All children need ways to express their feelings and guidance

in resolving problems they encounter. A better choice chair along with some

specific actions to take in that chair can provide thoughtful and significant

changes in the choices they make everyday.

1.Reach out and Touch Someone. Using an old telephone next to the

better choice chair, have the child call a superhero such as Superman, Glenda

the good witch, Wonder Woman, Batman, etc. to discuss their problem. They

imagine the conversation and what their superhero might say to help them come

up with better choices.

2. Sunshine Solutions or Gardens of Good Choices. Have cutout

flowers or sunshines. Children can also draw them. Inside the center of the

flower or sunshine, they write the problem. On the rays or the petals they

write or draw a better choice on each. Color it. Plant a garden of “flowering

solutions” on a bulletin board by the better choice chair.

3. Have a Rikki the Raccoon or Tally the Teddy stuffed animal in the better

choice chair. The child whispers in their ear what happened that created a

problem for them. Rikki or Tally are magical and can brainstorm with them on

how to solve the problem and feel better.

4. Have the child create a cartoon strip on empty frames which

sequences the problem, but have them insert a better ending. This creates a

better “frame of mind” for the child and all concerned.

5. Have a Problem Solving Journal for all children to use at a

table next to the better choice chair. Have them write or draw in response

to: What Happened? How Do I Feel? How Could I Handle it

Better Next Time? Do I Need to Apologize to Anyone? Do I Need

to Forgive Myself? Let children look back at other childrens’ entries for ideas.

6. Put notecards out on a table next to the better choice chair.

Have child write a letter to a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or best friend

explaining their problem. They write back to themselves as if they were the

parent, grandparent, etc. with words of advice and wisdom.

7. Run a few laps outside before coming to the better choice chair

to blow off steam if they are especially angry and having trouble controlling

their emotions. Then have child trace 3 or 4 of their footprints on to paper

and cut them out. On each footprint have them “walk through” a better way to

solve their dilemma by drawing or writing about better steps they could have

taken with the problem they experienced. Create a bulletin board entitled,

“Stepping Ahead” or ” Steps Toward Great Citizenship.”

8. Use a variety of felt or paper cut outs of grown up figures and

children and place them on a felt board near the better choice chair. Child is

asked to re-enact the difficult situation and act out a more appropriate or

positive outcome with the cutouts.

9. Child is asked to string a bead necklace while sitting in the

better choice chair. The child is asked to think of 3 or more better ways of

handling the problem as they string the necklace. Then they wear it for the

day. Touch the necklace to remind them of more positive choices.

10. On a table next to the better choice chair have a set of

watercolors and large white pieces of paper. Have the child paint a rainbow.

On each band of color have them write a phrase to describe a better choice in

response to their problem. Example: 1. Ask for help. 2. Stop, breathe

and think. 3. Count to 10.

– Linda McCabe