Being a kid is stressful! Even if kids’ problems seem small to us, they can cause a great deal of worry and anxiety. Fortunately, many of the same coping skills used by adults are great for kids too.
Our Worry Coping Skills for Kids worksheet uses illustrations from The Nervous Mouse to teach four relaxation skills. In this story, Mouse describes their worries, triggers, and how they use relaxation skills to help.
The coping skills include:
- Talking about your problems
- Taking a deep breath
- Doing something fun
- Trusting that you’ll be okay (changing your mindset)
The Nervous Mouse provides a fun way to normalize your young clients' experience of anxiety and helps them learn to cope with their emotions. This handout can then be shared as a take-home reminder of what they've learned.
Discuss and practice the coping skills in session, especially deep breathing. Encourage clients and parents to practice a little at home each day.
