These activities may be useful when children and young people are feeling agitated or frustrated and do not feel able to calm down. The movement may help to take the frustration out of their actions and refocus their actions on something more positive.

3.1 Body Percussion

Basic body movements can help to integrate bodily experiences and to create well-being, stability, integration and connection with reality at a physical, sensory, emotional and social level. This can be achieved by walking, stomping, making contact with another person through the palms of the hands or the feet, or jumping and skipping for example.

Combining the above with rhythm will help with grounding or anchoring because experiencing rhythm builds up orientation in the here and now.

Try these body percussion activities available on YouTube:

• FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN – Watermelon, Watermelon

• FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN – Double Double This This:

• FOR OLDER CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE – watch these students perform the Hand Clap Skit – can your pupils copy some of these body percussion moves and/or create their own ones inspired by this routine?

As this MATES house ‘key’ – Trees – is about finding your feet, it is particularly stomping, stepping, slapping thighs, jumping, skipping and moving around the room which should be encouraged. Here are some options available on YouTube: