorite possessions?

52.      What makes you feel discouraged or insecure?

53.      What one thing would you change about your house if you could?

54.      What songs are on your recently played playlist right now?

55.      What was the worst thing about being in middle school for you?

56.     What would you like for your life to be like 5 years from now? 10 years from now? 50years?

57.      What’s one thing that annoys you about your siblings or cousins?

58.      What’s one thing you like about your Mom?

59.      What’s one trait you admire about your Dad?

60.     What’s the biggest struggle you are facing in life right now?

61.        What’s the furthest place you’ve ever been from your current home?

62.     What’s the most annoying word or phrase your parents or teachers use often?

63.      What’s your dream car?

64.     When is something you must get from the grocery store, no matter what?

65.     When you are surprised with 30 free minutes during the day, how do you spend it?

66.     Where state and city were you born in?

67.      Who do you wish would listen more closely to you?

68.     Who is the most important person in your life?

69.     Who’s someone you admire/respect? Why? (not a family member)

70.     Your first job will be…?

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