Age 4

The following CAPPD intervention methods are appropriate for four year old children.

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.

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Create a Cozy Corner

Age: 2-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: Calm, attuned

What It Is: Create a cozy area where children can go when stressed, angry, sad, or fearful. Make the area as warm and homelike as possible – soft blankets, soft chairs, beanbag chairs, cushions, stuffed animals, etc.

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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.

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Dramatic Play

Age: 3-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: Calm, attuned

What It Is:Using props, have children pretend that the police come to help a girl who is lost (assign roles to the children), etc (other dramas might involve the hospital, social workers, firefighters – anything with which the child might have had negative experiences).

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Emotional Matching

Age: 3-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: Attuned

What It Is:Use pictures of different facial expressions and calm/scary/exciting/etc scenes. Ask children to match the facial expression to the appropriate scene.

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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).

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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)

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I Spy

Age: 2-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: Attuned

What It Is:Ask children to find/identify other children with certain traits – gender, hair/eye color, shirt color, etc.  Other, similar activities would be I Hear and I Feel.

Why It Helps: Children who have experienced trauma often have difficulty with peer relationships. This activity helps them learn about their peers and relate to others.  Focusing on sensation also helps calm them.

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Treasure Hunt

Age: 2-5

Applicable To: Groups or Individuals

CAPPD Concepts: Predictable

What It Is:Have children look for certain objects (yellow star, etc) around the room.  Repeat the activity often.

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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

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