What is the Play? Part I
The Talk Play
Use this play when you choose to tell someone what you need or how you feel.
The Move Play
Use this play when you choose to move your body to change your mood.
At recess, no one is playing with you. You feel left out and SAD. What play do you choose?
TALK: Approach some classmates and ask if you can join. OR Ask the teacher if they can help you join a group.
SUBSTITUTE: Find a book or an activity you can enjoy by yourself for this particular recess.
WAIT & SEE: Observe the other classmates and decide which group to join. Your classmates might not have noticed that you are not included.
It’s OK for you to have a snack, but it is on a high shelf, and you can’t reach it. You feel FRUSTRATED.
TALK: Ask someone in the kitchen, “Can you help me?”
FIX-IT: Get a stool so you can reach onto the shelf.
SOMETHING ELSE: Get a different snack within reach.
The lunchroom is out of your favorite food. You feel MISERABLE.
TALK: Ask the teacher, “Can I be at the front of the line next time?”
SOMETHING ELSE: Plan on getting your favorite snack after school
The Fix It Play
Use this play when you choose to fix your problem yourself.
The Try Again Play
Use this play when you choose to try again.
You came back to your desk and saw that someone took your favorite pencil. You feel ANGRY.
WAIT & SEE: Wait and see if someone brings the pencil back. They might have borrowed it, or taken it by mistake.
SUBSTITUTE: Use another pencil.
TALK: Ask, “Who has my pencil?”
FIX-IT: Go around the room and look for your pencil, especially if it is an important pencil for you.
You lost your homework. You feel AGITATED.
TALK: Tell the teacher, “I’m sorry. I lost my homework.”
FIX-IT: Retrace your steps to look for your homework.
FIX-IT: Re-do your homework.
It’s recess, but it is raining. Soccer is canceled, and you feel DISAPPOINTED.
TALK: Ask the teacher, “What can we play instead?”
SOMETHING ELSE: Choose a board game to play
The Substitute Play
Use this play when you choose to switch out your original plan for a new one.
The Story Play
Use this play when you choose to tell someone the story of what happened.
You don’t like how your drawing turned out. You feel DISAPPOINTED.
FIX-IT: Make a new plan and see if you can adjust your drawing.
WAIT & SEE: Stop working, take a break and see how you feel about it later.
You don’t know how to do the math. You feel CONFUSED.
TALK: Ask someone, “Can you help me with this?
SOMETHING ELSE: Try again a few times or look on an online resource.
You are building a lego house, but a classmate came by and knocked it over. You feel ANGRY.
FIX-IT: Ignore the classmate; rebuild your house.
TALK: Tell the classmate you didn’t like that, ask if they might help you rebuild.
The Redirect Play
Use this play when you choose to redirect your attention to something that calms you.
The Wait and See Play
Use this play when you choose to wait and get more information before you do something.
The store is out of vanilla shakes, your favorite flavor. You feel DISAPPOINTED.
SUBSTITUTE: Choose a different flavor of shake. OR Go to a different type dessert store.
Someone keeps bullying you on the school playground, and they are much bigger than you. You feel AFRAID.
TALK: Go tell a teacher, “Someone is making me feel afraid.”
TALK: Tell your parents so they can contact the school.
SOMETHING ELSE: Move away, join another group of friends.
You are walking to class, and someone bumps into you, making you drop your books and homework all over the floor in the hallway. You feel ANNOYED.
FIX-IT: Pick up your things and walk to class.
WAIT & SEE: Watch the person. See if it was an accident, or if they did it on purpose. Do they bump into you again?
TALK: Ask if they were aware they bumped into you. Maybe they will help you clean up.
The Pit Stop Play
Use this play when you choose to stop and figure out what your body needs like food, water, sleep, a break, etc.
The Reframe Play
Use this play when you choose to look at a situation in a new way.
A group of friends is talking and not including you. You feel UNHAPPY.
TALK: “Hi, can I join?”
TALK: Talk with a new friend.
FIX-IT: Join another group of friends.
You keep falling off of your bicycle and your friend is laughing at you. You are feeling FURIOUS.
TALK: “Please stop laughing. I am trying to learn how to ride,” or “Can you show me how to ride?”
Your little sister keeps calling you a mean name. You feel ANNOYED.
SUBSTITUTE: Change rooms
TALK: Ask her to stop, maybe she doesn’t know it bothers you.
SOMETHING ELSE: Maybe she needs your attention for a few minutes.