Activities · «Sadness and Love»
The trunk of calm
A small refuge to breathe, find comfort and discover what helps us feel accompanied.
What is it for?
Sometimes, when we feel intense emotions, we need to stop and find a moment of rest. Just as Nilo sits on the trunk beside his little grandmother, we can learn to breathe slowly and discover what helps us feel accompanied and calm.
This activity invites the child to create their own trunk of calm, an imaginary place they can return to whenever they need a moment of refuge.
How to do it
Find a quiet moment and help the child imagine their trunk of calm. With a soft voice, you can invite them to breathe slowly and imagine a place where they feel at ease. There is no need to close their eyes or to achieve any particular sensation.
Then suggest they draw their trunk and add whatever helps them feel comforted: someone they love to hug, their favourite cuddly toy, a soft blanket, a song or a place in nature. They can also choose objects they like to touch, stroke or listen to.
At first, practise together. The calm presence of a trusted adult can help the child regulate their emotions, feeling accompanied and safe. In time, they will be able to remember this experience and turn to the resources they have discovered when they need them.
What can the child experience or learn?
The child can discover different ways of finding calm through breathing, imagination and the senses. Little by little, they will recognise what comforts them and what can help in difficult moments.
Shared experiences with an adult can support them in developing their own resources for emotional regulation.
It is not about making sadness disappear, but about discovering that, even when something hurts, we can find moments of calm and feel accompanied.
There is no need to achieve a perfect calm. Sometimes it is enough to stop for a moment and feel that someone is by our side.
This activity keeps company, but does not replace the help of a professional when a child needs it. When to look for help.
Carry on with another activity
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