Fun activities to build resilience in our students
Soar by Alyce Tzue – such a gift to us and those with whom we work!
Last time, we talked about resilience and animations to jumpstart conversations with our students.
The pictures above are just some examples of how a fabulous animation – in this case Soar, by Alyce Tzue, provides incredible material to help our students begin to understand what goes into resilience: the feelings and thoughts that can be involved, and how we all experience situations that can lead us to feel challenged, and even hopeless.
In many of my sessions, half the time is spent with structured work (like an animation) and the other half is spent practicing. Because, as we all know, we can understand something but that does NOT mean that we can do it in real time – especially when feelings are involved. So, our students need to practice in a supportive and safe place (our session), where the likelihood of success is pretty high!
Resilience is about hanging in there when the going gets tough. Here are three of my top activities to build resilience:
1. Gravitrax – love, love, love this incredible construction set based on gravity and momentum. It’s super engaging, but, guess what? It doesn’t always work the way we want it to! It falls apart, the zip line doesn’t get all the way, maybe the marbles just go flying off the table. BUT, I find that students keep at it. Video in slo-mo to add that something special!
2. Shishibo cubes – these are fun and addictive. But try to make a particular shape and you will find yourself tied up in all sorts of knots. Yay – an opportunity to stay with it. Again, students are determined to make the pattern they are after, so they hang in there. Laughing allowed! A bit pricey, but I have found them well worth it! (see another reel below 👇)
3. Ice Cool and Ice Cool 2 games by Brain Games – this flicking game is a must-get! Lots of fun, lots of laughs, lots of opportunities for flexibility and staying regulated, so a win for resilience.
Happy playing!
