Creating the perfect Poster
Print out all pages and have a clear space with scissors, glue, yourself and the child sitting side by side. (Side by side seating is less confronting for kids than opposite, if you can't sit side by side, L corner is fine too)
Establish the ‘tough time or emotion’ that the poster is going to help with, ensure you are curious here (rather than asserting what you think) and allow time and space for the child to respond. (I often have to count to 10 in my head to allow space!). For example:
Things I can do when I start to feel angry
In my tough times I can
When I’m worried I can try
Then the fun starts! Look at the strategies one by one and be led by the child, discuss what it is, would it work, how it would work and you can have a practice of it too.
After you have some strategies to try, decorate the rest of the poster and decide where it will be hung up.
If your child uses a strategy, praise them enthusiastically and congratulate them, celebrate every win, even baby steps. The more we empower kids in this process, the more successful they will be. After a week or 2 (or an outburst or 2) return to the poster and discuss what worked well. Now is the time to add new strategies or take them away. Keep talking about it and good luck!