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Coping Skills, COVID-19

Fidget Cube (Fidgets 101)

Fidget Cube

Name: Fidget Cube
Category: Manipulable
Coping: Physical, Distraction, Soothing

Introduction to the Fidget Cube

The fidget cube is likely the second best known type of fidget toy – second only to the fidget spinner. Widely available and immensely popular, the fidget cube is beloved by young and old alike.

What is it?

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May 7, 2020by Wayne Stocks
Coping Skills, COVID-19

The Fidget Spinner (Fidgets 101)

Fidget SpinnerName: Fidget Spinner
Category: Manipulable
Coping: Physical, Distraction, Soothing, Social

Introduction to The Fidget Spinner

We couldn’t start a series on fidgets without first tackling what has become the most popular fidget to date – the fidget spinner. From the spring and summer of 2017 through today, fidget spinners have become a cultural icon. Kids love them. Parents are sick of hearing about them. And, they have become the bane of some teachers’ existence. So, what is the fidget spinner, and why are they equally so loved and so despised?

What is a Fidget Spinner?

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April 30, 2020by Wayne Stocks
Coping Skills, COVID-19

Reframing Unhelpful Thoughts Regarding Covid-19

Reframing Unhelpful Thoughts

The graphic above from Willow Counseling in the UK provides helpful advice on reframing unhelpful thoughts you are your children might be having in relation to the coronavirus pandemic. Reframing is a useful Thinking Coping Skill included in the The Super Simple Feelings Management Technique [SSFMT] which is part of the Stand Strong component of our Hope 4 Hurting Kids Jump In! Stand Strong! Rise Up! Comprehensive Emotions Management Plan.

For more information and resources related to Covid-19, please visit our Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Resource Page.

April 24, 2020by Wayne Stocks
Coping Skills, COVID-19

The Squishy (Fidgets 101)

SquishyName: Squishy
Category: Manipulable
Coping: Physical, Distraction, Soothing

Introduction to Squishies

As fidget spinners burst on to the seen in the summer of 2017 (despite having been around for years), the squishy burst onto the popular culture scene in the Spring and Summer of 2018.

What is it?

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April 23, 2020by Wayne Stocks
Coping Skills, COVID-19

Infinity Cube (Fidgets 101)

Infinity CubeName: Infinity Cube
Category: Manipulable
Coping: Physical, Distraction, Soothing

Introduction to the Infinity Cube

The Infinity Cube holds the distinction of being my favorite fidget toy to date. At first glance, it looks a little bit like the lesser known cousin of the Rubik’s Cube, and I didn’t think much of it when I first saw it. The real measure of a fidget toy though is how much you find yourself using it. From the first moment I picked up, the Infinity Cube has been my favorite, and I’ve yet to find another fidget that comes even close.

What is an Infinity Cube?

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April 16, 2020by Wayne Stocks
Coping Skills

Fidgets 101 – An Introduction

fidgetsWelcome to Fidgets 101. In this series, we will review a variety of fidget toys over the coming months. Before we do that though, an introduction to Fidgets 101 is in order. Unless you’ve lived under a rock for the last couple of years, chances are that you’ve played with, seen or heard about Fidget Spinner. They burst onto the scene in the Summer of 2017, seemingly out of nowhere, and became the focus (pun intended) of young people everywhere. Fidgets, though, have been around forever. From the Chinese baoding balls (sometimes called Chinese Stress Balls) created in the 14th century to greek worry beads known as kompoloi which were used by monks 800 years ago to todays fidgets spinners and cubes, there have always been outlets for human’s insatiable need to fidget.

What is A Fidget?

A fidget is any sort of object that people fiddle with to help them to maintain their focus on something else. As described in more detail in the video below, a fidget is a kind of coping mechanism.

The science is still out on why fidgets work. One theory is that fidgets occupy our “floating attention.” We all have what is called “floating attention” which is that little bit of attention that is placed away from our principal activity no matter what we are doing. For some people, their floating attention isn’t well regulated and gets spread across tons of activities. Using a fidget gives that “floating attention” something to focus on which allows you to focus better on the primary items of focus.

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October 2, 2018by Wayne Stocks
Coping Skills

Hopes and Fears Tree

Hopes and Fears TreeThe Hopes and Fears Tree is colorful craft to help kids understand that no matter what they’re worried about, they can still achieve their hopes and dreams.

Supplies Needed

  • Poster board or large sheet of paper
  • Markers, pens or pencils
  • Construction Paper (Green, brown and a variety of other colors)
  • Scissors
  • Glue

Making a Hopes and Fears Tree

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April 30, 2018by Wayne Stocks
Coping Skills

Over and Under Obstacle Course

obstacle courseActive coping skills are an important part of Please Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff Coping Tool Box. The Over and Under Obstacle Course is a fun way to help kids deal with difficult emotions and can be a powerful visual reminder that life events can be like an obstacle course. There will be ups and downs, but the most important thing is to keep going.

Setting Up Your Obstacle Course

  • Use you imagination. Your obstacle course can be inside or outside.
  • If you’re building inside, use furniture, cushions, blankets, doors and anything else you can think of to use.
  • These obstacle course also work in an education setting. Use desks, books, doors and other items in the room.
  • If you’re working outside, use playground equipment, toys, sporting equipment, leaves, creeks, etc. to build your course.
  • Try to make your course doable but make sure it requires some effort on the child’s part.

Using Your Obstacle Course to Reinforce Emotional Resilience

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April 27, 2018by Wayne Stocks
Coping Skills

Emotion Stress Balloons

Stress BalloonsStress Balloons are a unique homemade alternative to the traditional stress ball that you can make with a child while talking to them about what is causing the stress in their lives. The instructions below use flour to fill the balloons. Use can also use rice, small beans or sand. These stress balloons can be a valuable soothing tool in a child’s Coping Tool Box.

What You Need to Make Stress Balloons

  • A package of balloons.
  • Flour (2/3 of a cup to a cup for each balloon)
  • Funnel (or a water bottle)
  • Pen or pencil
  • Sharpie Marker
  • Scissors

How to Make Stress Balloons

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April 19, 2018by Wayne Stocks
Coping Skills

Breathing Sphere

Breathing SphereOver the last couple of weeks, we have looked at Lazy 8 Breathing and Triangle Breathing as effective tools for beginning to teach kids about deep breathing. Deep breathing is a key skill to have in the Please Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff coping skills toolbox. The Breathing Sphere can be used along with the techniques from either method to further reinforce breathing skills in kids.

How Does the Breathing Sphere Work

This activity may require spending some cash if you don’t have a sphere lying around, but we found it to be a very effective tool in helping kids to visualize their stomach expanding and contracting as they engage in deep breathing. They come in all sizes from a small one that expands from 5.5 to 12 inches, a large sphere that expands from 9.5 to 30 inches to this super large one that expands up to 4.5 feet. Obviously, the bigger you go the more expensive they get. I won the one shown above on a family vacation to Gatlinburg a few years back.

The idea is simple. Have the child hold the sphere. As they breathe in, they should expand the sphere. Have them hold the sphere open as they hold their breath, then have them slowly contract the ball as they breath out slowly through their mouth.

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April 13, 2018by Wayne Stocks
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Scenario Cards (I Feel)

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