As adults, we sometimes feel uncomfortable when we are out of our comfort zone. However, we know that practicing skills we may not sit comfortably with, benefits us in the long run. By exposing our kids to a variety of activities and dealing with any struggles that may arise in a nurturing way, we are ensuring that they become well-rounded and confident adults. Follow along as we reveal 20 fun activities that can help your kiddos explore new things outside of their comfort zones!
1. MYO Fitness Video
Working in a team is a great way to increase confidence and comfort levels. Watch some workout videos online for inspiration and then put your class into teams of 2/3 and let them create their own fitness video! Aim for it to be around 3/4 minutes long and make sure everyone plays a part- whether it be filming, doing the activity, or doing a voiceover.
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2. Tell us the History Of
This is great if you have kids who worry about talking in front of other kids and trying new things. On strips of paper, write down things such as April Fools Day, Ice Cream, and Christmas Tree. Put these into a non-see-through bag. Each child must then pick a card and make up an account of its history. Aim for 1-2 minutes per story; the aim being credible fluency.
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3. Take a Trip on Public Transport
Taking your kids on public transportation is a great way to increase their confidence and get them out of their comfort zone. Make them responsible for receiving their ticket and thanking the driver. Talk about what you can see, whether you’re in the city or the countryside, and how they can tell.
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4. Compliment Cards
These sweet compliment cards break it down for kids who struggle with their feelings. Encourage them to hand at least one compliment card out a day. If they’re feeling brave, they could read out their own compliment cards. They will get comfort from knowing they’ve made someone happy and have pushed themselves out of their comfort zone.
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5. ‘Yes’ Day
A great way to get the whole family to try new things and step out of their comfort zone! Some families put limits on junk food, spending, and distance traveled. Overall, the aim is to say “yes” as much as you can!
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6. Wacky Wednesday
This one is a challenge for those who like to only wear certain clothes or colors. Encourage those kids to pick a bright accessory to wear if they are not ready to leap out of their comfort zone. Set a theme, such as a disco, western, or pink day. A top contender for a fun comfort zone challenge!
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7. Tag Feedback
The T-A-G method teaches students to tell their partner something good, ask a question, and give a suggestion. We don’t always like giving feedback to others as we often worry about their reaction, but this activity encourages this in a gentle and comfortable way.
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8. 30-Day Comfort Zone Challenge
This colorful 30-day challenge poster gives kids creative ideas to learn new skills. Each day they can complete activities like making their bed, learning to wrap a gift, or planting a herb and take care of it. This resource is excellent to display in the classroom for students to keep track of their comfort zone challenges.
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9. Spotlight Dance
Form a group of 4/5 kids. One kid has the spotlight and stands in the middle of the dance floor. When the music starts, they can start dancing, and the spotlight is shone on each kid. When the music stops, the kid, whose light is on, is out. Perfect for shy students who don’t usually dance!
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10. Table Topics
This simple activity involves writing down some conversation starters on strips of cards and placing them in a bowl in the middle of the dining table. After each meal, take turns picking a question and answer. This activity is great for encouraging good communication, understanding, and listening skills.
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11. Race to the Truth
Line up a group of up to 10 students. There should be about 5/10 meters between them. Say a fact. If it’s true for them, they can take a step toward you. If it’s not, they don’t move. The first child to reach you is the winner! Students who struggle with participating will benefit from this.
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12. Pick a Stick
You will need a pot and different colored wooden sticks or straws. Each color correlates to a specific question. The children sit in a circle and take turns pulling a stick and answering the question. Great for little ones who are a bit unsure about answering questions and pushing their comfort levels!
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13. MYO Toss and Talk Ball
This simple toss-and-talk ball is an easy way to get kids talking and increases confidence and comfort levels. The ball is thrown from kid to kid in a circle. When it’s caught, the question nearest the top is to be answered.
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14. Would You Rather?
Pop your kids in pairs or small groups and let them take turns asking each other these ‘would you rather’ questions. This activity gives kids a choice; making it a gentler option for kids who are struggling with their comfort levels when it comes to public speaking.
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15. Set Up a Book Club
If you have a little bookworm or two in your class, let them be in charge of running their own book club under your supervision. Having responsibility for something is a huge confidence booster for kids!
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16. Presentation Practice
Public speaking can be nerve-wracking for most adults, so most kids will find this tricky. Encourage them to use cue cards to help their memory, use visual aids and look the audience in the eye.
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17. The Emoji Dance
Pop on some fun songs and encourage your kids to dance in a way that expresses the emotion of the song. Mix it up with some sad, slow, and angry songs to get a range of emotions. A feel-good comfort zone booster!
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18. Act the Emotion
Have learners sit in a circle and show each child an emotion card. They must act out that emotion while the other kids guess what it is. The child who guesses correctly gets to go next. Acting skills can be intimidating for kids who are stuck in their comfort zone, but this sweet activity is perfect!
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19. Ribbon of Sound
Some children find making strange noises tricky and embarrassing. Introducing this activity at circle time serves as a real confidence booster. Simply make a sound and have the child to your right join in. This should progress quickly around the circle to create a ribbon of sound.
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20. Paper Bag Dramatics
Pop some random objects from your classroom inside paper bags. For example, glasses, scissors, a pen, a feather, a glue stick, etc. Working in groups, students must create a dramatic skit using all these objects. It must be as fluid as possible and around 5 minutes long.
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