Learning how to manage stress and deal with life’s ups and downs is a process that continues throughout our entire lives. You can find a number of tips on the following strategies on this website:
https://www.strong4life.com/en/emotional-wellness/coping/healthy-coping-strategies-for-kids.
In general, this website lists the following strategies:
- Active coping strategies:
- Go for a walk, run or hike.
- Do some yoga or stretching.
- Do jumping jacks.
- Run in place.
- Put on some music and dance.
- Bounce or kick a ball.
- Jump rope or hula hoop.
- Squeeze a stress ball.
- Go for a bike ride.
- Play a family game of tag or basketball.
- Relaxing coping strategies:
- Listen to calming music.
- Take some deep breaths.
- Practice a guided imagery exercise and think of a calm, happy place.
- Tense and relax your muscles.
- Take a quiet break or rest.
- Have a drink of cold water.
- Close your eyes, and count to 10 or backward from 100.
- Read a book or magazine.
- Take a bath or shower.
- Blow bubbles.
- Hug a stuffed animal.
- Spend time outside. Sit and look at the clouds, or close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you.
- Creative coping strategies:
- Color, draw or paint.
- Write a poem.
- Make up a song.
- Play an instrument.
- Journal about your thoughts or feelings.
- Play with Play-Doh.
- Build with Legos or blocks.
- Play with different textures, such as dry rice or shaving cream.
- Make up a new game.
- Social coping strategies:
- Play a game with the family.
- Call a friend.
- Cuddle or play with your pet.
- Read a book together.
- Facetime with relatives.
- Share your feelings with someone you trust.
- Coping strategies that shift your mindset:
- Think of something positive.
- Focus on one thing you are grateful for.
- Close your eyes, and think about something you are looking forward to.
- Look at pictures, or think about a happy memory.
- Focus your energy on the present moment by practicing a grounding exercise.
- Think about something that makes you laugh.
- Create a time capsule with your favorite artwork, homework, report cards and pictures from the past year.
- Practice reframes.
- Focus on what you can control.
FOR MORE INFO LOOK UP:
https://www.strong4life.com/en/emotional-wellness/coping/healthy-coping-strategies-for-kids