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Challenging Minds
Creating Opportunities
Leading Change
COPING SKILLS
Coping skills are the strategies and interventions students can use during stressful moments to help manage BIG emotions during school. These can help with emotions such as: stress, anger, anxiety, frustration, boredom, and misbehavior.
Coping skills can help students adjust to stressful events, while also helping them maintain their emotional well-being. Taking short breaks and having positive distractions can be good for all of us when we need to reset.
5 MINUTE CALMING ACTIVITIES TO TRY
If you haven’t tried a coping skill, the following ideas may help you feel better! Pick one skill that you want to use to calm down and manage your feelings. Try a few until you find one or two that work well for you.
Take 5 Slow Deep Breaths: Repeat
Count to 25, 50 or 100
Get a Hug
Swirl and Watch a Glitter Jar
Watch a Short Funny Video
Visualize a Pretty Place
Color Pictures
Sing the Alphabet
Draw a Picture
Do Jumping Jacks
Go for a Short Walk
Tell Someone How You Feel
Write in Your Journal
Create Music or Sing a Song
Play with Your Pet
Write 3 Things you LOVE about You
Read a Favorite Book
Eat a Favorite Snack
Write a Poem
Stretch Your Arms and Legs
Squish a Stress Ball
Wrap Yourself in a Blanket and Rest
Watch a Virtual Field Trip
Listen to Calming Sounds
Play a Fun Game
Give Yourself a High Five in the Mirror
Dream About Your Future Career
Write About How You Feel
List 5 Things You’re Grateful For
Do Finger Tracing Breaths
Play Catch and Throw a Ball
Shoot Basketball Hoops
Blow Bubbles
Skip Around
Jump Rope
Call a Friend
Ride a Scooter
Put on Fuzzy Socks
Pop Bubble Wrap
Blow a Pinwheel
Count Backward from 100
Toss Pebbles in a Pond
Bounce a Balloon
Think of Something Happy
Do Cartwheels
Chew Gum
Balance on One Leg
Smell an Orange
Do a Puzzle
Do Yoga Exercises
Finger Paint
Blow a Feather
Weave or Knit Thread
Notice Your Breathing
Write a Thank You Note
Do Sit-ups
Make Hot Chocolate or Herbal Tea
Plant a Flower
Hug a Pillow
Get Sleep