Present

Play Background Music

Age: 0-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: Calm, present, attuned

What It Is:Play soft, classical/instrumental music in the background.

Why It Helps:This technique can help create a soothing environment.  The rhythms of music help bring brain functioning from hyperactive or disassociated states to “normal”, which promotes neurological development.

Age Appropriateness : 
CAPPD Concepts: 

Limit TV

Age: 0-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: calm, present, attuned

What It Is:If possible, don’t allow children to watch TV at all, but especially programming that exposes them to traumatic events (disaster, murder, accident, death, etc.).  If you do watch media on trauma or violence with children, actively engage them and talk about what’s happening while watching it and after the program is over.

Age Appropriateness : 
CAPPD Concepts: 

Simon Says

Age: 2-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: Present, predictable, calm

What It Is:Direct the children to do various large motor movements (Simon says: touch your toes, bend over, reach up high, jump up and down, shake your right hand, etc).

Age Appropriateness : 
CAPPD Concepts: 

Interactive Story Telling

Age: 2-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: Attuned, present

What It Is:  Use simple, short stories with large words and pictures. Ask children questions about the story as you go along (How do you think the boy feels? What happened at the beginning of the story? What happened in the middle?  What do you think will happen next? Have you ever done anything like this? etc)

Age Appropriateness : 
CAPPD Concepts: 

Grounding Exercise

Age: 4-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: Calm, present

What It Is:

Lead the children through the following:

Sit comfortably and relaxed; breathe deeply

Age Appropriateness : 
CAPPD Concepts: 

Playing Outside

Age: 6 mo-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: Calm, present

What It Is:Let children run, jump, climb, scream and play outside. Toddlers, as well as older children, like to play ‘hide and seek.’  Let children be creative in their play.

CAPPD Concepts: 

Muscle Relaxation

Age: 3-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: Calm, present

What It Is: Have children squeeze their face muscles tight (while making a face), notice how it feels, squeeze tighter – as tight as they can. Then, tell them to let those muscles relax and ask them how it feels now? Move down through the body – shoulders, arms/hands, legs/feet, whole body.

Age Appropriateness : 
CAPPD Concepts: 

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Present