---
title: An Activity to Restore Calm and Reduce Challenging Classroom Behaviors
description: The activity in this article will help children calm their minds and bodies and give educators a technique for alleviating challenging behaviors in their classrooms.
image: https://blog.kaplanco.com/hubfs/blog_imgs/BLOG_An%20Activity%20to%20Restore%20Calm%20and%20Reduce%20Challenging%20Classroom%20Behaviors_header_img_1200x600.jpg
---
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# An Activity to Restore Calm and Reduce Challenging Classroom Behaviors
Stephanie TiltonJanuary 16, 2025[Challenging Behaviors](https://blog.kaplanco.com/tag/challenging-behaviors), [Social & Emotional Development](https://blog.kaplanco.com/tag/social-emotional-development)5 minute read
Educators often describe a lose of emotional control as one of the greatest barriers to providing quality education they encounter in the classroom. That is because children who are unable to control their emotions have a difficult time focusing on lessons, comprehending teacher instruction, and getting along with others.
There are many reasons for big emotions to exist in the classroom, most notably that young children are still developing their self-regulation skills. These skills allow children to experience big emotions, such as anger or frustration, and control those emotions in socially appropriate ways. But children must calm their minds and bodies before they can truly control their emotions.
The activity in this article will help children ages 3 to 5 do exactly that and gives educators a technique for alleviating behaviors that challenge their classrooms.
## How does Kaplan ensure that these activities are age-appropriate and support the educational needs of children ages 3 to 5?
As a leader in early childhood education for more than 50 years, we understand the importance of classroom activities that are founded on research and support educational best practices.
The activity in this article was inspired by the Gryphon House books [The Power of Presence: A Guide to Mindfulness Practices in Early Childhood](https://www.kaplanco.com/product/34585/the-power-of-presence-a-guide-to-mindfulness-practices-in-early-childhood?c=16%7CTR1026) and [Calm and in Control: Simple and Effective Strategies to Support Young Children's Self-Regulation](https://www.kaplanco.com/product/300248/calm-and-in-control-simple-and-effective-strategies-to-support-young-childrens-self-regulation?c=16%7CTR1010). You can incorporate this activity into art lessons and periods of classroom transition and use it in your classroom quiet area.
##  Snow Globe Overload
This activity begins with a large group demonstration using a snow globe or calming sensory bottle. Shake the snow globe so the inside becomes a swirl of glitter or faux snow material. Explain to the children that just like the inside of the snow globe, their minds can become chaotic at times and that a chaotic mind can make it difficult to think clearly, leading to problematic decision-making such as:
- Hitting a friend after they steal a toy
- Yelling at a teacher when they ask the child to clean up
- Kicking the wall when their block tower falls over
- Throwing a crayon when they struggle to write their name
Now, place the snow globe on a flat surface. Ask the children to watch what happens to the chaos once the snow globe is at rest. Explain to the children that a calm mind makes thinking easier and leads to better decision-making and control over their big emotions.
During small group time, encourage the children to create snow globes by filling a small jar with water, vegetable oil, and glitter and tightly gluing the lid. Label each jar with the child's name and place the jars in a quiet area of your classroom.
### Materials:
- Something to hold the snow globe material, such as small glass jars, empty snow globes, or [small plastic bottles](https://www.kaplanco.com/product/301094/diy-calm-down-sensory-bottles-set-of-2?c=9%7CSC1090)
- 1 Cup of water for each snow globe
- 3 Tablespoons of glycerin or vegetable oil for each snow globe
- Glitter or any floatable craft material you prefer
- Glue
## How can you use these snow globes to practice mindfulness and help calm big emotions?
To help children tune into their inner thoughts and feelings, you can use the snow globes as a mindful meditation tool. During periods when your classroom feels chaotic, ask every child to gather their snow globes and sit on the floor. Count to ten, and have the children shake their snow globes as you count. Once you get to ten, ask the children to place their snow globes on the floor in front of them and watch the glitter begin to fall and settle.
While the children focus on their snow globes, guide them through a calming mindfulness exercise. Starting with their heads and working down to their feet, ask the children to relax one body part at a time. Have them imagine that their chaotic energy is settling to the ground just like the glitter in their snow globe. Once the room and children feel calm, have everyone return their snow globes to the shelf and continue your daily routine.
You can also do something similar for children who need extra calming techniques throughout the day.
Whenever a child feels like their mind is chaotic or they are struggling to control their emotions, they can escape to a quiet area where they will find and shake their snow globe. Encourage the children to watch as the glitter falls and settles and to breathe in and out slowly to calm their minds at the same time. Once the child feels calm, they can join their peers for playful fun and learning.
### What inspired this activity?
[The Power of Presence: A Guide to Mindfulness Practices in Early Childhood](https://www.kaplanco.com/product/34585/the-power-of-presence-a-guide-to-mindfulness-practices-in-early-childhood?c=16%7CTR1026) and [Calm and in Control: Simple and Effective Strategies to Support Young Children's Self-Regulation](https://www.kaplanco.com/product/300248/calm-and-in-control-simple-and-effective-strategies-to-support-young-childrens-self-regulation?c=16%7CTR1010) inspired this activity. These books also offer more insight into mindfulness techniques and teaching strategies that support the development of self-regulation skills in young children.
## Keep your classroom calm and regulated!
This activity serves as a visual representation of stress and dysregulation for young children, and it provides a positive method for controlling their big emotions. Use it as inspiration while planning your weekly lessons, and feel free to make changes to better suit the needs of the children in your care.
Before you go, download a PDF version of this article to quickly and easily refer to the materials, activity details, and enrichment opportunities.
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August 13, 2020
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