Children with additional needs often have trouble relaxing or having down time so it's something I've always included in my timetable for 15 minutes after lunch. The students can read quietly or just lie on the bean bag while relaxing music plays in the background. Last year, I introduced story time twice a week were I or another adult read aloud and the students just had to listen. I didn't ask any questions or ask them to retell it because we do that in shared reading but it was difficult for many of the students to sit and listen without pictures or props to engage them.
Part of the ENGAGE programme has several cards which promote relaxation and offer the students a chance to self regulate their emotions. So I introduced the 'feeling' cards this term and focused on the 'relaxing yoga' activity twice a week. The students responded to the change in routine quite well but it took 4 sessions to get them to relax their body and focus on their breathing.
I will continue with this emotion task for another week and see if I can encourage all 6 boys to focus and relax.
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