Red Ribbon Week: Enjoyable Ideas for Students

Let's be real...

It can be challenging to discuss Red Ribbon Week and drug prevention in Kindergarten (or any early childhood grade, really).

Even though you don't want to talk to your children about drugs and the harm they can cause, you also want to plant the seeds to make wise decisions in the future.

Today, I want to introduce you to a wonderful teaching resource for Red Ribbon Week and some creative, fun ideas to celebrate this event.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RED RIBBON WEEK

Annually, October 23-31 is named as Red Ribbon Week and it was first launched in the 1980s. It is the largest and longest-running annual campaign dedicated to drug prevention.

In addition to raising awareness of the risks associated with drug and alcohol use, Red Ribbon Week offers a great chance to educate students about the advantages of establishing lifelong healthy habits holistically.

From those first celebrations, the red ribbon has been used as a symbol of opposition to drugs. This special week also includes Halloween so many schools include dress-up days or other fun activities in their celebrations.

RED RIBBON WEEK ACTIVITIES AND IDEAS

Red Ribbon Week can be overlooked as just another task to cross off the list, but there are several quick ways to incorporate drug awareness activities into your lesson plans without spending a lot of time on preparation.

1. Discuss About Healthy Habits

Talk to your students about what habits are to kickoff your Red Ribbon Week wellness discussions. It's still important to take time to remind your young students about common but positive habits such as drinking more water and brushing our teeth after meals.

You can also discuss moral practices that make us into better individuals like telling the truth, saying please and thank you, and showing respect for others by greeting them.

2. Create a Red Ribbon Week Pledge

Let your students pledge to stay drug-free! You can print the pledge and discuss it with your students. They can write a big capital NO on a paper and decorate and color it themselves or they can even wear a red ribbon to show their commitment.

Besides that, they can promise to be kind to their friends, show others they care, or refrain from hurting people's feelings.

3. Take The Red Ribbon Week Photo Challenge

Here is a fantastic Red Ribbon Week initiative to raise awareness in your school. Take a picture of the entire school or class while all the students are wearing red.

You can make various designs and messages, such as a ribbon or the word "drug-free", or you can think of your own original idea.

4. Paint Rocks With Red Ribbon Week Messages

Spread your drug-free message in the community with painted rocks! Each student can decorate their own, then leave them around town for others to find.

Examples of messages could be: "My future matters, I'm drug-free", "I like hugs, not drugs", "Refusing is a better choice", "Be smart, don't start", and so many more relevant statements.

5. Educate with Red Ribbon Week Worksheets

Grab this Red Ribbon Week Crafts Worksheets Booklets | Drug Awareness K-2nd Grade resource if you're looking for kid-friendly activities for Red Ribbon Week this October.

These differentiated crafts, worksheets, and Red Ribbon booklets are perfect for school counselors and teachers looking for clear and simple, low-prep drug awareness activities for Red Ribbon Week in 2022.

Using this teaching lesson and activities, students in kindergarten up to second grade, and special education will learn to avoid drugs, how to simply say "no" to drugs, and know age-appropriate information about Red Ribbon Week.

These straightforward and user-friendly writing and coloring worksheets, as well as the monster craft activity, will be thoroughly enjoyed by both you and your students.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. While Red Ribbon Week is dedicated to promoting one aspect of a healthy lifestyle, there are many other positive habits that students need to start developing from a young age aside from being drug-free.

Teaching young students to actively form healthy habits will give them the tools they need to build solid foundations for a successful life, whether it's eating well, exercising, or saying no to drugs and alcohol.

Discussing Red Ribbon Week doesn't have to be tricky at all! As a teacher myself, I know how challenging it can be. Hopefully, these methods will make it simpler for you to approach this subject with clarity.

May you have a PIGARIFFIC time and I do hope you make your Red Ribbon Week extremely fun and educational for your students! Until the next blog, take care and stay safe.