How to Host 12 Days of Self-Care at School - Updated for 2024


The days leading up to winter break can be stressful! To help students and staff cope with the stress of the season, the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) team at my school hosts a daily self-care challenge for the 12 days leading up to winter break. Each day, students and staff can take a selfie featuring them doing the daily self-care prompt. Students and staff who submit a self-care selfie, will be entered in the weekly prize drawing.
 
This year the challenge starts on Thursday, December 5th and continues through Friday, December 20th. 

I am sharing everything you need to host this challenge at your own school!

Students and staff will submit their selfies using a Google Form. I made a template of the form I am using so that you can use it too! You can access it here: TEMPLATE FOR SELF-CARE SELFIE FORM
 
I created a slideshow on Canva to share the daily prompt with students and staff on the closed circuit TVs. I made a version that you can use and edit to meet your needs. You can access it here: TEMPLATE LINK FOR 12 DAYS Of SELF-CARE SLIDESHOW. 

I made a document to share with staff, students, and families so they know the theme for each day and the selfie prompt. You can access an editable version of that document here: TEMPLATE FOR 12 DAYS OF SELF-CARE SELFIES INSTRUCTIONS.

Below are descriptions of the 12 Days of Self-Care that will be shared with students and staff. You can also find all this info in editable format... in this TEMPLATE FOR 12 DAYS OF SELF-CARE SELFIES INSTRUCTIONS document.

** I included an extra slide this year for Happy HOWL-idays! Therapy Dog Thursday --- In case anyone wants to host Therapy dogs and wants to have a slide for that! 

Walking in a Winter Wonderland 
Take a selfie going for a winter walk! 
Tutorial teachers can take their classes for a walk on the track. Staff can also walk on the track during lunch or prep. 

Don’t Be a Grinch – Show Gratitude!
Take a selfie with someone or something you are thankful for! Students can also complete a Gratitude ABC’s sheet. The Gratitude ABC’s sheet will be provided in paper form to tutorial teachers and available on a table during lunches.

Home for the Holidays
Take a selfie spending time with people you care about or doing things you enjoy. Watch a movie, bake cookies, play a board game, or just be cozy… 

Hydrate for the Holidays 
Take a selfie with your favorite water bottle! Remember to stay hydrated during the holiday season! 

Spread Some Cheer
Take a selfie spreading cheer to someone else. Students and staff can share a kind note or message on a card to give to someone else. The cards will be provided during lunches and in the library during tutorial periods. 
  •  Snowflake Cards (I printed these on AstroBrights colorful card stock to make them extra fun!)
Do You Want to Build a Snowman? 
Take a selfie having some winter fun! Students can make paper snowflakes during tutorial periods today in the library! 

Have a Merry Mindful Moment 
Take a selfie practicing mindfulness or doing something that helps you relax! Teachers and staff can show videos with calming images or sounds. 
Below are some examples: 
Read, Rudolph, Read! 
Cozy up with a good book and take a selfie! 

Settle Down for a Long Winter’s Nap 
Take a selfie resting or wearing your cozy wear for spirit week! 

Get some extra rest! Go to bed early, take a nap when you get home from school, or just be cozy! 

Let it Show, Let it Show, Let it Show! 
Take a selfie doing something kind for others! Show kindness to those around you. 
Use the links below for some examples of ways to be kind! 
Buddy the Elf, What’s Your Favorite Color? 
Take a selfie coloring for self-care! 
Draw or color during tutorial! Coloring pages will be distributed to tutorial teachers and available in the library. 

Coloring pages are also available below. 
Play Reindeer Games! 
Take a selfie playing a game with a friend! Play a game or complete a puzzle during a tutorial today!

If you have questions, connect with me on social media or email me!

If you use this idea, I would love to see it in action! Tag me or share with me!

Need a presenter for your school counselor group? Request a workshop for your local or state school counselor association here: http://bit.ly/drsworkshop

Connect with me on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. 

Popular posts from this blog

Take What You Need, Give What You Can Sticky Note Board

Image
Last year, I saw a lot of "Take What You Need, Give What You Can" Bulletin Boards popping up everywhere. I decided to fuel my new found love of printing on sticky notes and make a sticky note version. The idea behind the "Take What You Need, Give What You Can" board is that you take a positive message that you "need" to hear or "give" (write) a positive or uplifting message for someone else to take. I displayed the "Take What You Need, Give What You Can" sticky note board on a window near the school counseling office. A traditional bulletin board could also be used to display this sticky note board.  I created 18 different positve messages to print on sticky notes for the "Take What You Need" side of the board. To make this "Take What You Need, Give What You Can" sticky note board, you will need the following items: A printer Printer paper to print the sticky
Read more

Spring Mindfulness Bulletin Board with QR Codes

Image
I created this colorful, interactive, spring bulletin board for our March & April PBIS theme, mindfulness. I made this bulletin board interactive for students by adding QR Codes with different mindfulness activities. Since most things need to be touch-less right now, I thought using QR Codes would be an easy way for students to access some mindfulness activities. If you are not familiar with QR Codes, QR stands for Quick Response. QR Codes are scannable with a smart device camera (iPad, tablet, or smart phone). you can easily make your own QR codes by using a QR Code generator. You can link the QR Code to a website or online document. When the user scans the QR Code they will be directed to the link. I used  QR Code Generator  to create the QR Codes.  I got the idea for this bulletin board while looking for mindfulness resources. I stumbled upon a New York Times article about "Pinwheel Breathing." This sent me down a rabbit hole of brainstorming a
Read more

FREE Career Interest Games and Inventories on VA Career View

Image
I have been searching for fun and interactive career activities to facilitate with students this year. I rediscovered  Virginia Career View , which has a wealth of computer based and printable career activities. I have used this website many times, but each time I visit I am surprised by how truly awesome this site is. In the K-5 Section of  Virginia Career View  there is an interactive game called  Career Town ! I used the  Career Town  game with some 5th grade students last year and they loved it. Career Town has three levels with different games to learn about jobs on each level.  The  Career Town  has an educators guide  for each "level' of the game. The  educators guide  has ideas of how you can utilize the game to meet standards and includes ideas for extension activities.  In the 6-8 Grade section, there is a career cluster assessment activity called "Who R U?" . It is web-based. The Virginia Career View website also has printable resources tho
Read more