I have several students on my caseload who struggle with anger management and emotional regulation. I loved this idea for Cool Down Cubes from Entirely Elementary and decided to make a set of my own.
Supplies:
Plastic ice cubes – I purchased a bag of 30 from Bed Bath & Beyond for less than $4
Container – The one pictured came from the Dollar Store
Permanent maker
Using a permanent marker write a safe “cool down” strategy on each ice cube. For example: count to ten, walk away, talk to a friend, take three deep breaths, etc. I also left a few of the cubes blank so that the students could come up with their own strategies. The original post suggested placing the ice cubes in the freezer for an additional “cool” effect. That’s it! Easy right?
I have used the Cool Down Cubes in both individual and group settings to discuss ways to “cool-off" when angry and have gotten a great response from students.
Ron Huxley LMFT 