England: Coast to Coast for Mental Health
KIDS Corner
Learning Activities using My Trip!
In these student exercises, students will simulate walking Wainwright’s Coast to Coast trail with Ms. Tippett over 13 days. Students can use coins to decide how much to donate per mile . They’ll use math to calculate daily and total donations.
Donations can be real or pretend. They will track weather and explore the terrain and elevation differences of each region.
Story by The Reponsive Counselor
Click title to hear story read by Ms. Tippett
This story explains how your brain responds to stress and gives us strategies to avoid "flipping our lids". Ms. Tippett will be using these on the trail when she starts to feel overwhelmed.
What do you usually do when you flip your lid: fight, flight or freeze?
What strategies do can you use to calm your guard dog? Write them down/draw pictures of them so you are ready to use them when needed.
You can help your children learn about flexible thinking by having them compare a rock to putty. When we are "Rock Brain" we get stuck because we are not flexible or able to consider other ways of doing things. Superflex defeats Rock Brain by
1. Staying Calm (deep breathing)
2. Deciding if something is a big deal or a little deal
3. Coming up with other solutions to the problem
Write or draw a picture about how you defeated Rock Brain with Flexible Thinking
Click on the title to see a video clip.
Courage Thoughts are things we tell ourselves to give us strength when things are hard.
Ms. Tippett thanks her "Bouce Back Kids" for helping her choose these thoughts to use on the trail.
Pick a Courage Thought for yourself. Write it out, draw a picture of it. Practice saying it 5 times every day and when you are struggling.
The Cognitive Triangle
Thoughts, Feelings and Actions all work together. It is hard to change feelings, so Ms. Tippet will try changing her thoughts and actions. Think about ways she can change thoughts and what behaviors she might use.
How can you change your thoughts or behaviors to help you feel better?
Click on images to see how Rock Brain is defeated!
One way not to "Flip your Lid" is to prepare your brain in advance. Your "wise owl" makes the plan and your "Elephant" stores the information. This is how we calm the guard dog, defeating Rock Brain.
Ms. Tippett thanks her friends for making these plans for trials on the trails!
Do you need to make a plan for something that could be a challenge for you?
Positive Thinking
This is a great activity for older children and adults. Parents of younger children can read through these statements together and highlight the ones that they really like. If you read one for every mile Ms. Tippett walks each day, you will read through all of them and have time to reread the ones that you highlighted.
(Scroll through the worksheets and download or print them by clicking on the icons at the top)
Gratitude
Being thankful is an action (practice) that can change our thoughts and feelings. Ms. Tippett is going to practice gratitude, even when it's hard.
What are you grateful for? Try drawing pictures or using one of these worksheets to help you practice being thankful.
(Scroll through the worksheets and download or print them by clicking on the icons at the top)
Exercise
Exercise helps your body and mind get strong and stay healthy. Ms. Tippett will be hiking for hours each day, rain or shine. Use one of these logs, or make your own, to challenge yourself to exercise every day.
(Worksheets can be downloaded or printed by clicking on the icons at the top of the sheet)