Coping Skills
Las habildades de manejar las emociones
Embedded Files
Categories
Coping Skills
Strategies for Parents
Talking with Your Children
Talking openly about social and emotional issues is important. Click on the link below for suggestions about what you can say, and when to say it:
How to Talk With Your Child About Social and Emotional Issues
Click on the links below for suggestions by category:
Social Story
Click on the image for a social story that can help young children learn how to calm down by tucking into their shell and taking deep breaths. The story also includes visuals to help children learn to use the strategy.
Click here for a school version of the social story:
Tucker the Turtle Takes Time to Tuck and Think (School Version)
Video Guides for Kids
Fight Flight Freeze
This video teaches kids how anxiety is a normal biological response – called “Fight, Flight, Freeze” – that can get triggered inappropriately in the modern world.
Anxiety Explained
Anxiety is a BIG feeling with so many others wrapped up inside! This video is intended to help normalize anxiety and explain where it comes from!
Why We Lose Control of our Emotions
This video can help elementary-aged children gain an understanding of the way their brains work to recognize and manage their emotions.
When I Feel Overwhelmed
This video is to help kids understand that their feelings are valid and they are not alone. It also gives some steps they can do to feel more in control of their bodies again.
Read-Alouds/Books
Frustration/Anger
You Get What You Get
by Julie Gassman (Author) and Sara Horne (Illustrator)
Melvin must learn how to deal with disappointment and to follow the rule, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." When reading this book, try asking your child how big each problem is and if they can think of any other solutions.
Zach Gets Frustrated
by William Mulcahy (Author) and Darren McKee (Illustrator)
Zach's dad teaches him a simple, three-step approach to get a handle on frustration and find a way to enjoy himself even when things aren’t going his way. The three-point strategy is presented as the three corners of a triangle and is illustrated as the corners of Zach’s kite.
Don't Blow Your Top
by Ame Dyckman (Author) and Abhi Alwar (Illustrator)
Everything is beautiful and calm until an out-of-control bird drops a coconut on Little Volcano. Read along as Little Volcano learns to breathe, count, and think happy thoughts to calm down.
Fergal is Fuming
by Robert Starling
A dragon with a short temper is not a good combination, as Fergal's family and friends soon find out. He burns the dinner (literally), reduces the football goal to ashes and absolutely cannot play a nice, quiet board game. It is only when he starts to notice other animals have clever tricks to calm down that Fergal begins to win back his friends, especially when he discovers dragons can cool off in a very handy way.
I'm Feeling Mad
by Natalie Shaw (Author) and Jason Fruchter (Illustrator)
When Daniel Tiger feels MAD, he stomps his feet and roars. Then he remembers to take a deep breath and count to four. Soon he feels better.
Click the link below to watch a video of the When You Feel So Mad song:
Angry Ninja
by Mary Nhin (Author) and Jelena Stupar (Illustrator)
In this story, which is part of the Ninja Life Hacks series, we learn that Angry Ninja is like a ticking time bomb, exploding when he gets upset. Find out how everything changes when a buddy shares a simple strategy used to manage BIG emotions.
Anxiety/Worry
Wilma Jean the Worry Machine
by Julia Cook (Author) and Anita Dufalla (Illustrator)
Wilma Jean's teacher helps her figure out what worries she can control and those that she can't and what to do about both types of worries.
In the book above, Wilma Jean makes a "worry hat" to hold her worries for her. Click on the link below for suggestions on making a similar item called a "worry monster":
Anxious Ninja
by Mary Nhin (Author) and Jelena Stupar (Illustrator)
In this story, which is part of the Ninja Life Hacks series, Anxious Ninja experiences difficult emotions until a friend shares some tips on how to handle anxiety.
Making Mistakes/Growth Mindset
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
by Mark Pett (Author & Illustrator) and Gary Rubinstein (Author)
Beatrice Bottomwell has NEVER (not once!) made a mistake. She never forgets her math homework, she never wears mismatched socks, and she ALWAYS wins the yearly talent show at school. In fact, the entire town calls her The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes! One day, the inevitable happens: Beatrice makes a huge mistake in front of everyone! But in the end, readers (and perfectionists) will realize that life is more fun when you enjoy everything—even the mistakes.
The Most Magnificent Thing
by Ashley Spires (Author and Illustrator)
The girl has a wonderful idea. “She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!” But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right.
Beautiful Oops
by Barney Saltzberg (Author and Illustrator)
This interactive book demonstrates how every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. Unique in every respect, this book is full of pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, tears, holes, overlays, bends, smudges, and more, each demonstrating how blunders can become wonders. Celebrate all life's Beautiful Oops! and teach kids that it's perfectly fine, and sometimes fortuitous, to make a mistake.
Coping Skill Checklists
Click on this visual for a Mental Health Check-Up and Toolkit:
Instructions:
Pause and take a moment to check up on yourself. Try taking a deep breath. How do you feel? Can you identify a problem? Until we know what is bothering us, it’s hard to know how to manage it.
Consider the four tools (Distraction Tool, Action Tool, Thinking Tool, Relaxation Tool), starting with the Distraction Tool. Take some time to learn how each one works.
Which tool do you think will help you feel better right now? (On a different day, it might be a different tool.)
Now, pick one and give it a try! If it helps you, great! If you need more help, try changing categories or adding a category, such as listening to music while taking a walk. If that doesn't help, ask a parent or other trusted adult for help!
Coping Styles
Click on the image above to learn about five different types of coping styles: relaxation, distraction, sensory, movement, and processing.
Visual Checklist
Click on the image above for a simplified, visual coping skills checklist.
Calm Down Strategies
Click on the image above to view 12 calm down strategies for children.
Physical Strategies
Physical strategies, such as taking deep breaths, movement breaks, and using calming manipulatives (like stress balls, Silly Putty, Play Doh, Kinetic Sand, Rubix Cubes), can help children calm down and relax.
Sensory Items
Calm Down Basket
It may be helpful to create a basket with calming items that your child can use when they are upset. Click on the link below for some ideas about what to include in a calm down kit:
17 Great Ideas for Your Classroom Calm Down Kit
Click on the links below to learn more about creating a calm down area/basket:
What is a Calm-Down Corner? (WebMD)
Using a Calm Down Area at Home (NCPMI)
DIY Sensory Bottles
Watch the video above to learn how to make three different types of sensory bottles: glitter, water & oil, and nature.
I Spy Sensory Bottles
Watch the video above to learn how to make an I Spy Sensory bottle!
Breathing Exercises
Deep Breathing
Click on the image above for a simple social story about taking deep breaths (smell the flowers, blow out the candles, shoulders up, shoulders down).
Breathing Exercises
The Breathe With Us packet contains 14 fun exercises for kids presented by the GoZen! Prisma Pals. These super cute characters walk kids through a variety of breathing and stretching exercises.
Rainbow Breath Singalong
The rainbow breath is a breathing technique that can be used to re-center your focus and bring down high energy levels. It pairs deep breathing and guided visualization together - by the time you get to purple, you'll hopefully be feeling calmer and more focused!
Rainbow Meditation
Rainbow Meditation combines color exploration, guided visualization, and deep breathing together. Click on the link below for a Rainbow Meditation script for kids and a supplemental Breathing Rainbow visual/activity:
Breathing Ball
The video above shows kids how to use a Hoberman Sphere, or Breathing Ball, to take mindful deep breaths. Breathe in and expand the sphere, then breathe out and push the sphere back in (this mirrors what should be happening to their belly).
Click on the link below for some tips on using this coping tool:
Deep Breathing with Shapes
The video above shows kids how to take deep breaths by using visuals. Follow along with the video to learn several different types of deep breaths.
Click on the link below for more deep breathing activities for kids:
Movement Activities
Movement Breaks
Click on the link below for 25 movement break ideas at home:
Song and Dance Dice
Get moving and grooving to the beat of the music with these interactive Song & Dance Dice.
Click on the link below for another activity to get kids snapping, tapping, clapping, and stomping to the beat!
Silly to Calm
Move, dance, sing, and relax with this video. Enjoy a dancing and kids yoga break break. Go from silly to calm in 3 minutes!
Cognitive Strategies
Positive Self-Talk
This video is about learning to use positive self-talk instead of negative self-talk when faced with a challenge.
Thought-Feeling-Behavior Triangle
This video explains how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are related and teaches children how reframing their thoughts can help make things better.
Click on the links below for worksheets from Jill Kuzma's SLP Site that can help children better understand the thought-feeling-behavior triangle and practice reframing their thoughts:
Anxiety Relief Journal
Click on the link below for a free printable Anxiety Relief Journal from GoZen! This journal is designed to give children and adults a new perspective on their anxiety, and give them some tools to help transform it into something that works for them, not against them.
The Anxiety Relief Journal (GoZen!)
The S.U.R.F. Technique
Click on the link below for a free printable visual and worksheet using the S.U.R.F. Technique from GoZen!: Spot what is triggering the negative feeling; Understand where the feeling sits in your body and what it is trying to communicate; Ride the wave of feelings and thoughts by using a coping strategy; after the feelings Fall, reflect on what you learned.
Manejar las emociones
Estrategias para los padres
Hablar con sus hijos
Es importante hablar abiertamente sobre las dificultades sociales y emocionales. Haga clic en el siguiente enlace para obtener sugerencias sobre lo qué puede decir, y cuándo decirlo:
Cómo hablar con su hijo sobre problemas sociales y emocionales
Haga clic en los enlaces más abajo para obtener sugerencias por categoría:
Historia Social
Haga clic en la imagen para ver una historia social que puede ayudar a los niños pequeños a aprender a calmarse mediante el uso de la “Técnica de la tortuga”. La historia social incluye imágenes para ayudar a los niños a aprender a usar la estrategia.
Haga clic aquí para una versión escolar de la historia social:
La tortuga Tucker toma tiempo para detenerse y pensar (Versión escolar)
Lista de estrategias calmantes
Estrategias calmantes
Haga clic en la imagen para ver 12 estrategias calmantes para niños.
Estrategias físicas
Estrategias físicas, tales como respirar profundamente, descansos para moverse, y el uso de artículos calmantes, pueden ayudar a los niños a calmarse y relajarse.
Artículos sensoriales
Usar un área calmante
Haga clic en el siguiente enlace para obtener más información sobre cómo crear un área calmante/una canasta con artículos calmantes:
Usar un área calmante en casa (NCPMI)
Actividades de movimiento
Descansos para moverse
Haga clic en el siguiente enlace para ver 25 formas de ponerte en moviemento en casa:
Dado de Canciones y Movimiento
Muévanse y bailen al ritmo de estos dados interactivos de canciones y movimientos.
Haga clic en el siguiente enlace para ver otra actividad que hará que los niños desarrollen el sentido del ritmo creando música con su cuerpo:
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