3 Easy Steps to Make Easy Stress Relief Balls!

1. Buy a Swim Noodle from the Dollar Store

Make an easy stress relief ball or game piece for your games. 

2. This is being cut with a plastic picnic knife!

3. Cut, Cut, Cut

Ages 3 - 93 will love to squeeze their new stress relief ball!

Squeeze for Stress Relief!

Stress Jewelry to Entertain Your Students


Like us on Facebook - Click here 


Join our mailing list - Click here 

One noodle makes about 45-50 stress balls!

Your Stress Score - Part 3

What is your total?  What does it mean?

0-50 – Are you being truthful?  Remember, everyone has stress.  It is a normal part of life.  Many times, students with strong family support systems will report few stressors. If this is true for you, you probably have parents who protect you from problems and they probably do not share their personal problems with you, for example, when their mortgage payment is late.  You can be thankful for a strong support system that your family has created. 

                50 – 150 – This is a normal range of stress points.

                150 – 300 - Stress is affecting your quality of life and may cause you to have stress related symptoms and illnesses.

                300 or more - People with many stressors can have nervous breakdowns and high probability of serious illnesses.  Stress can take a toll on your body.  Consider talking to your parents or your counselor about your stress score.  Sometimes students do not consider boundaries so their score is high; do not add stress points that belong to your parents or other people.    Your counselor can explain this to you. 

Stress Part 2 - The Stress Test

Stress Test

Let’s work on a self-assessment activity to see what stressors we are experiencing today.  Follow the directions for the Stress Test:

        1)  What was the date six months ago?  Write the date here:

                Six months ago the date was __________________.

        We are going to rate the amount of stress we are experiencing with a special test using the Holmes and Rahe Scale.  Everything in life gives us stress points from death in our family, moving to a new house, or working on a school project.  These events would have a lot of stress points because they are very stressful.  Having homework, going on a vacation, or even the last day of school causes stress, but they have fewer stress points. 

        2)  Look at the list of events on the Stress Test.  Underline the events you have experienced only within the last six months from the date you wrote down in #1.  If the event happened before that date, do not include it. 

Stress Test

From the Holmes and Rahe Adjustment Scale

        Events                                    Scale of Impact

        Death of a spouse                           100

        Divorce                                            73

        Marital separation                              65

        Break-up with boy/girlfriend                65

        Jail term                                           63

        Death of close family member             63

        Personal illness or injury                    53

        Fired at work                                    47

        Health problem of family member        44

        Gain of a family member                    39

        Change in financial state                    38

        Death of a close friend                      37

        Change to a different line of work      36

        Many arguments at home                 35

        Mortgage                                        30

        Foreclosure on a mortgage               30

        Changes in responsibilities at work    29

        Outstanding personal achievement    28

        Spouse begins or stops work           26

        Begin or end school                         26

        Change in living conditions               25

        Change in residence                        20

        Change in schools                          20

        Change in recreation                       19

        Change in church activities              19

        Change in social activities               18

        Change in sleeping habits               15

        Vacation                                        13

        Christmas holidays                         12

        Minor violation of the law                 11

        3)  Now add up your stress points.  The total is ______________.

Get the workbook to help kids (or adults) learn about stress:

In the next blog we will show you what your score means!


Check out the website:  www.counselorgames.com    


Stress Busting Workbook for Kids on Amazon 

      Grace Wilhelm is a National Board Certified Counselor with experience in mental health and school counseling.  She enthusiastically presents to counselors, teachers, youth workers, and parents on anger, stress, crises intervention, communication, data, counseling programs, play sessions, and more.