Coping Skills
A student with poor coping skills may...
- become emotional quickly, either towards anger or sadness
- struggle with receiving compliments or criticism
- yell
- shut down/withdrawal
- be easily frustrated
- tattle on or blame others
- have frequent melt-downs
- struggle to express their feelings clearly
- pace or fidget (excess body movement)
- be distracted/unfocused
When supporting a student who has poor coping skills, some general strategies involve
- Give words to feelings and teach multiple words/levels of feelings (shades of meaning).
- Use visual schedules.
- Monitor stimulation levels in the environment, including sensory input and pacing.
- Assign a buddy or partner to model
- Be reassuring
- Preview expectations and upcoming events
- Model coping--vocalize your own inner voice for coping skills
Interventions may include
- Teach body awareness for individual students to increase awareness of their own personal triggers.
- Pair positive/calm language with schedule aspects
- Focus on the student in the moment
- Provide stress balls or fidget
- Provide breaks
- Allow a student to listen to music
- Intervene early to disrupt overwhelm
- Teach how to cope in situations--when things are frustrating, boring moments, etc.
- Use Zones of Regulation
- Provide choice of time of day to complete an activity or task (when more regulated)
- Use a timer
Literature Links
Cool Cats, Calm Kids by Mary Williams
How Are You Peeling? Foods with Moods by Freeman and Eiffers
Grin and Bear It by Leo Landry
What Does It Mean To Be Present by Rana DiOrio
The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood
The Loud Book by Deborah Underwood
Charlotte and the Quiet Place by Deborah Sosin
The Grouchies by Debbie Wagenback
Teacher Reading
Coping Skills for Kids Workbook by Janine Halloran
Coping for Capable Kids by Leonora Cohen