Helping Kids Manage Anxious Thoughts

Helping kids deal with anxious thoughts is very important. One way to do this is by using their senses. We ask them to name five things they see, four things they hear, three things they smell, two things they feel, and one thing they taste. This helps them calm down and focus. For boys, we have a special 'calm down corner' in the house where they can go to release their energy. This space is filled with oversized pillows that they can scream into or punch without hurting anyone. We teach them that it's okay to express their emotions in a safe way, but not at someone else. This helps them manage their anger and find better ways to deal with it.