Emotional Coping Strategies

In an effort to help children with learning differences develop appropriate coping strategies, Hutson is dedicated to directly teaching children to understand what things might trigger emotional reactions and how these reactions can affect behavior. Our famous Chip helps our students recognize stress triggers as well as strategies for avoiding or reducing stress.

These past two weeks, the children at Hutson have created masks during art. Casting strips were placed on each child's face. When the strips dried, the masks were removed, sanded, and prepared for painting. Each children then divided their masks into two distinct halves. On one half, the child was instructed to paint what their negative self-talk "looks like", while on the other half, they were to paint what positive thoughts "look like". It is our responsibility to teach our children positive emotional coping strategies. The results of this collaborative project are phenomenal. The masks are awesome!! Expressing emotions through art is very therapeutic. I am so proud of the children, Chip, and Mrs. Church!