Coping Skills for Children and Teens: Building Resilience from ages 6 to 18

Coping skills are the tools children and teens can use to handle stress, big emotions, and life stressors. Just like learning math or reading, coping strategies must be taught and practiced. Listed below are ideas of coping skills for ages 6-18! Any of these can be used to teach slowing down, processing, releasing and centering their self.

Ages 6-10

• Breathing Exercises (Teach belly breathing or smell the flower/blow out the candle to help calm anxiety and refocus)

• Movement (running, jumping, dancing is a way to express themselves through movement)

• Creativity (painting, drawing, coloring can encourage self-expression on the page)

• Calm Spaces (Make designated area to calm down. Use sensory toys, provide coloring pages,books or stuffed animals when your little one looks overwhelmed)

Ages 11-18

• Journaling (can help sort through complex emotions/thoughts)

• Support systems (Give your child a timeframe for openness and encourage judge-free sharing)

• Physical activity (running, walking and working out are all great ways to increase dopamine and are a stress relief)

• Positive Hobbies (Crocheting, Music, Bowling, Reading, Cooking, seeing a new movie or learning something new are great examples.)