KESHENA (NBC26) — From virtual learning to having sports and activities canceled and not seeing friends, the COVID-19 pandemic has put a mental burden on our kids.
Keshena Primary School is helping students manage stress as they welcome a majority back for in-person learning. While children are transitioning after months of virtual classes, the school is giving kids from kindergarten to fifth grade tools to deal with stress both in the classroom and at home through social emotional learning tool kits.
“It’s empowering them to help learn how to regulate their emotions in a way that’s safe and healthy," said Courtney Slewinski, Social Worker and Guidance Counselor at KPS. “We wanted to find items that would meet the needs of the students.”
Through a state DPI grant, Slewinski helped create the kits. The bags have pens, notebooks, Slinkies, sketch pads, snacks and more.
“When they’re feeling angry, take it out on the bubble wrap, pop it, twist it," she said. "We like to talk to them about journaling their feelings, drawing pictures.”
Some students say drawing has really helped them.
“Sometimes I just get stressed out," said Lonnie Martin. "And then I draw how I feel.”
Others enjoy the stress balls, Play Doh and other items they can have in their hands.
“It makes me feel better because I don’t have to sit there and mess with something that I’m not allowed to mess with," said Kaybree Newton.
Teachers also do meditations with the students, checking in and asking students how they’re feeling first thing in the morning.
“Kids have things going on too," said Slewinksi. "They process things differently, and they may struggle to use their words to tell us how they’re feeling, but it may come out and behaviors, so we want to make sure that were teaching them how to regulate those emotions, and it’s okay to have big feelings, but we want to teach them how to work through those feelings in healthy ways.”
The students who are back in person were able to take their kits home with them, and those who opted to continue virtual learning were able to have their parents come and pick up the kits for them.
