These resources were created and compiled by the Riley Children's Health Creative Arts Therapy Team including Music Therapists, Art Therapists, and a Dance Movement Therapist for a July 16, 2020 presentation to the Indiana Department of Education in support of educators as children return to school during the COVID 19 global pandemic. This resource page is applicable to all children, families, and caregivers coping with the collective trauma of keeping bodies, minds, and spirits safe during this time. Visit our YouTube channel for additional resources updated regularly by this team.

Music Resources

 

Normalization/Transition Activities   

 Relaxation/Anxiety Reduction  

  • Talk with your school counselor for more ideas! 

 Group Cohesion/Engagement  

  • Younger students- “Move It Move It” created by a music therapist for movement  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_eKHIziiBk 

  • Write a class song using the “piggy-back” technique – choose a song and simply replace some of the words using student suggestions 

  • Create a class playlist using student suggestions and allow students to take turns choosing songs to start the day 

  • Offer choices when possible and give students the option to say no   

General Resources  

 Email RileyMusicTherapy@iuhealth.org for questions about these resources.

Art Resources

Print and use the files below for drawing, writing, or action prompts. Can be done as a group, individually, or via a virtual format. Appropriate for all ages.

Use these files along with the video links provided below.

Email RileyArtTherapy@iuhealth.org for questions about these resources.

Please visit this digital magazine for inspiring artwork and stories in the Hindi tradition of Kahani.

Kahani is story telling in Hindi. Visit the Kahani Edition #1 Arts and Literary Magazine to learn about the story behind this picture.

Dance Movement Resources

Movement Resources for Relieving Feelings of Stress and Anxiety

General Movement Ideas

  • Morning Movement Check-ins For Classroom or Virtual Learning Environments

    • Ask the children to think about how they feel in that moment and ask them to share a movement for what they think that movement might look like. Provide them with examples… like tired ( and putting hands together and resting head on hands) happy ( a thumbs up, or jazz hands) It can vary and look different for everyone, but make sure they know where the classroom boundaries lie. You movement dangerous to the self, others, or items in the class.  

    • This can be a starting point to understanding where the child is in that moment and maybe how the day will feel, but it also shows that you hear them, see them, and how they are feeling.  

    • Morning Movement Check-ins have been a good resource for teens

      • Checking in at the beginning of a session/lesson/day

      • Check in at the end of a session/lesson/day

      • Compare

  •  Wiggle Breaks/ Re-centering  

    • Often after high activity (ex. Recess, gym class, etc.), kids might have a difficult time readjusting to having to focus and sit down at their desk. This transition would be a perfect time to shake it out and then incorporate deep breaths as a class. Doing three breaths together, mentioning what will happen next in class.

    • To counteract… the energy level is low or they have been in the classroom for a while. Taking time to “Shake it out” calling out different body parts to shake. (Hands, arms, back, head, hips, legs, whole body)  

Movement for Teens, Young Adults, Teachers, and Parents

  •  Body Scan

  • Grounding Movement/ Closing Movement

    • Placing hands on a flat surface and pressing down  

    • Can be done in times of stress or as a way of connecting as a group/class

Email RileyCheerGuild@iuhealth.org for questions about these resources.

School Integration and Grief Resources

Curated by Riley Bereavement Services Behavioral Health Counselor and Art Therapist, Cassie Dobbs, LPC, ATR, MAAT