Try moving, clapping, and drawing along to a steady beat.
What you’ll need: Paper, coloured markers, a metronome (this is a machine or software that makes a steady tapping beat - you can find one for free online here or explore and compare other options from Beginners Guitar HQ)
What’s it for?
This activity helps you practice listening and moving to a beat. Slowing down the beat can be a way to help feel calm if you are feeling unregulated or worked up over something.
Check In:
Notice how you’re feeling right now. Close your eyes and notice what’s going on inside your mind and body.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
How does your body feel?
Method:
Turn the metronome ‘on’ and set it to 120 BPM. Try clapping along to the rhythm, putting your hands together on each beat.
Slow it down to 100 bpm and try marching in place while you clap, putting your feet down on each beat. Just do one of these things if it is hard to clap and march at the same time!
Keep slowing the beat until you find a pace that feels comfortable and relaxed for you.
Take a piece of blank paper and some different coloured markers. Make a dot drawing by tapping your marker on the paper to the beat of the metronome. You could try to draw a picture with your dots, or use random colours and marks and see what you create!
Extra Activity: What else can you do to the beat of the metronome? Could you bounce a ball? Hop on one foot? Make up a dance?
When you’ve finished filling in your circles, ask yourself the following questions:
Was it difficult to stick to the beat when it was fast?
What about when it was slow?
How did your body feel when you slowed down the beat?
Did it feel different when it was fast?
What did you draw?
Do you think your drawing would look different at different speeds?
Conclusion:
Take a moment to notice how you are feeling at the end of this activity. Did you discover anything surprising? What can you take away to make you feel better about yourself from this activity?
If you would like to, share something about your experience with this activity with someone you live with! Ask the person who looks after you to send us an email if you have any questions or comments about the activity, or would like to send us any pictures (info@catcorner.co.uk). Don't forget to subscribe for more fun CAT activities!
Created by Heather Dingle © March 2020
Creative Art Used: Music, Art, Dance & Movement
Psychological Area Explored: Emotional Wellbeing, Communication, Attention & Hyperactivity
These activities could be done by children of all ages, but some may need the support of their parent or carer to read the instructions or complete the activity safely.
This website was made by CAT Corner to help you explore your feelings through fun creative arts activities. The people using the website and the people responsible for them need to make sure they stay safe (full disclaimer on About page).
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