Strategies and Activities | Emotional Literacy | Anxiety Support

Strategies & Activities

If you are worried about a child or pupil it can be helpful to make a safety plan together. Try and do this in a relaxed environment when the young person feels calm and allow them a 'third place' to go to during the process; items such as fidget toys, a doodle pad and pencil, a scented ribbon to smell and fiddle, a grounding stone, blue-tack, or a squishy can help.

Please find two separate versions of a safety plan below, these are free to download. Click on the image to view with the young person and then download the suitable plan and print and complete.

Exam Stress Tips for Young People

A PDF booklet with tips and advice for young people sitting, or preparing for, exams.

De-escalation Reminder Cards (1)

It can be hard, in the heat of the moment, to remember the things we know that help to de-escalate, rather than esclate, difficult situations. These cards can be printed and laminated to assist with training or screen shot them onto your phone as quick reminders at home.

Self esteem Journal

Encourage your child (and yourself!) to explore self-esteem together with this easy to follow weekly journal.

Daily Planner Cute Pastel Color (Instagram Post)

A beautifully designed daily planner for children and adults alike. Focus on goals for the day, things to do and remember as well as gentle reminders to move and hydrate.

Coping Strategy ideas with blank spaces for Child's own

There are so many coping strategies to help children (and us) feel grounded, relaxed, mindful and soothed. This download offers

Emotions colouring sheet

Colour and chat about the emotions on the sheet, is there a time that you have felt one of the emotions? Can you make the same expression?

A Grounding Senses Activity

A simple activity sheet to help connect a child to their senses, ideal too be used proactively or to be introduced to be used for a child recovering from big emotions.

My Coping Playlist

Download this lovely template for you and your family to fill in...music, use it to help you move through a mood or to spend time with a feeling.

Calming Strategy Cards

Ideas of activities to soothe and calm. TIP! Practice them proactively, don't wait for crisis.

Relaxation Kits

Create a relaxation kit for yourself and one for your child, do it together and set reminders to step away and relax. There is an accompanying video on our YouTube channel.

Self-esteem heart

Sometimes we can find it hard to be kind to ourselves and remember all of the things that make us ourselves! Explore this, draw pictures, doodle, draw or add stickers and photos. Have fun and remember how amazing you are!

Self-esteem Balloons - Sentence Starters

Boost your self-esteem with this sheet of balloons...answer the questions and decorate. Why not get both child and grown up to complete and fill on in for each other as well. Add it to the wall to remind yourself how amazing you are!

Self Esteem Activity Sheet

Put yourself in the centre with some keywords that you would use to describe yourself. Fill the shapes around the outside by thinking about how you identify and what's important to you. If you find this hard, don't worry - it can be difficult to be kind to ourselves, that's why practicing is so important!

Gardening Wordsearch

The repetitive, rhythmic scanning of a word search can help to calm our busy minds. They're Jennifer's favourite!

Colouring Sheet - Garden Themed

Colouring is a popular way to relax, this easy to colour sheet can help you to relax. Use whatever colours you feel drawn to, get creative and just do what feels right at the time. If you struggle with things being perfect, why not try going out of the lines a little. There can be beauty in the imperfect too!

Garden activity cards

From the flower ice garden, to making your own bird feeder, these activities can help to reconnect you back with nature and help you to let go of feelings of anxiety. Which is your favourite? We'd love to see your photos!

Picture garden scavenger hunt

ask someone to hide the pictures around the garden or house then take your tick list around with you to find them. Don't forget to answer the questions!

Would you Rather

Fun conversation starters to help maintain or build positive relationships in your family.

mental health for adults

Easy dinners for Stressful Weeks

When life is stressful it's helpful to see which areas we can make things a little easier for ourselves. Try and have a week of easy dinners, minimum cooking required.

Emotion Iceberg

Sometimes we aren't sure how we feel, using this version of our Emotion Iceberg can help you to work out what might be niggling at you. Please be kind to yourself and take some time to explore how you feel, there's always a way through.

Support Information

Life can feel hard at times, difficult to navigate. Please know how valued you are and that emotions and feelings always pass. Please take a look at where to get some support from people who care.