Free Resources
Support student well-being
When children practice human skills throughout the day, they learn to understand emotions and cope with everyday challenges. Use and share these research-based resources to empower children to thrive at school, at home, and everywhere in between.
Explore activities, lessons, and materials
Resources for early learning
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Teaching Belly Breathing
In this activity, children will practice deep belly breathing to help calm their bodies and manage big feelings. This activity builds emotional regulation skills by teaching a simple and effective calming strategy.
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12 Recommended Books About Empathy and Kindness
A few of our favorite books to teach young children about empathy and how to be kind
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Reading Guide: Where the Wild Things Are
Questions to encourage children to talk about this classic book that explores the complexity of feelings and how to cope with loneliness
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Welcoming a New Neighbor
A role-playing activity to help children practice introducing themselves, saying something kind, and doing something kind
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Welcoming Words
A fun activity to help children practice friendly greetings—perfect for welcoming each other to class at the beginning of a new school year
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Resources for elementary
Resilience Activities
A collection of research-based activities to help teachers support students’ coping, recovery, and well-being following a crisis
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Second Step® Community Rebuilding Unit
A series of five lessons, aligned with Second Step® Elementary, to help foster a sense of community among students and staff—perfect to use at the beginning of the school year, after holiday breaks, or after any extended closure
- Lessons for Grades K–1: Download PDF
- Lessons for Grades 2–3: Download PDF
- Lessons for Grades 4–5: Download PDF
Mind Yeti® mindfulness activities
A kid-friendly library of research-based, guided mindfulness sessions to help kids (and adults) calm their minds, focus their attention, and connect to the world around them
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Being Grateful for Big and Little Things
An activity based on a Mind Yeti quote to help students practice gratitude for things big and small
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Hello Gratitude
An activity adapted from a Mind Yeti mindfulness session focusing on gratitude
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Solutions to Community Problems
An academic integration activity to help kids practice working together to understand and solve problems
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Reinforce lessons with haiku
A fun, creative activity designed to reinforce human skills through the rhythm of writing haiku
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Positive Communities
A lesson adapted from Second Step Elementary that teaches students how to invite others to join in and why being welcoming is important within a community
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Cross the Room
An ice-breaker activity to help students get to know each other and find out what they have in common
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Making a Difference
A creative activity designed to acknowledge and celebrate when kids treat others with kindness and respect
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Class Coat of Arms
A team activity to support a positive climate and help kids strengthen bonds while also learning a little about history
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Friendship Making
An ice-breaker activity to help kids practice making conversation and showing interest in others
Download PDF
Resources for middle school
Resilience Activities
A collection of research-based activities to help teachers support students’ coping, recovery, and well-being following a crisis
Download PDF
Second Step® Community Rebuilding Unit
Lessons designed to support schools as they reopen after extended school closures
Download PDF
Class Coat of Arms
A team activity to support a positive climate and help kids strengthen bonds, while also learning a little about history
Download PDF
Friendship-Making
An ice-breaker activity to help kids practice making conversation and showing interest in others
Download PDF
Class Challenge: Make Fast Friends
A 10-minute activity to help students get to know each other and nurture relationships
Download PDF
Solutions to Community Problems
An academic integration activity to help kids practice working together to understand and solve problems
Download PDF
Summer Letter
A lesson adapted from Second Step® Middle School that helps students at the end of the school year reflect on what they’ve learned by writing a letter to their future selves
Download PDF
Bullying or Joking?
An activity to help students learn how to tell when a friend is bullying or just joking, and how to be an upstander
Download PDF
Resources for families
Books to Help Parents Talk About and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse
Recommended reading that can help families talk about child sexual abuse in the context of personal safety, teach children skills to keep them safe from abuse, and better support recovery from trauma if abuse has already happened
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ParenTeen Connect
A website that offers resources and expert advice to help parents and teens connect and communicate
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Abierto y a menudo
A Spanish-language version of the Early, Open, Often campaign to prevent child sexual abuse by encouraging families to talk openly and often about personal safety from an early age, with expert recommendations about age-appropriate ways to do so
Learn more
12 Recommended Books About Empathy and Kindness
A few of our favorite books to teach young children about empathy and how to be kind
Download PDF
Additional campaigns
Captain Compassion® campaign
You have the power to prevent bullying
Upstanders, assemble! Captain Compassion® teams up with sidekick Kid Kinder® to empower others to recognize, report, and refuse bullying in all its forms. Explore their webcomics created to help kids discover and use their upstander power. Share our Captain Compassion resources with your friends to help us create safer communities by standing up to bullying together.
Download the comics to follow their adventures!
Download the Captain Compassion posters
Hot Chocolate Talk® campaign
Child sexual abuse happens—more than you think. But, research shows there’s something simple and powerful you can do right now that goes a long way to protect your child: talk with them.
Informed children are less likely to be abused, and those who feel comfortable talking openly with a caring adult are more likely to disclose abuse if it happens.
Anytime is the right time to talk with your child, and you can start today. So, grab a cup of hot chocolate, download our How-To Guide, and have a Hot Chocolate Talk® moment.
Have a Hot Chocolate Talk® moment
How to start the conversation
If you’re like many parents, you may know it’s important to talk with your child about sexual abuse but aren’t sure what to say or when to say it. Our guides make it easy to approach these vital safety conversations so you can empower your child to report and refuse sexual abuse:
- Connect and build trust in everyday moments
- Teach your child simple, age-appropriate body safety rules
- Create warmth and comfort when talking about a serious topic
Helpful resources
How-to guide
Talk to your 0–5 year old
Download the 0–5 guide (PDF)
Talk to your 6–8 year old
Download the 6–8 guide (PDF)
Get the facts
Download the research (PDF)
Talk to your 9–10 year old
Download the 9–10 guide (PDF)
Talk to your 11+ year old
Download the 11+ guide (PDF)
