Coping skills activities for kids can help them find healthy ways to deal with anger, worry, stress, disappointment, and other intense emotions.
Coping isn't about making difficult feelings disappear. It's about finding healthy ways to work through them. Children can try activities like drawing, reading, and playing games when they're calm, so they have familiar ways to cope when things get stressful.
Sometimes, children have feelings they can’t quite put into words. Drawing gives them another way to express what’s going on. A child who’s upset after an argument with a friend might draw what happened or use colors to show how they feel.
Drawing can also help when a child needs a break before talking about an upsetting experience. Instead of reacting immediately, they can spend some time with paper and crayons, then revisit the situation when they're ready.
For younger children, the Alphabet Coloring Book provides letters and pictures they can color during quiet time. Parents can offer it when a child needs a break from a stressful situation or isn't ready to talk about what's bothering them.
Writing about a difficult experience can help children sort through their thoughts. This is especially useful for kids who find it easier to write about their feelings than discuss them face-to-face.
For example, a child worried about a school presentation might write down everything they’re afraid could go wrong. They might realize they’re mostly worried about forgetting their lines or being laughed at. From there, they can think about what might help, such as practicing beforehand or asking a teacher for reassurance.
Journaling doesn't mean every entry has to end on a positive note. Children should be allowed to express sadness, anger, and frustration, even when they haven't figured out how to handle those feelings yet.
The Self-Esteem Journal includes prompts about things children like about themselves, challenges they've overcome, and their accomplishments. Parents can use these prompts to help children reflect on their strengths, especially when they're feeling discouraged or doubting themselves.
Books can introduce children to emotions and situations they haven’t experienced themselves. A character who gets left out, struggles to make friends, or feels scared about trying something new might remind a child of their own experiences.
After reading, ask questions like, “Why do you think the character felt that way?” These types of questions can help children understand emotions and consider different responses to difficult situations.
Reading can also become part of a child’s bedtime routine. A familiar story gives them something predictable to look forward to after a busy day. If a child is dealing with a particular fear or challenge, a related story can open the door to a conversation about what's bothering them.
Children can turn to music when they're feeling sad, frustrated, or overwhelmed. Playing a familiar song gives them something enjoyable to focus on while taking a break from stressful thoughts. They might also find it easier to express certain feelings through music.
Learning an instrument comes with its own frustrations. A child might struggle with a difficult section or keep hitting the wrong notes. Parents can encourage them to slow down, work on a smaller part, or take a break before trying again. These experiences let children practice working through frustration without expecting themselves to get everything right immediately.
Kids can get caught up in worries about school, friendships, or things that didn't go as planned. Mindfulness can help children become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and reactions.
Children can practice mindfulness in several ways. They might notice the sounds around them, pay attention to the sensation of their feet touching the ground, or observe their thoughts and feelings without immediately reacting to them.
A child who's upset after an argument might notice that their face feels hot or their hands are tense. Recognizing these physical signs can help them become more aware of their emotions before deciding how to respond.
The Mindfulness handout includes exercises such as the 5-4-3-2-1 technique and mindful breathing. Parents can use it to guide children through these practices when they're feeling overwhelmed or need help focusing on the present moment.
Research also suggests that structured mindfulness programs may support children's emotional regulation. A 2024 meta-analysis of 32 studies involving children ages 6–12 found small benefits in emotional and behavioral regulation, among other outcomes [*]. Although these programs involve more than occasional mindfulness exercises, the findings support further exploration of mindfulness as a way to help children develop these skills.
Arts and crafts can give children something to focus on when they're feeling upset, worried, or overwhelmed. Painting, making collages, or working with clay can shift their attention to a hands-on activity while they take a break from what's bothering them.
A child who's angry might enjoy squeezing and shaping modeling clay, while a child who feels sad could create a picture that reflects their mood.
If a project doesn't turn out as expected, parents can acknowledge the frustration and let their child decide whether to try again or take a break. This also gives children a chance to practice recognizing when they need space from something that's upsetting them.
Playing a board game, card game, or active game can give children something enjoyable to focus on when they're feeling stressed, frustrated, or upset.
Games can also bring up emotions of their own. A child who feels disappointed after losing might need a moment to calm down before playing another round.
Parents can help children see that losing is part of playing, even when it's disappointing. A child can take a few breaths, congratulate the winner when they're ready, or step away for a break before deciding whether to play again.
Let your child choose a game they enjoy. The idea is to help them find enjoyment and relief through play, while showing them that it's okay to pause when strong feelings become too much.
After making a mistake, children can be quick to judge themselves. Parents can help them find a more balanced response. Instead of “I'm stupid,” a child might say, “I got that question wrong, but I can learn from it.” Instead of “I can't do this,” they could try, “I'm still learning, and I can ask for help.”
Positive self-talk isn't about pretending everything is fine. It's about helping children separate a difficult experience from how they see themselves.
The Positive Self-Talk worksheet includes examples children can practice when they're feeling discouraged, such as “I believe in myself” and “Mistakes help me get stronger.” Parents can discuss these statements with their children and help them choose encouraging words to remember when they start doubting themselves.
After a frustrating day at school or an argument with a sibling, some children need a change of scenery before they're ready to talk. A walk around the neighborhood, time at the park, or even a few minutes in the backyard can help them step away from the situation.
Spending time outdoors may also support children's emotional health. A systematic review of 19 studies examining school-based nature activities, including outdoor learning and nature walks, found some evidence of improvements in positive emotions, physical activity, and social interactions among children and adolescents [*].
Children don’t have to do anything complicated to enjoy time outside. They can watch birds, look for interesting leaves, or lie on the grass and look at the clouds. The Managing Stress by Spending Time in Nature handout offers more ideas for outdoor activities that families can try together.
Building with LEGO or blocks can help children focus on something enjoyable when they're feeling upset or overwhelmed. They can follow a design or create something from scratch.
When building with blocks, a tower might collapse, or a structure might not look the way a child imagined. If they become upset, parents can acknowledge their frustration and let them decide whether to rebuild, try another design, or put the pieces aside for a while.
Learning to take a break rather than reacting in anger is a coping skill they can use in other frustrating situations, too.
Watering plants, digging in the soil, and checking for new leaves give children something hands-on to focus on while taking a break from what's bothering them.
Gardening also gives children something constructive to do when the outcome isn’t what they hoped for. They can keep caring for other plants, learn what might have gone wrong, and try again. This helps them practice accepting disappointment while focusing on what they can control.
A handout can offer more ideas for making gardening an enjoyable part of a child’s routine, such as choosing plants or trying garden activities together. Parents can use these suggestions to help children spend time outdoors and take a break from daily stress.
Children won’t always know how to respond when difficult emotions arise, and they may still need help managing them.
Pay attention to what your child finds helpful. Drawing might help them express anger, while another child might prefer reading quietly or going outside after a stressful day.
Encourage children to try different activities. The aim is to help them recognize their feelings and discover healthy ways to respond, with your support when they need it.
Explore the Coping Skills Handouts Bundle (44 Pages), which includes printable resources on mindfulness, positive self-talk, relaxation, emotional regulation, and other coping strategies.
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