Helping Students Navigate Complex Feelings – With a Little Help from Jenga
A good game can be an emotional rollercoaster!
We’ve been talking about play and games, so this time, I thought I’d address the many feelings that enter into playing a good game. 🕹️🎲
Whether it’s overall feelings of competitiveness, worry about keeping the lead, general anxiety, or disregulating excitement, playing a game gives our students practice in handling many feelings, especially their uncomfortable ones.
How we prepare our students for a game can greatly influence how it goes for them, so try this previewing activity and see if you find it helpful.
Preparing our students for game play
Two 6th-grade students and I started by watching Maca and Roni: Jenga, by Kyungmin Woo. 🎞️
Just one of the animations included in the Maca & Roni Super Social Learning Spreadsheet
We made a list of all the feelings we noticed. It was quite a list! 🤯
Can you believe there were SO many feelings in such a short animation?!?
Then, we decided what game to play. That day, it was Monopoly Deal 🏦, one of their favorites. A few minutes into the game, we paused and reviewed our list. 📃
The two students, J and P, had me mark what feelings they’d experienced so far:
Hmmm - based on their feelings, can you predict which student won?
Stopping mid-way through the game gave the students a few moments to re-group, think about the arc of experienced feelings, and re-focus to finish the game.
Emotional breaks like the one we took set students up for greater overall success 💯, since they allow us time to check in with each other, as well as brainstorm strategies to stay regulated and engaged. It’s a reminder that, even though the game is fun, there is also pleasure in the playing of the game together, no matter the outcome.
Looking for material that helps students reflect on their competitive urges—without shutting them down?
One of my go-to visuals is a SocialScales template that focuses on competitiveness. 🥇 It helps students take a step back and see their feelings, thoughts, and choices on a continuum. That opens the door for meaningful reflection and coaching.
What makes SocialScales stand out is how easily you, as the clinician, can tailor the wording in partnership with your students. Supporting them in personalizing the language helps them feel understood 💬—so they’re not being told what to do, but instead guided to understand themselves. Even young students appreciate this approach, and it leads to deeper engagement and real growth.
If you’re working with students who struggle with competition—or any tricky social dynamic—SocialScales: Making Social Learning Visible might be just the support you’ve been looking for. Now’s a great time to grab it for the start of the school year! 🍎
At a recent conference, there were questions about my Feeling Fixers and Trackers. 📝
Since they are now sold as a downloadable file, there were “technical” questions about how I get them ready to be durable clinical materials. After all, when feelings are involved, we want materials that will take some wear from time to time. So, here’s the easy sequence after you download the Feeling Fixers (set of 4) and Tracker (I usually print 4). ⏬
Print in color
Laminate
Apply Stickies…Ready!
I use my Feeling Fixers and Trackers every day in my sessions. If you haven’t gotten yours yet, for $4.00, I think it’s a pretty solid investment. ✅
So, heat up your laminator 🔥, and be ready for all those feelings headed your way when school gets underway!
