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The Space Hug
TARGET:
3-5 years
INTENSITY:
2–4 min / As needed
LEARNING GOAL
Developing Emotional Awareness When Interacting with Others (aiming for a positive solution-seeking stance)
PEDAGOGICAL INTENTION
Managing My Emotions When Interacting with Others
Target SKILLS
Socio-emotional Intelligence
Co-Intelligence Human-Human
Well-Being
MATERIALS
Cozy corner
DETAILED PROCEDURE
Gather the whole group together in a circle for this activity. Sit with arms open to offer a safe physical frame.
Step 1
Invite child: "Your body is too wound up. Come into my calm space."
Step 2
Breathe together loudly with the child to co-regulate the emotion's intensity.
Step 3
Once calm, adult closes: "Your engine is calm now - you can go back and play."
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
PROGRESS INDICATORS
The child moves toward the adult to calm down.
Research Foundations
Bowlby (1969)
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