Coping Skills For Kids - Managing Feelings & Emotions For Elementary-Middle School | Self-Regulation

Summary

This video teaches kids how to manage big emotions like anger, sadness, anxiety, and frustration through a 3-step process: 1) Identifying and understanding your feelings using tools like a Feelings Chart, 2) Thinking of coping skills, such as relaxation, distraction, movement, or positive thinking, and 3) Taking action by practicing these coping skills. The video emphasizes that all feelings are okay, and with practice, kids can learn to handle their emotions better. It encourages kids to be mindful of their emotions and provides practical steps to help them feel calm and in control.

Takeaways

• 😀 Identifying and managing big emotions involves 3 simple steps: 1) Notice and identify your feelings, 2) Think about coping skills, 3) Take action by practicing coping skills.
• 😀 Stressful situations, called 'triggers', can lead to big emotions like anger, sadness, anxiety, frustration, or embarrassment.
• 😀 Identifying emotions is the first step in managing them. This can be done by asking yourself 3 key questions: What am I thinking? What do I feel in my body? How do I act when I feel this way?
• 😀 Visual tools like a Feelings Chart, Wheel, or Thermometer can help you identify emotions when you're unsure about how you're feeling.
• 😀 Negative thoughts often lead to negative emotions. Noticing your thoughts can be an important first step to understanding your feelings.
• 😀 Physical sensations (e.g., heart racing, stomach butterflies) can be signals that your emotions are rising and need to be managed.
• 😀 Recognizing your actions (e.g., arguing, shutting down, avoiding tasks) can also signal that your emotions are escalating.
• 😀 Coping skills are divided into 4 categories: Relaxation Skills, Distraction Skills, Movement Skills, and Thinking Skills.
• 😀 Different emotions may require different coping skills. For example, you might need to calm down when you're angry and lift your mood when you're sad.
• 😀 Taking action and practicing coping skills is crucial. It can take courage, but with practice, managing emotions becomes easier.
• 😀 All feelings are okay! What matters is how you handle them. Practice helps you build the skills to manage your emotions effectively.

Q & A

What are some common big emotions that kids might experience?

Kids might experience emotions such as anger, sadness, anxiety, worry, frustration, or depression, often as a result of stressful situations or triggers.

What is the first step in managing big emotions?

The first step is to notice and identify the feelings you are experiencing. This can be done by stopping to think about how you feel or using tools like a Feelings Chart, Feelings Wheel, or Feelings Thermometer.

What are the three important questions to ask when identifying your emotions?

The three important questions to ask are: 1) What am I thinking? 2) What do I feel in my body? 3) How do I act when I feel this way?

How can negative thoughts affect emotions?

Negative thoughts often lead to negative emotions. For example, worrying about a test or feeling frustrated with chores can cause feelings of anxiety or anger.

What role do body sensations play in managing emotions?

Body sensations such as a racing heart, butterflies in the stomach, or a hot face can signal that your emotions are rising, making it easier to identify when it’s time to use a coping skill.

Why is it important to recognize how you act when feeling big emotions?

Recognizing your actions, such as arguing, shutting down, or avoiding tasks, helps you understand how your emotions affect your behavior, signaling the need to use a coping skill.

What are some categories of coping skills for managing emotions?

Coping skills can be categorized into four groups: 1) Relaxation Skills, 2) Distraction Skills, 3) Movement Skills, and 4) Thinking Skills.

How can a Feelings Thermometer help in choosing the right coping skill?

A Feelings Thermometer helps identify the intensity of your emotion, guiding you to choose the best coping skill for your situation, such as calming down when angry or lifting your mood when sad.

What should you do if one coping skill doesn’t work?

If one coping skill doesn’t work, try another one until you find the right combination that helps you feel better.

Why is it important to practice coping skills regularly?

Practicing coping skills regularly makes it easier to manage big emotions in the future. It’s like building an invisible tool belt of coping strategies, so you're always prepared for different situations.