School Counselor’s First -Aid Kit
While looking for more meet the school counselor ideas, I found a familiar idea from an old magazine on my bookshelf. The original article was written by Michelle Jordan.
Many of us have heard of placing items in a bag and relating them to the school counselor’s role. The School Counselor’s First-Aid Kit follows the same concept. First, you’ll want to find something to hold your items. Your kit can be kept in a box, or you can find a child’s toy doctor bag. Label your kit “School Counselor’s First-Aid Kit.” Inside the kit, you’ll need the following items: a tissue, a toothpick, a Hershey’s Kiss, a star, a penny, a bandage, an eraser, a Life Saver, and a cotton ball.
After asking the students to tell you what first-aid kits are usually for, you can share each of these items one by one. With your help, the students can tell how each item relates to your role.
- Tissue– A school counselor wants to help students dry their tears. Students need to know it’s okay to cry if they have a problem.
- Toothpick– A school counselor helps students “pick out” their problems and work on them.
- Hershey’s Kiss– A school counselor wants to help students feel better and a treat can do just that.
- Star– A school counselor can help students find their way when they are lost.
- Penny– A penny reminds students that they are valuable and special.
- Bandage– A school counselor wants to help heal students’ wounds.
- Eraser– The eraser reminds students that everyone makes mistakes. School counselors help students deal with their feelings about the mistakes they’ve made.
- Life Saver– Life savers serve as a reminder that students can see the school counselor if they need someone to talk to.
- Cotton Ball– This reminds students that the school counselor is full of warm fuzzies and compliments.
This kit can be kept in a visible spot in your office to remind students about your role. You can also use it as you meet new students throughout the school year.
Stick around! You can follow Savvy School Counselor with free email updates. As always, I’d love to hear from you. What else would you include in the First-Aid Kit and why?
26 Comments
AnnMarie
Hi Vanessa!! I really like this visual!! I always meet with the new students at the beginning of the year and as we get new kids! What a great idea to help them understand your role as school counselor! I love your blog and look forward to your posts!! Keep up the great work!
AnnMArie
Vanessa
Thank you so much, Ann Marie!
Laura Filtness
I love this idea. Last year our school student council and I made the teachers “survival” kits with many of the same items and I still have a few left. I can’t wait to make my own survival kit. Adorable!
Laura
A counselor friend of mine told me about this activity but couldn’t remember the objects that she used in the first aid kit. Thanks so much for posting this to your blog – I can’t wait to use it with my K-2 students! 🙂
Russ
Very clever, I love it!
Brittany
Thank you so much! I love this idea. I am a new school counselor this year and this will be the perfect way to introduce myself to elementary students. 🙂 I look forward to following your blog!
Vanessa
I’m glad, Brittany! Thanks for your comment.
Carol Huck
Hi,
Great idea, I’m going to do this. Any thoughts on adapting for middle school students? Glad I found your blog Vanessa. I’ve already done your meet the counselor idea with the circles. Worked quite well.
Carol
Vanessa
Hi, Carol! I think the only thing would be how you explain each of the items inside. I believe most of them are suitable for middle school aged students.
I’m glad the circle map worked well for you!
Tanya
battery – to help you keep going even when things are hard (and you want to give up)
sponge – to help you soak up knowledge (by helping with study skills, organization, etc.)
potato head ear – because school counselors are here to listen about your feelings & struggles
compass? – school counselors help guide you in making good choices
Vanessa
Love it! Thank you for sharing additional first-aid kit items!
Ronald
I like this first aid kid. And am also going to made this kit. Thank you for your valuable information..Vanessa..
Lynda Colley
I absolutely love your website! You have so many wonderful and creative ideas to share with your fellow counselors! I can’t wait to use your lessons on “getting to know your counselor”. Please add me to your mailing list!
Vanessa
Thank you, Lynda! I just sent an email to you regarding the mailing list.
Christa
I absolutely love your blog! I’m a graduate student working towards a Master’s Degree in School Counseling, I have been able to get great ideas from your blog and share them with classmates! Thank you so much for sharing!
Vanessa
Thank you so much for your comment, Christa! I’m so glad Savvy School Counselor has been helpful to you.
Melissa Kelley
So glad I found this website. I have previous experience at the high school level so I’ve needed some new tools to work with elementary students. This is a great “first aid” kit to share with my kids.
Neha Pandey
Dear Vanessa,
I accidently found your blog and now I am loving this accident…!! Great work.. How do I get regular updates? Please help.
Vanessa
Hi, Neha! Just go to the top right of the blog page and subscribe. You will then receive email updates whenever I publish a new post. Glad you found Savvy School Counselor!
DeeDee
Woohoo! This is my first year as a Counselor and this will be a wonderful introduction. Thank you!
Brenda L Roberts
I am using this and it is great!!! The students have some really unique ideas for why I would use some of the items (like the toothpick). Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas!!
Ydaline
This is an amazing idea! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Michelle Hamner
This is a great idea! I just finished school and was offered a job as a middle school counselor, so I am in need of some ideas.
Kim Piccari
Thank you, I was transferred to Elementary School from being a counselor at a Middle School for 8 years and at high school for 8 years before this.
Jeanette Bockholt
I enjoyed reading your kit ideas and will add some new ones. Pretzels-a counselor can help untangle a child’s life. lifesavers-school counselors can help save a life. a heart- to remind you why you do what you do, a button – to hold yourself together. when you are impatient,;rubber band-give of yourself-be flexible.;finger nail file-to help file away the rough spots of a day at school.;band-aid-for healing hurt feelings-your own or someone else’s; I have used these and the teachers love it!
Jeanette Bockholt, 14 years high-school counselor, and 14 years elementary counselor
Vanessa
Thanks for sharing!!