SIX FREE

EMOTIONAL

REGULATION

ACTIVITIES TO HELP

CHILDREN THRIVE

THE PLAYFUL PSYCHOLOGIST

 Minecraft Coping Characters
Purpose of the Activity: Emotional Regulation

You Will Need: The templates below (printed), writing/drawing materials.

How to Implement The Activity: This activity is a total crowd pleaser! I have used it (and posted about it) so
many times and it has never failed me. If you are unfamiliar with the game, Minecraft involves characters that
all have different 'tool bars.' In this activity, we are asking children to create their own Minecraft characters
with their own 'coping tool kit' to help them work through difficult emotions. If your child is reluctant to come
up with coping strategies that they can legitimately use in real life, that's ok! You can compromise with them
by saying 'Ok, let's come up with two tools the character could use in the game, but also three tools they
could use in real life!'

They can be as creative as they like!! Examples of real life tools include body armour that recognises when
they are getting angry and automatically forces them to walk away, or a special potion (water/juice) that
they can drink to help them calm down, or even splashing magic water on their face to help them gain their
positive strength back (splashing cold water on their face in the bathroom). The options are endless!!

____

Script:

When you battle in Minecraft, you have special armour that helps protect you. You also have special tools in
your toolbar that help you fight your enemies.

In real life, when you are angry or are feeling other big emotions, you have no armour to protect you, so
your big emotions go to all different parts of your body.

You may get a headache, have tight muscles, feel your heart beating fast, feel your fists ready to punch
something, feel your whole body getting hot, and you might even feel sweaty! When this happens, you need
tools to help you calm down so you can start to feel better.

Draw your very own Minecraft character. Then have a think about some of the tools that help you when
you feel worried and angry. Fill out the tool bars with the tools you can use so that you can help yourself
(and your character) feel better.
 My Characters Name Is:
___________

Toolbar for When I feel ANGRY:

 My Characters Name Is:
___________

Toolbar for When I feel WORRIED:

 My Characters Name Is:
___________

Toolbar for When I feel _______:

 IF FEELINGS WERE COLOURS:
Purpose of the Activity: Development of Emotional Vocabulary & Emotional Expression

You Will Need: The templates below (printed), writing/drawing materials.

How to Implement The Activity: I absolutely love this activity! If you don't have a printer, you can just use
markers and create your own colour wheel on a scrap piece of paper. If you've been following me for a
while, you would have already seen me post something similar to this on my feed. It's an activity I use
frequently!

The purpose of the activity is for children to think about what emotions certain colours trigger in them. After
your child has come up with an emotion for each colour, use their answers as discussion points as to the
'why' behind their answer. Remember, there is absolutely no wrong answer here!! I once had a client tell me
that orange reminded her of 'angry' because her little brother's blonde eyebrows would go orange when he
was angry (CUTE) and that red reminded her of 'love' because her father always bought her mother red
roses on special occasions. Every child will interpret these colours differently, and that is the beauty of an
exercise like this!
 Think about each colour below in the colour wheel.
What feeling does each colour remind you of?
There is no right or wrong answer!

When you are done, you can chat to your sibling or parent about your answers!
 CHATTERBOXES
Purpose of the Activity: Mindfulness Activity, Self-Esteem Activity, Sensory Regulation, Sibling Bonding, Emotional
Expression, and so on!

You Will Need: The template below, printed, colouring/decorating materials.

How to Implement The Activity: You can literally implement this activity in any way you want! I mean, at the
end of the day, who doesn't love a chatterbox!? If you don't have a printer, you can make your own
following the directions below, If you do have a printer, I have included the templates for you.

I've included an example template below for self-esteem, but have also included a blank template so that you
can create your own!!

Mindfulness ideas can include grounding exercises, quick breathing exercises, or getting to choose a
yoga/mindfulness video to watch together.

Emotional Expression ideas can include questions such as 'talk about a time you felt lonely' or 'name the last
thing that made you feel worried.'

Sensory ideas can include regulation activities such as hulk pushups, playing with play dough, shaking a magic
glitter jar, a back rub, etc.

Sibling Bonding Ideas can include special tasks that siblings have to complete together, special things siblings can
do for each other, or giving compliments to each other.

You can literally use these for any sort of task, and that's what makes them so great!
Cut out the square below and follow the instructions on the
previous page to assemble your chatterbox.
Cut out the square below and follow the instructions on the
previous page to assemble your chatterbox.
 ROLL THE DICE
Purpose of the Activity: Development of Emotional Vocabulary, Emotional Expression, Self-Reflection, and
Gratitude.

You Will Need: The templates below (printed), writing/drawing materials.

How to Implement The Activity: I absolutely love this activity! If you don't have a printer, you can just use
markers and create your own colour wheel on a scrap piece of paper. If you've been following me for a
while, you would have already seen me post something similar to this on my feed. It's an activity I use
frequently!

The purpose of the activity is to turn conversations about emotions, self-love, and gratitude into an
interactive game. I have included a few templates for you, including a blank one. You can make this activity
into any sort of learning lesson! Simply encourage children to take turns and answer the questions on the dice,
or think of a time that made them feel the emotion on the dice.

I have also included a template for yoga poses, which is a really nice mindfulness and reset task for children.
Basically, everyone can take turns rolling the dice, and whatever pose gets landed on, has to be held for 45
seconds. It's a great way to incorporate a quick mindfulness or sensory break into the day, but also helps
when transitioning back into school work after a break.
 Cut on the SOLID lines.
Fold on the DASHED lines.

Children can take turns acting out feelings, talking about triggers to
feelings, or exploring different words for feelings.
 Cut on the SOLID lines.
Fold on the DASHED lines.

Gratitude Cube.
 Cut on the SOLID lines.
Fold on the DASHED lines.

Yoga Cube.
 Cut on the SOLID lines.
Fold on the DASHED lines.

Emotion Cube. Suggest an emotion and ask children to roll the dice.
Use the prompts on the dice to explore that emotion.
 SELF-ESTEEM BINGO
Purpose of the Activity: To encourage self-esteem.

You Will Need: The template below, printed.

How to Implement The Activity: This bingo activity was designed to help children with self-esteem during
extended periods of time at home. It can be used with all ages and are really useful in showing children and
teens that they are actually able to achieve more than they realise, even if they have to stay home!

I would set this as a weekly task and perhaps come up with a reward they can give themselves (i.e., a movie
night, a special treat, a bubble bath etc) if they are able to cross everything off their lists.

They may need some help with a few of the tasks, depending on their age, or may need help understanding
some of the tasks, but that's ok! The most important thing is that they achieve everything, every week!
 Self - Esteem Bingo
LET DID SOMETHING CAME UP
DID SOMETHING
MASTERED A NEGATIVE OUTSIDE OF MY WITH SOME
CREATIVE
NEW SKILL THOUGHTS COMFORT POSITIVE
OFTEN
GO ZONE SELF TALK

MADE TIME FOR

EXPRESS ED MY LEARNT FROM MANAGED MY
FACED A FEAR REST OR A FUN
FEELINGS MY MISTAKES TIME WELL
ACTIVITY

I KEPT TRYING
EXERCISED
PRACTICED A Free WHEN THINGS
I WAS KIND TO
HOBBY MYSELF
GOT TOUGH

REMIND ED
TOOK MY OWN DID NOT GIVE ASKED FOR
MYSELF THAT I I AM.......
ADVICE UP HELP
AM ENOUGH

STOPPED
LEARNT
HELPED WORRYING
I AM.... READ A BOOK SOEMTHING
SOMEONE ABOUT WHAT
NEW
OTHERS THINK
 'I AM' POSTER
Purpose of the Activity: Self-Esteem Development

You Will Need: Cardboard, writing materials, an old magazine, a laminator and laminating pouches (optional),

How to Implement The Activity: Follow the script Below:

There are so many amazing things about you! Sometimes it can be hard to remember all those things.
To remind you of how important you are, we are going to create a poster that you can put on your
bedroom wall. We are going to use these magazines to find images and words to add to your poster. Make
sure the words and images you choose remind you of YOU and your hobbies. You can also think of other
things that make you happy or proud. Make sure to use colours that you like and make you HAPPY.
 For More Activities...
The At Home Emotion Activity Workbook: $10
https://www.theplayfulpsychologist.com/product-page/the-at-home-emotion-activity-workbook

The Friendship Workbook and Journal: $8

https://www.theplayfulpsychologist.com/product-page/friendship-workbook-triumphs-difficulties

The Child Affirmation Pack: $5

https://www.theplayfulpsychologist.com/product-page/child-affirmation-pack

The Gratitude Workbook & Journal: $8

https://www.theplayfulpsychologist.com/product-page/gratitude-workbook-journal

Acts of Kindness, Friendship, and Respect: $3

https://www.theplayfulpsychologist.com/product-page/acts-of-kindness-friendship-and-respect

My Mind is Full: Explaining Negative Thinking to Children: $3

https://www.theplayfulpsychologist.com/product-page/my-mind-is-full-explaining-negative-thinking-to-children

Emotion Vocabulary & Timetable: $3

https://www.theplayfulpsychologist.com/product-page/emotion-vocabulary-timetable-resource

The Worry Workbook: $2

https://www.theplayfulpsychologist.com/product-page/worry-workbook-am-i-worried

Please Note: all of the above products are digital downloads.