Emotional Regulation Through Fun & Games

Over the past 19 years, Solidarity's After School Program has learned that children will not reach their full academic potential by only focusing on homework help and tutoring. We know that for children to experience healthy development, there are vital ingredients that each child needs that are inter-connected and all play a role towards flourishing educationally and beyond. One of our focuses for the 1st-6th grade students in the after-school program is to equip each child with whole-person support that allows them to flourish educationally.

Last week we played "Emotional Jenga" as a way to lay a foundation for healthy emotional regulation, which is one of the important ingredients mentioned above. Written on the individual Jenga blocks were words for a range of emotions and feelings. As each child took their turn pulling out a block and placing it back on top of the stack, they were presented with words like “peaceful,” “confused,” “overwhelmed,” and “excited.” Each student proceeded to explain in their own words what that emotion meant to them and —if they felt comfortable— articulate the last time they felt that particular emotion or feeling. The activity was light-hearted and fun, and afterward, all of the players had a little bit of a deeper understanding of themselves, their peers and real life experience identifying and speaking out emotion.

As the foundation for emotional regulation builds and grows stronger in each student, they will develop independence, self-discipline, interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence— all vital skills for the many hours spent on a day-to-day basis focused on school and education.

Tim Anderson

Solidarity Program Director