Body Signals Teacher Guide 🐾
Calm Paws Club • 10-Day Preschool SEL
Days 1 & 2 Facilitation Guide
5-Min Mini-Lessons
Target: Body Clues of Anger
🔥
Preschool Anger Goal (Age 3) At 3 years old, anger hits the body before cognitive words appear. We teach children to notice physical body warnings (hot cheeks, fast heart, tight fists) before hands strike or harsh words erupt.
DAY 1
Spotting the Spark in My Body
⏱️ 5 Minutes Total
1 Hook & Chant (1 Min)
"Warm hands on heart, thump-thump-thump! When I am mad, I don't give a thump! My cheeks get red, my fists get tight, I freeze my body till it feels right!"
2 Mirror Model (2 Min)
Hold up small unbreakable mirror. Make a clenched "mad face." Point to tight jaw and tight fists. Ask: "What does my face say? Is it smiling or boiling?"
3 Gentle Freeze Game (1.5 Min)
Have toddler stomp once, make tight fists, then say: "SHAKE IT OUT LIKE JELLY!" Repeat twice so they feel contrast between tense and relaxed.
4 Worksheet Handoff (30 Sec)
Transition to Page 1 worksheet: "Let's color the face that feels like hot soup!"
DAY 2
Cooling My Volcano Tummy
⏱️ 5 Minutes Total
1 Sensory Object (1.5 Min)
Show a warm red beanbag or red ball. "When anger starts, our tummy bubbles like hot lava: rumble, rumble ! Let's put both hands on tummy."
2 The Big Blow Out (2 Min)
Inhale through nose for 2 counts, blow out a slow "whhhhh" breath to cool the imaginary hot lava. "Look! The volcano is getting calm and cool!"
3 Puppet Check (1 Min)
Puppet wants a toy and screams. Ask child: "Does Puppet need to blow out his hot lava?" Child guides puppet to take 1 deep belly breath.
4 Worksheet Handoff (30 Sec)
Hand out Page 2: "Finger-trace the cool blue water waves over the hot red volcano!"
🚨 In the Moment Response: When Child Gets Mad
Down on child's eye level. Calm, low voice: "I see your fists are tight and your cheeks are red. You are feeling mad. It is okay to be mad. I will keep everyone safe. Hands down, let's blow out the lava together. Whhhhh ."
Body Signals Student Worksheet Day 1 Calm Paws Club
Spotting the Spark
Name:
Date:
👀
Preschool Mission: Look at the two bear faces below. One bear feels like a hot angry spark! Circle the MAD BEAR with red. Color the CALM BEAR with pretty colors!
Mad Spark Bear
\ /
Cheeks are red & teeth are tight!
Cool Calm Bear
Soft eyes & gentle breathing!
My Calm Face (Color or Draw) Draw soft happy eyes!
🐻 3-Year-Old Daily Check: "When my cheeks feel hot, I say: I feel mad! " ⭐️ Star of the Day
Day 2 Calm Paws Club
Volcano Tummy Cool-Down
Name:
Date:
🌋
Preschool Mission: The volcano is hot red! Use your blue crayon to trace the cool water waves all the way down to cool the hot bubbles!
Hot Lava Top
Cool Breath 1
🌊
Cool Breath 2
🌊
Cool Breath 3
🌊
❄️ Ahhhh... Safe, Calm Body Base My volcano is cool!
Did you blow 3 big cool breaths today?
Color one star for each cool breath you take:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Teacher / Helper Initials: Day 2 Complete: Peaceful Tummy!
Calm Paws Parent Handout 🏡
Calm Paws Club • Family Connection
Taming Big Feelings at Home
Parent Support Guide
Ages 3–4 • Emotion Regulation
🌱
Why 3-Year-Olds Hit & Curse At age 3, the emotional brain reacts faster than the talking brain. Toddlers hit when overwhelmed by frustration, and they use curse words because they notice the intense shock it produces. Here is how we align home and school for fast progress!
PROBLEM 1
Hitting & Striking
1. Gently Block: Hold your palm or arm to physically stop the hit without pushing back.
2. Low, Calm Voice: "I won't let you hit. Hitting hurts. Hands are for helping."
3. Physical Replacement: "If you feel fiery, squeeze this squishy toy or squeeze your own hands tight!"
Tip: Avoid physical punishment, which models the very aggression we want to stop.
PROBLEM 2
Cursing & Harsh Words
1. Zero Shock Face: Do not laugh, gasp, or lecture. Any dramatic reaction rewards the word.
2. Neutral Boundary: "That word is not safe for our home. You are feeling very mad."
3. Give Strong Words: "Say: 'I am mad!' or 'Help me please!' I will listen to your strong words."
Tip: Check household media/conversations for accidental swear exposure.
✨ 4 Shared Classroom & Home Calming Superpowers
🐲
Dragon Breaths
Inhale nose, blow long cool breath.
✋
Stop Sign Hand
Palm out: "Please give me space!"
🪺
Cozy Home Nest
A pillow corner with stuffed animal.
🩹
Fix It with Care
Ask: "Are you okay? Can I help?"
10-Day Refrigerator Habit Tracker Check off each day when child practices gentle choices!
D1 👀
D2 🌋
D3 ✋
D4 🫧
D5 💬
D6 ⏸️
D7 🐲
D8 🪺
D9 🩹
D10 🏅
Preschool Teacher Contact: _____________________________ Together we grow calm, gentle kids! 💛
Gentle Hands Teacher Guide ✋
Calm Paws Club • 10-Day Preschool SEL
Days 3 & 4 Facilitation Guide
5-Min Mini-Lessons
Target: Eliminating Hitting
🤝
Hitting Prevention Objective (Age 3) At 3 years, hitting happens when a child feels cornered, wants a toy, or has an impulse explosion. We replace striking peers with tactile substitution: squeezing hands together, clapping gentle rhythms, and respecting personal space.
DAY 3
Hands Are for Helping, Not Hitting
⏱️ 5 Minutes Total
1 Rhythm & Hand Chant (1.5 Min)
"Open, shut them! Open, shut them! Give a little clap! Gentle hands build tall towers, gentle hands in my lap! Hands are for helping, hands are for care, we don't hit our friends anywhere!"
2 Feather vs Fist Demo (1.5 Min)
Stroke child's forearm with a soft feather or plush toy: "Does this feel gentle?" Then press gently: "Gentle touch makes friends feel safe."
3 "Squeeze My Own Hands" (1.5 Min)
Teach substitution: "If you feel mad and want to strike, clasp your OWN two hands together tight like a tight little knot! Squeeze 1, 2, 3... and let go."
4 Worksheet Handoff (30 Sec)
Give Page 1: "Trace your own helping hand and circle what friendly hands can do!"
DAY 4
My Safe Body Bubble
⏱️ 5 Minutes Total
1 Hula Hoop Bubble (1.5 Min)
Place child inside a hula hoop or draw chalk circle: "This is your gentle bubble. Everyone has a bubble. When we get too close or mad, we take 1 step back."
2 The "Stop Sign" Hand (1.5 Min)
Practice holding palm flat outward: "Instead of hitting when someone is too close, show your flat hand and say: Please give me space! "
3 Space Step Game (1.5 Min)
Teacher takes a playful step toward child. Child puts up stop hand and says: "Space please!" Child takes one step back safely. Praise enthusiastically!
4 Worksheet Handoff (30 Sec)
Give Page 2: "Color the giant bubble around the happy preschool friend!"
🚨 Anti-Hitting Protocol: If Hand Strikes or Reaches
Block gently with your own forearm or open palm: "I will not let you hit. Hitting hurts. My job is to keep everyone safe. Show me your squeeze hands (clasp child's hands between yours gently) or show me your stop sign."
Gentle Hands Student Worksheet Day 3 Calm Paws Club
Hands Are for Helping
Name:
Date:
🖐️
Preschool Mission: Put your hand inside the big friendly glove outline below. Trace it or color it! Then circle all the kind things our hands can do!
My Gentle Hand
✨
Gentle & Kind
I do not hit friends!
Circle the gentle choices with green crayon:
🧱 Build Blocks
🧸 Hug Bear
✋ High-Five
Day 3 Rule: "If I feel mad, I squeeze my OWN hands tight!" ⭐ Gentle Hand Star
Day 4 Calm Paws Club
My Safe Body Bubble
Name:
Date:
🫧
Preschool Mission: Trace around the big sparkling bubble! Everyone needs space. When a friend gets too close, we show our stop hand and say: "Please give me space!"
Safe Personal Space
😊
ME
✋ STOP
"One big arm step back!"
✋
Say: "Space please!" No pushing. No hitting.
👣
Take One Step Back My body feels calm and safe.
Teacher / Helper Initials: Day 4 Complete: Bubble Protector!
Kind Words Teacher Guide 💬
Calm Paws Club • 10-Day Preschool SEL
Days 5 & 6 Facilitation Guide
5-Min Mini-Lessons
Target: Eliminating Cursing
🗣️
Cursing & Screaming Protocol (Age 3) Toddlers swear because they discover it generates enormous adult shock or because intense rage overwhelms their vocabulary. Never react with gasps or laughter. Stay neutral, label the emotion, and install clear, powerful replacement phrases.
DAY 5
Words That Help, Words That Hurt
⏱️ 5 Minutes Total
1 Soap Bubble Analogy (1.5 Min)
Blow gentle soap bubbles: "Kind words are like floating bubbles—they feel light and happy. Hurtful words sting like soap in the eyes. In our classroom, we blow soft words."
2 3 Powerful Power Phrases (1.5 Min)
Teach the 3 magic sentences: 1. "I am mad!" 2. "I don't like that!" 3. "Help me please!" Have child roar them safely with big superhero stance.
3 Echo Chant (1.5 Min)
"My lips, my tongue, my voice so strong! I speak kind words all day long! When I'm mad, I tell a teacher: 'Help me please, I'm a peaceful creature!'"
4 Worksheet Handoff (30 Sec)
Hand out Page 1: "Color the sweet word bubbles that come out of the smiling mouth!"
DAY 6
The Magic Pause Button
⏱️ 5 Minutes Total
1 The Remote Control Toy (1.5 Min)
Hold up a cardboard remote control or button. "When anger wants to scream a bad word, our belly has a magic button! Press it: BEEP! Mouth stays closed for 3 seconds."
2 Lips Like a Zipper (1.5 Min)
Show finger zip motion across lips: "Zip, zip, zip! We zip until our brain thinks of our helper words: I need help! "
3 Role-Play: The Broken Tower (1.5 Min)
Knock down a 3-block tower. Say: "Oh no! Instead of yelling a bad word, press pause button: BEEP! Now say: 'I'm mad! Let's rebuild!'" Child repeats phrase.
4 Worksheet Handoff (30 Sec)
Give Page 2: "Color the big Pause Button and circle the green helper words!"
🚨 Anti-Cursing Protocol: Neutral De-escalation
Zero facial shock. Flat, calm tone: "Those words are not for preschool. You are mad because the block fell. Say: 'I am so mad!' Let's use our strong words so I can help you."
Kind Words Student Worksheet Day 5 Calm Paws Club
Words That Care
Name:
Date:
🗣️
Preschool Mission: When we are mad, we don't curse or yell! We speak strong helper words. Color each sweet bubble with your favorite crayon!
My 3 Strong Helper Bubbles:
🙋
"HELP ME PLEASE!" I tell my teacher when something is too hard.
🛑
"I DO NOT LIKE THAT!" I use clear words instead of bad words.
❤️
"I AM FEELING MAD!" My teachers will listen and help my big feeling.
Say each bubble aloud with teacher!
Give a cheerful smile and color the heart:
💖
Teacher / Helper Initials: Day 5 Complete: Strong Calm Words!
Day 6 Calm Paws Club
The Magic Pause Button
Name:
Date:
⏸️
Preschool Mission: When anger tries to make us yell bad words, we hit PAUSE! Color the giant magical pause button with purple or bright yellow!
Magic Remote
1 • 2 • 3 PAUSE Zip lips, take a breath!
1
Press Button
Say "Beep!"
2
Zip Lips
No bad words
3
Ask Teacher
"Help me please"
Teacher / Helper Initials: Day 6 Complete: Master of the Pause!
Calm Tools Teacher Guide 🌬️
Calm Paws Club • 10-Day Preschool SEL
Days 7 & 8 Facilitation Guide
5-Min Mini-Lessons
Target: Self-Regulation Tools
🧘
Somatic Regulation Method (Age 3) Toddlers cannot reason when flooded with cortisol and adrenaline. Physical tools like diaphragmatic breathing (Dragon Breaths) and sensory withdrawal (Cozy Nest) lower heart rate and restore executive function naturally.
DAY 7
Dragon Belly Breaths
⏱️ 5 Minutes Total
1 Dragon Puppet / Tissue (1.5 Min)
Hold a small strip of tissue paper 3 inches from child's mouth. "Dragons have fiery breath! Inhale through your nose... now blow a long cool breeze to make the paper fly!"
2 Belly Balloon Check (1.5 Min)
Put child's hand on tummy. "Smell the flower (sniff nose), tummy gets big like a balloon. Blow the pinwheel (slow exhale), tummy gets small." Repeat 3 times.
3 Calm Rhyme (1.5 Min)
"Breathe in deep, cool and slow, let the angry fire go! Belly in and belly out, I don't hit and I don't shout!"
4 Worksheet Handoff (30 Sec)
Give Page 1: "Trace the cool dragon wind swirls with green and teal crayons!"
DAY 8
My Cozy Calm Nest
⏱️ 5 Minutes Total
1 Nest Tour & Sensory Items (2 Min)
Walk child to the Calm Nest (pillows, glitter bottle, soft teddy). "This is NOT a time-out. This is our safe nest. When your body feels fiery, you can rest here."
2 Glitter Jar Reset (1.5 Min)
Shake sensory glitter jar: "Swirling glitter is like mad feelings! Watch it settle slowly to the bottom. As it settles, our body settles too."
3 Safe Return Signal (1 Min)
Teach the readiness cue: "When your tummy is quiet and hands are soft, give teacher a thumbs-up. Then we are ready to play again!"
4 Worksheet Handoff (30 Sec)
Give Page 2: "Color the soft pillow and shiny calm jar in the cozy nest!"
🚨 De-escalation Protocol: Cozy Corner Transition
Gentle escort, never drag: "Your body feels too hot right now. Let's walk to our Cozy Nest together. I will sit right beside you. Here is the soft bear. Let's watch the glitter float down."
Calm Tools Student Worksheet Day 7 Calm Paws Club
Dragon Belly Breaths
Name:
Date:
🐲
Preschool Mission: The friendly little dragon breathes cool, gentle air! Use your fingers and crayons to trace the big swooping breath waves across the page!
🦖
Inhale Nose Tummy gets big!
Blow Long & Slow...
Breath 1
🌸
Breath 2
🍃
Breath 3
⭐
How does your body feel now? Soft, Cool, and Peaceful! ✨
Dragon Breath Champion Badge
Color the big star when you finish your 3 breaths:
🌟
Teacher / Helper Initials: Day 7 Complete: Calm Dragon Breaths!
Day 8 Calm Paws Club
My Cozy Calm Nest
Name:
Date:
🪺
Preschool Mission: The Cozy Nest is our safe, peaceful spot to rest when we feel mad. Color the calm nest items below with cozy soft colors!
Fluffy Pillow
☁️
I can rest my heavy head.
Glitter Bottle
✨
I watch the sparkles settle.
Snuggle Bear
🧸
I give gentle squeezes.
Quiet Book
📖
I turn pages with soft hands.
👍
When I Am Ready: I give a thumbs-up and walk back to play nicely!
Safe & Ready
Teacher / Helper Initials: Day 8 Complete: Safe in My Nest!
Friendship Repair Teacher Guide 🏅
Calm Paws Club • 10-Day Preschool SEL
Days 9 & 10 Facilitation Guide
5-Min Mini-Lessons
Target: Repair & Celebration
❤️
Restorative Reconnection (Age 3) Forced apologies teach compliance without empathy. At 3 years old, we teach active repair: checking if the friend is okay, offering an ice pack or a toy, and re-establishing safe connection. Day 10 cements identity as a "Calm Hero."
DAY 9
Fixing Hurt Feelings (Active Repair)
⏱️ 5 Minutes Total
1 The Band-Aid Heart (1.5 Min)
Show a paper heart with a small tear: "When we yell a bad word or hit, a friend's feelings get hurt like this tear. But look! Gentle hands can fix it with care!" Place a band-aid sticker over the tear.
2 The 3-Step Repair Routine (1.5 Min)
Coach child through 3 concrete actions: 1. Look at friend's face. 2. Ask: "Are you okay?" 3. Offer: "Can I help build or give a gentle high-five?"
3 Teddy Bear Role-Play (1.5 Min)
Puppet looks sad because blocks tumbled. Toddler walks up, pats puppet's shoulder gently, asks: "Are you okay?" and hands puppet a block.
4 Worksheet Handoff (30 Sec)
Hand out Page 1: "Color the band-aid and sweet heart to help your friend smile!"
DAY 10
Calm Champion Celebration
⏱️ 5 Minutes Total
1 10-Day Power High-Five Review (2 Min)
Review the 5 superpower tools: 1. Notice the spark; 2. Gentle hands; 3. Kind words; 4. Dragon breaths; 5. Cozy nest. Give child a high-five for each!
2 Superhero Pledge (1.5 Min)
"My hands are gentle, my words are kind! When I am mad, peace I will find! I am a Calm Paws Hero, strong and true!"
3 Badge & Certificate (1 Min)
Present Day 10 Certificate. Tape wearable badge onto shirt. Cheer and applaud in circle time!
4 Worksheet Handoff (30 Sec)
Give Page 2: "Color your Calm Hero Medal and wear it with pride!"
🌟 Ongoing Maintenance Beyond Day 10
Daily Reinforcement: Catch the child being calm: "I noticed you asked for help instead of yelling! That was a Calm Hero choice." Keep the visual calm cards posted near the play areas.
Friendship Repair Student Worksheet Day 9 Calm Paws Club
Fixing with Love
Name:
Date:
🩹
Preschool Mission: When feelings get hurt, gentle hands make them feel better! Color the big healing heart and trace the band-aid to fix it with love!
❤️
"I AM SORRY"
"Are you okay? Can I help rebuild your blocks?"
👀
Look at Face
Notice tears or smiles
🗣️
Ask: "Okay?"
Check on your buddy
🤝
Offer Help
Hand a toy or ice
Teacher / Helper Initials: Day 9 Complete: Heart Healer!
Day 10 Calm Paws Club
Calm Hero Celebration
Name:
Date:
🏅
Official Certificate
CALM BODY CHAMPION
Awarded for 10 days of choosing gentle hands, calm words, and peaceful breathing!
Color & Cut Out Badge:
🐾 CALM HERO Gentle Hands
👀
Noticed Spark
✋
Gentle Hands
💬
Kind Words
🐲
Cool Breaths
Teacher Signature
Hero Student Name
10 Days Completed! 🎉 Congratulations, Calm Champion!
