This is a guest post from our partners at Better Kids.
As adults, we know that life can be overwhelming, a feeling often associated with anxiety, fear and even anger. The same can be true for kids who are navigating how to recognize their emotions, and—with the help of parents and educators—learning how to manage those emotions healthily. Luckily, there are tools we can use to help us feel better when we are feeling overwhelmed.
Read on to discover Better Kids’ coping strategies to help kids feel calm.
Create a space for big feelings.
If a child’s feelings lead to a challenging emotion, they might need time and space before talking it out with an adult. A common desire for parents and educators is to address the situation right away, when kids are in the middle of an emotional moment. You can prepare for these moments together by strategizing a safe and comfortable cool down spot. Not only can this be a fun activity, it also empowers your child to have agency in managing their own emotions! Together, choose a soft rug or bean bag chair, quiet toys, and add a few of their favorite books and stuffed animals. Kids can also use this space to try Wisdom’s coping skill of the Day.
Practice mindfulness.
Finding a mindful moment every day can be as simple as slowing down, stopping in the busyness of the day even though everything and everyone around you is still moving, and taking a deep breath. Children can benefit from these small moments as they will instill the value of feeling present and grounded in each moment. Check out fun activities in the Better Kids app, Wisdom: The World of Emotions (iOS, Android, Web) to help kids discover mindfulness through breathing exercises, meditations and more:
- With Augmented Reality games such as Breathing with Wisdom, kids can visualize their exhale and inhale as they are guided through different breathing techniques.
- Take 3 minutes to listen to a guided meditation, such as Breathing Like an Ocean.
- Embed short practice activities throughout your day, such as Mindful Listening, Thought Clouds, or I Know I Can.
Ask for help.
Sometimes when we are feeling overwhelmed, our internal “alarm system” alerts us that there might be danger. Children especially may still need help understanding their internal “alarm system” to identify whether there is real danger or not. Encourage them if they are ever feeling scared or anxious to ask for help. Better Kids printables like How to Ask for Help and Support Systems help kids identify their support system for when they are feeling overwhelmed and need help.
Use positive affirmations.
When we are feeling overwhelmed, we can try saying out loud positive affirmations such as “I am loved” to assure ourselves, or when we are feeling anxious we could say “I have a smile that makes others smile.” The Better Kids I Have, I Am, I Can printable helps kids brainstorm these affirmations to remind them of their gifts and strengths. Once they’ve completed it, you can hang it up in the classroom or next to their bed as a reminder of the treasures within themselves.
Coping strategies to explore on Epic!
Now that we’ve gone over coping strategies that kids can use at home and at school, it’s time to dive into some favorites. These books are a great place to start.
We hope these tips and ideas help you and your kids or students manage big feelings in a constructive way!
More About the Author
Since 2016, Better Kids helps parents and educators support their children’s social emotional growth through play. Our evidence-based social emotional learning app, Wisdom: The World of Emotions (iOS, Android, Web), includes interactive digital games and hands-on activities for children ages 4 to 8, a collection of tips and practice activities for parents, and hundreds of ready-to-use teaching resources for educators, including a free SEL read-aloud program.
