Ask the children to draw a familiar object from memory. Emphasize that this exercise has less to do with their artistic ability than their ability to provide details.
Show the children the actual object and encourage them to inspect the small details. Don’t say that they “missed” details; simply ask them to focus on them.
Ask the children to draw their object again, this time incorporating more details. Remind the children that they can detect greater details about the environment by paying attention and keeping their senses on “high alert.”
Play soft music in the background and tell children to move softly and quietly around the room, in time with the music.
Encourage children to be aware of each movement they make — every time they lift their leg and every time they place it back down on the ground, for example.
Remind children that if their thoughts begin to wander from their body and the experience of moving, they should take note of what they were thinking about and return their attention to their body movements.
Ask children to sit comfortably, with their backs straight. They can close their eyes if they want to.
Encourage children to imagine a safe, relaxing and comfortable place. It could be their bedroom or their own bed, for example. Then encourage children to think of themselves as being there and actually feeling safe, relaxed and comfortable.
Tell children to “take a mental picture” of this image and to recall it at times they feel fear, stress or anxiety.