Depending on where you live, you may experience severe weather storms. Storms can include thunder, lightning, strong winds, and heavy rains. It’s completely normal to feel uneasy, nervous, and even scared when these types of weather events happen. Often, severe weather can be unpredictable, and that can make people feel scared when they don’t know what to expect or how to respond.
Using this social skills lesson module, teach your students the skills to stay safe and handle the emotions they may experience when scary weather strikes in their area.
How to Manage Emotions During a Storm
- The most important thing is to keep yourself safe during a storm! Stay inside and keep away from windows and doors.
- Listen to grown-ups. Whether you’re at home or at school, the adults nearby will help you to stay safe and can tell you where to go during a storm.
- Ask for help if you need it. It’s okay to let an adult know that you’re feeling afraid or uneasy! They can help take your mind off the storm or offer to sit with you until the storm passes.
- Do something that gives you comfort, whether that’s hugging a stuffed animal, sitting under a cozy blanket, reading a book, or listening to music. Take your mind off the storm if you can, in a comforting way.
- Practice calming strategies such as: taking deep breaths, counting to ten, using a fidget toy, taking a drink of water, or thinking happy thoughts.
The key to handling scary weather is to remain as calm as possible and trust that the adults you’re with will keep you safe from danger.
Bonus Tip: it can also be helpful to talk about your feelings with a friend or trusted adult. Sometimes, vocalizing the thing that’s making you nervous or afraid and sharing that with someone else takes a little bit of the fear away from it. Don’t be shy about admitting that you’re nervous or scared. Chances are, your friend might be too!
These special education resources for accepting change were authored by Watson Institute’s special education consultant, Andee Morris, M.Ed.
Social Skills PowerPoint Presentations:
I Can Handle Scary Weather PowerPoint Presentation
I Can Handle Scary Weather Facilitator’s Guide
Social Skills Resource Materials:
I Can Handle Scary Weather Mini Schedule
I Can Handle Scary Weather Outline
I Can Handle Scary Weather Parent Note
I Can Handle Scary Weather Teacher Note
I Can Handle Scary Weather Homework
I Can Handle Scary Weather Magnet Cards
I Can Handle Scary Weather Prepare with Pedro Activity Book
If you have any questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.