Courage · Activity

A Little Spot of Courage

Pre-K & Kindergarten

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Activity: Day #1: If it’s useful, students will watch “A Little Spot of Courage” again. If unnecessary, just do the activity. Students are led in a discussion about their fears. They are presented with a series of normal childhood fears, and as the teacher goes through the list, students raise their hand when they can identify with a fear. Students are asked to mention any fears they have that were not on that list. After this, they observe a demonstration about how worry grows. Day #2: Finally, students practice methods that help create calm when fear and worry cause distress.  Note to teachers: If you have concerns about what children share, when appropriate, contact the parents. A fear can be very real for children, even if it’s not rational, or it can be something that needs to be addressed with the parents. Advise the parents accordingly, and let them know that reassurance and comforting words, in addition to making any adjustments in the home, are very important. One idea is to give their kids a spray can with water labeled “monster spray” to chase away anything scary. Be creative! Here’s a resource that might help you if you want to extend the lesson, or offer it to parents to work with their child at home: Helping Your Child Deal with Fears - Brave Guide (mybraveguide.com) Materials needed: A list or chart of typical age-appropriate fears with illustrations or photos (be discerning about the photos - not too scary); a pitcher of water; dark food coloring List/chart of typical fears for young children: fear of…the dark, monsters (remember that children have very vivid imaginations), separation - getting lost or separated from parents, sudden and loud noises, animals and bugs, masks and costumes, water and pools, scary TV shows and movies, etc. (add your own).  Directions: Day #1: Optional (if there is a limited attention span, skip to the activity): watch “A Little Spot of Courage”: Teacher: This activity is about things that make us afraid, and what to do when that happens. Everyone is afraid of something, not just kids, but adults, too. We will be talking about your fears and what to do to stay calm when you’re afraid. It takes courage to face our fears; it takes courage to do something about it. I’ll teach you some ways that help us get rid of our fears.” Read slowly through the list and show pictures of fears, and add any helpful explanation or examples. If students want to add their own comments, encourage this, but they must follow the rule of not making fun of anyone’s fears. Before reading the list, explain that it’s not right to make fun of anyone’s fears. Instead we need to be supportive and try to help others when they are afraid. After the circle time discussion, tell students: “I have a pitcher of water in front of me. It will help me explain something about fear and worry. The pitcher of water is you when you’re happy. The food coloring is worry and fear. This eye dropper has food coloring in it. As I put one drop in, see how the color spreads. The color spreads just like worry grows. When you start to worry, and you don’t do anything about it, it can get worse. I will put another drop in - this is because nothing was done to talk about the worry. Now, another drop. The water gets very dark, like it does when we worry and don’t get help. One thing to remember about your fears, when you don’t do anything about it, a fear or worry can grow and grow, just like the color spread throughout the water. You all have courage inside of you. When you use your courage to talk to someone about your fears, you will get support and help you need. I will also show you things that you can do to help yourself. We will do that tomorrow.”   Day #2:  Explain that sometimes when they’re afraid or worried they might not be able to tell someone right away. That’s why you want them to learn some other things they can do to keep the worry from growing. Explain that when you start to worry, or when you’re feeling afraid, you can make yourself calm down by moving your body in special ways, breathing deeply, singing a song, or playing a game. Here are some ideas that you can practice with them.  
  • Color hunt: Play “I-Spy” by yourself or ask someone to play with you. By yourself: begin with one color and find as many things as you can with that color. Then move on to the next color. With another person: select a color and an object with that color in the room, and ask the other person to find it. When they find it, switch. If they don’t find it, give a hint.  
  • Down Dog: This is a yoga pose that helps us calm down when we have strong emotions, including fear and worry. In a standing position, lean over until your hands touch the ground. Take a few steps back with hands still on the ground, until your body is like a table. Then tuck your toes under and push up your bottom so you look like an upside down “V” . Breathe as deeply as possible as you do this. Hold the pose for up to 30 seconds. Then stand tall like a mountain. 
  • Deep breathing: Sit tall. Put your hands on your belly. Breathe in a long breath from your belly. When your belly starts to rise and fall with your breaths - your belly goes in when you breathe in, goes out when you breathe out -  that means you’re breathing in a way that will help you relax. 
  • Sing a song: Pick a few songs that your students like and practice singing. Tell them that the next time they feel afraid or worried, try singing a song they like. 
Wrap it up: Explain that the purpose of these activities is to help them learn about dealing with their fears and worries. Remind them about the food-coloring activity and how that shows how worry and fear can grow and get worse when they don’t do anything. Tell students that everyone has courage - we just need to remember what to do when we’re afraid. Let them know that they will be practicing the methods they learned, and that they will be adding to them, as the school year progresses.
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