Warm and fuzzies are special notes shared among peers that focus on highlighting the positives and uplifting students. Whether they come in the form of words, spoken language, or tangible reminders, every student appreciates receiving kind words! These days, there is a higher importance placed on mental health. Including ways to add warm and fuzzy activities to your day can be a great way to boost mental health and encourage kindness in your classroom. Check out these 20 exciting activities that can easily fit into your busy teaching schedule.
1. Warm Fuzzies vs Cold Pricklies
Ensure that students understand what warm fuzzies and cold pricklies are. By introducing this topic and providing examples, students will begin to better understand what is expected. Make a list on chart paper with your whole group.
Learn More: Ms. Sepps’ Counseling Corner
2. Pre-made Notes
Use premade cards as a way to recognize positive behavior. Print and cut out these simple cards to pass out to students when you want to give them a warm fuzzy. You could use these for individual students or use them to reward or recognize classroom behavior as a whole.
Learn More: Classroom Management Toolbox
3. Student Notes
Allowing your students to write their own notes is another great way to recognize and uplift others. Students can write warm and fuzzy notes to others to send positive messages.
Learn More: Classroom Management Toolbox
4. Happy Monster
These happy monsters are a creative way to help students feel better. Use these to help students overcome fear and to provide a simple reminder that they are capable.
Learn More: Etsy
5. Paper Made Warm and Fuzzies
Paper-made warm fuzzies are fun to make and fun to give! These would be great to use on a bulletin board to promote kindness. Let students make their own crafts using assorted cardstock, markers, scissors, and glue.
Learn More: First Grade Roars
6. Earn a Ticket
A great way to promote positive behavior recognition is to make a display or bulletin board. Have a space for each child’s name and a way for them to collect tickets. As students are recognized for positive behavior in class, they can add a ticket to their bin. Let them cash in tickets for other rewards.
Learn More: Pinterest
7. Paper Bucket Fillers
Filling a bucket is a concept that is familiar to many elementary school students. With this version, you have a paper bucket and students learn about how to fill other people’s buckets with kind words.
Learn More: Erica’s Edventures
8. Glow and Grows
Glows and grows are great ways to complement students and also give them areas to improve upon. Giving “glows” are ways to recognize positive behavior. Giving “grows” allow you to state the things that need improvement. There is value in giving both.
Learn More: 3rd Grade Thoughts
9. Literacy Activity
Bring literacy into the learning! Provide a sheet like this one to share a story with students. Use comprehension questions to help them find the warm fuzzy from the story.
Learn More: Education.com
10. Warm and Fuzzy Jar
Having a warm fuzzy jar is great for students to see their progress in achieving a behavior goal. Provide a clear jar and as students add their “warm fuzzies” in the form of colorful pom poms, they will see the jar fill up! Once the jar is full, they can cash them in for a reward.
Learn More: The Many Little Joys
11. Make Your Own Warm and Fuzzy Friends
Add some wiggly eyes to a pom pom to make these cute warm and fuzzy friends. You could also add a small piece of foam to the bottom to give them some feet and a base to sit on. Place these on students’ desks to recognize positive behavior.
Learn More: Love, Laughter, and Learning in Prep
12. Warm and Fuzzy Punch Cards
Behavior punch cards are a great way to give students warm fuzzies when they deserve to be recognized for positive behavior. Students can each get a card and earn punches when they do well or show extraordinary behavior.
Learn More: A Dab of Glue Will Do
13. Warm and Fuzzy Game
Playing a game to help students know the difference between warm fuzzies and cold pricklies may be helpful! This game is a good way for students to begin to understand the difference between the two. It will add a fun element to learning!
Learn More: ELSA Support
14. Brag Tag Warm and Fuzzy
Brag tags are great behavior incentives! Simply add brag tags to necklaces for students to wear. This form of warm fuzzies is one that provides a visible reminder for students and for others to see as well. They could even wear them home to share their wins with their parents.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
15. Yarn Made Fit Friends
These fit friends are made from yarn and wiggle eyes. These may be helpful for students who need help processing their emotions. These warm fuzzies may help deter aggressive behavior in kids. You could add these to a calm down corner or give one to each student so they have their own.
Learn More: Pinterest
16. Manage Your Warm Fuzzies
Use small plastic bubble gum or storage containers to hold warm fuzzies. You can add a magnet to the back and attach them to your desk or filing cabinet. Students can work towards the goal of filling up the container as a class.
Learn More: Glittered Pink Kinder
17. Compliment Chain
Allowing your class to earn compliments is a great form of providing warm fuzzies! When they receive recognition for a task well achieved, add a link to the chain. Be sure to provide an incentive for reaching the end of the chain.
Learn More: Savvy Second Graders
18. Warm and Fuzzies for Parents
Parents need warm fuzzies too! While it’s important to recognize students, we need to remember parents as well. Send some warm fuzzies in the form of a paper note to recognize effort and aid from parents.
Learn More: Mrs. Russell’s Room
19. Fillable Warm Fuzzy Cards
Use an area of your room to allow students to fill in warm fuzzy cards. Provide a card to each student and let them write something positive thereon and then give it to one of their peers.
Learn More: Mrs. Osterman
20. Classroom Bucket
While filling the buckets can be extremely helpful for individual students, it can also be a great motivator for your whole class. Students can work together to earn warm fuzzies as a whole group; helping each other remember to be on their best behavior.
Learn More: Little Mrs. Preschool
20 Fun Ways to Get Kids Writing