Traffic Light from Peppy Pals

At this station you’ll practice how to calm down using “The Traffic Light”.

Goal

To practice labeling and handling emotions and self-awareness, and how to calm down.

Resources

Colored pens/pencils/crayons
Paper
Activity Instruction Sheet (optional) click to download

Instructions

Draw a traffic light and color three lights, one red, one yellow and one green.

The colors are used as symbols for knowing when to calm down:

Red = “stop” and calm down.

Yellow = I need to think before I act and…

Green = Now that I’ve calmed down and thought, I will try my best solution

Can you think of a situation when you feel you need to turn on the “stop” light? For example, a friend might have teased you that made you really angry.

Discussion

If they are in the “red zone,” how could someone calm down to yellow? How could they get all the way to green?
Once you’ve calmed down, how can you handle the situation? EG would you tell a grownup what just happened, start a fight with the person teasing you?
What would be the consequences of your action?
Once you’ve thought of a good solution, you’re in the green zone. Being in the green zone doesn’t always mean you will get what you want. How does that feel?

Extensions

Write about what might happen if people had a little “traffic light watch” they could wear that would remind them about when it’s time to slow down or stop.

Activity Source

Peppy Pals