It's never too early for our little ones to learn strategies to enhance calm, reduce worries, and develop an anxiety-free lifestyle, and this class is designed to do that.

This class is ideal for learners who have an interest in learning about anxiety reduction, and how strategies can be used to reduce worries, mild/moderate anxiety feelings, and increase an overall sense of calm. 

This is an educational, fact-based course, and not a counseling or therapy group.  Learning anxiety reduction strategies is not a substitute for counseling or anxiety disorder treatment. 

Learners can join during any week/lesson since this is an ongoing style class.  More information here on ongoing style classes: https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/2272596-understanding-ongoing-classes

Also see https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/802757-how-to-prepare-for-your-first-class to help new learners prepare for an Outschool class.

We do a calming exercise (deep breathing, butterfly arms) and 3-5 question game (no participation required) at the beginning of each class, to review or learn facts about anxiety. This is an ongoing style class so  your learner can begin during ANY week since classes don't build upon the previous one.  Each class is an individual, can be taken alone, class structure.  See https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/2272596-understanding-ongoing-classes .  There is no benefit to starting at week #1.  Learners can begin at any week.

The class will cover a new calming breath and calming body activity, along with anxiety reduction and calming topics such as:

Week 1  Increase good input and decrease bad input to lower anxiety and increase calm 
Week 2 Deep breathing with animal prompts and shapes
Week 3 Art-based calming strategies -color by number, pattern making
Week 4 Bedtime anxiety strategies- worry box, reach the moon stretch, star breath
Week 5 Mindfulness activities- cut or trace lines, roll-a-face
Week 6 Grounding activities- 3-3-3 method, Stomp, stomp method
Week 7 Distraction activities- color slam, mason jar ice cream
Week 8 Distraction activities 2 - color scavenger hunt, eraser art
Week 9 Physical object strategies- fidgets to make, buy
Week 10 Processing strategies- color my feelings, candy game
Week 11 Singing and music activities- scarf dance, creating rhythms
Week 12 Using pets or stuffed animals to lessen anxiety- build a house, make a snack
Week 13 School anxiety strategies- doodling, mindfulness walk
Week 14 Mindful coloring and art - Mandala coloring and use of colors
Week 15 Mindfulness of emotions anger & anxiety- Color Anger Monster and Anger Dice Game
Week 16 Social Situation strategies- Identify triggers, WBL method, role play

Lessons will repeat at the end of the series

Most research indicates that students learn better when relaxed,  so learners will not be called on during class and can even keep their camera off after initial attendance check.  Chat box polls will be used to allow for  participation during class.  Learners are also encouraged to share comments, questions, favorite emojis in the chat box during class.  There will be a time at the end of class to ask questions out loud.
 
I have a structured, yet humor-filled teaching style, designed to keep student's interest, and help learner's feel comfortable.  I'll use slides, gifs and handouts to reinforce concepts.