​In today's education landscape, the focus has expanded beyond core academic skills to include social and emotional learning (SEL). SEL is a crucial aspect of a child's development that involves understanding and managing emotions, setting and achieving positive goals, feeling and showing empathy for others, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and making responsible decisions.

Life can sometimes be overwhelming, especially for children who are still learning how to handle their emotions. Many children struggle with emotional regulation due to various factors, such as developmental delays, environmental stressors, or simply the challenges of growing up. For instance, a sudden change in routine, conflicts with friends, or difficulty in understanding a new concept at school can cause distress.
In these instances, having a strategy to help children regain control of their emotions can be incredibly beneficial. This is where a "calming box" or "calm down kit" comes in.

As the back-to-school season approaches, teachers everywhere are gearing up to welcome their students back into the classroom. It's a time of fresh beginnings, new friendships, and the perfect opportunity to set the tone for an exciting year of learning. To help you start the school year off on the right foot, we've curated a list of 10 free and fun back-to-school activity ideas that will engage and captivate your students from day one.