In December, our social-emotional teacher, Mindy, introduced Safe Space school-wide. While most classes already had a place where children could go to calm down and/or regroup, we thought it was important to establish a consistent safe space in all areas of the school that children inhabit. We held staff development meetings to prepare staff for this transition.
Mindy put in many hours preparing a Safe Space Toolbox for each class, the specials room, and even for the playground. Each toolbox has basically the same items, with some variation to meet developmental needs. For example, younger classes have comfort toys in their toolboxes, while older students have more written materials in theirs. The 1st/2nd graders each have a ring of laminated cards that includes a picture of their family and a note of encouragement from their parents. All safe spaces have a collection of small cards that identify feelings and options for responding to feelings. There is also a special writing board to draw or write about feelings, and a pinwheel to practice deep breathing. In Mindy’s words, “The Safe Space Toolbox offers tools to support emotional and self regulation. After identifying their feelings, children can change their inner state from upset to peaceful and composed.”
Once the toolboxes were completed, Mindy spent time in each classroom introducing Safe Space and its toolbox. She explained that it is a place where children can go to work through their big feelings, and demonstrated how each tool could be used. She, and the teachers, modeled how to use their Safe Space, and over the past few weeks, the safe space in each classroom has been explored and used by many.
One of the main intentions of Safe Space is to provide a place and support tools for children to learn self-regulation. In addition to diminishing disruptive behaviors, time practicing self-regulation gives children self-confidence and reduces time away from learning that big feelings can often cause. This affects the individual child as well as the entire classroom. It’s a win for everyone.
As we’ve worked to support our students’ self-regulation, we are also learning to practice our own. Our studies of brain states and related topics have helped immensely. This spring, we’ll give Seed parents a chance to build their own toolboxes by offering a FREE workshop on how to create a Safe Space at home. Further details will follow.