Stress+Toy+Collection

I have been collecting quite a few squishy toys that the layman might refer to as a stress toy. I guess that means it gives you something to play with while you worry or something to keep your hands busy while you are bored out of your gourd. I like to use them as inspiration to think outside the proverbial box. Here is the beginnings of a list, that I didn't come up with on my own, most of the information came with the toy. Lets add to it if possible OK? I will accompany the words with pics as I get to it.


 * Heart- ** Name something you felt, or a feeling you experienced.

 **Brain-** Tell the group something that you learned.

 **Stomach-** What took guts for you to do, or pushed you outside of your comfort zone.

 **Hand-** How the group supported you, or someone you would like to give a hand to.

 **Ear-** Describe something you heard, or something that was hard to hear.

 **Eye-** A vision you had for the group, or something you saw.

 **Smiley Face-** Tell the group something that made you smile, or name some positive attributes of yourself or the group.


 * Spine: ** What do you consider the backbone of your family/business is?

 **Foot:** Did you stick your foot in your mouth and say something you wish you hadn't? or What direction would you like to see the group go?

 **Bone:** What strengths do you have? or Have you ever felt broken?

 **Nose:** Have you ever stuck your nose in somebody else's business? Did you think that performance stunk?

 **Lips:** What did you say that made an impact on the group?

 **Liver:** Where did things break down?

 **Lungs:** Could be used to talk about breathing, screaming, taking deep breaths, etc.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">-Turtle **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> (withdraw)–Withdraws from the conflict (hides until it is safe to emerge)

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Shark** (force)—Forces and tries to make opponents accept his/her

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Bear** (smooth)—Avoids the conflict when possible

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Fox** (compromise)—Sly, sneaky, tricky and is able to persuades others to give up part of their most important and valued positions

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Owl** (problem solver)—Known throughout children’s books as the wise old owl…the owl views conflicts as problems to be solved, confronts, seeking solutions that will satisfy both parties

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Parrot**—Repeats everything that is heard. Often annoying and loud.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Rabbit**—Runs and hides from any kind of conflict.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Mule**—Very stubborn. Will not move forward unless given something positive in return.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Camel**—carries others’ burdens without taking care of their own needs first

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Bull**—hits the issue head-on when provoked. Certain triggers ignite anger.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Lion**—Very proud, works within a group, is King of the jungle. Another metaphor to work with is the “cowardly lion”, those that tuck their tail and run when faced with conflict.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Mouse**—Very timid, runs from conflict.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Panther**—Slinks around in the background, stalks his prey and pounces for the kill.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Cobra**—Deadly and dangerous when provoked. Can be charmed by some and submits to those in authoritative positions.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Chicken**—Everyone has heard the phrase, “You’re just being a Chicken!”, referring to someone who is shying away from a situation or opting out because they are scared. Chickens tend to flee from conflict and frighten easily.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Elephant**—The strongest animal on earth, has an amazing memory, yet when faced with small restrictions (a rope around their foot) it paralyzes them from moving forward.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **-Horse**—Can be tamed to do whatever their manager wants them to do. Very loyal when treated properly. When faced with conflict it rears back and attempts to protect itself.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Stoplight: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> What are you doing well? (green light) What do you need to be careful of? (yellow light) What do you need to stop doing? (red light)

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **Hard Hat:** What areas are you being hard headed in? What do you need to protect yourself from? Often times hard hats are worn in construction/dangerous areas. When do you put on your construction hat each day?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **School Bus:** What did you learn today? What does the school bus represent to you? For some it is a fun thing that takes us to sporting events where we can shine at our natural talents. For others it is an unsupervised cage where kids are mean to each other, or it takes kids to a place where bullying and conflict happen on a daily basis. What does the school bus mean to you?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **Traffic Cone:** What problems do we need to avoid? What do we need to be careful of?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **Police Car:** Who do we go to if we need help? Who protects us? Do we follow the rules all of the time or just when the 'rule enforcer' is nearby? What emotions do you feel when you see a police car?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **Tire:** What do we need to keep the wheels turning? How do we continue forward motion?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **Fire Extinquisher:** Where's the fire? What started it? What do we need to do to put out the fire? How do we prevent the fire from getting bigger?


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Egg: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> In 'hot water' situations are you like an Egg? Do you look the same on the inside but turn hard on the inside?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Carrot:** Or are you like a Carrot? Do you turn to mush and do whatever the 'hot water' wants you to do?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Coffee Bean:** Or are you like the Coffee Bean.....do you change the 'hot water' situation?

I<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**ce Cube:** Or are you the 'diffuser' of the group? Do you do everything you can to cool down the hot water situation?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> **Rock:** Or are you the rock. You sink to the bottom of the boiling water, the change happens around you and you refuse to budge.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Puzzle Piece: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> What is your piece of our team puzzle? What piece do you want to take away from today?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Light Bulb:** What new ideas do you have?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Question Mark:** What questions do you have for the group?

B<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**rick:** What is the foundation of this team?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Digital Camera:** If you would have had a camera today and taken a picture of a key learning moment, what would your picture be of?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Newspaper:** What do you want to tell others about this experience? What would your headline read about today's experience in tomorrow's newspaper?

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Bandage:** Do we need to tend to any wounds, physical or emotional? What part of our team needs the most attention right now? Where are we vulnerable? Are we 'covering' anything up?