Working through anxiety entails becoming more aware of one's feelings, building strength, and finding smart ways to handle life's challenges. This includes figuring out how to deal with worrisome thoughts, recognizing their symptoms, and finding strategies to cope in situations that make them anxious. For kids, this means learning skills to deal with worries and fears in a way that helps them feel stronger and more in control of their emotions.
The Working Through Anxiety worksheet is a helpful tool that allows kids to think about a situation that causes anxiety and the emotions associated with it. It prompts them to explore healthy ways to handle anxiety by guiding them through questions designed to uncover their thoughts, emotions, and coping strategies.
Kids can avoid ignoring or bottling up their feelings and thoughts using this handout and learn how to communicate their needs with trusted adults around them. This tool can also inspire them to create a diary where they express their thoughts and feelings each day.
Parents can also create a simple outline drawing of a human figure and let their kids paint different parts of the body to articulate their feelings during anxious moments. They can make it a regular activity and review the drawings to compare and track how often their kids feel anxious.
*This item is an instant digital download. A link to download your files will be emailed to you once payment is confirmed.
Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of anxiety worksheets and handouts.
References:
- Bhatia, M., & Goyal, A. (2018). Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: Need for early detection. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, 64(2), 75. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpgm.jpgm_65_18
- Headley, C., & Campbell, M. (2013). Teachers’ knowledge of anxiety and identification of excessive anxiety in children. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 38(5). https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2013v38n5.2
- Khlyavich Freidl, E., Stroeh, O. M., Elkins, R. M., Steinberg, E., Albano, A. M., & Rynn, M. (2017). Assessment and treatment of anxiety among children and adolescents. Focus: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, Online First. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20160047
