We’re constantly looking for coping skills for kids to reduce stress. We have three very different kids who handle stress in a variety of ways. That’s why we need unique ideas to help each kid learn to cope when things get difficult.
Our middle son is on the spectrum, his high functioning autism diagnosis came when he was 8 years old. Today? He’s a 13-year-old boy who’s gone well beyond what they tried to say he would all those years ago.
With that being said, there are some things that our son still struggles with. Whether your kid is on the spectrum or not, all kids experience stress from time to time.
That’s why I wanted to feature some coping skills for kids to reduce stress. Our son was upset the other day and said that he has no other way to “calm down” except watching YouTube videos, of course, he didn’t mention the sad part that our beloved dog used to calm him down too, RIP Jenny the pug.
With that being said, I have started to work with my son again to help him learn some coping skills for kids to reduce stress that doesn’t involve electronics.
Coping Skills for Kids to Reduce Stress
Open Communication
Our middle child isn’t very quick to express his feelings verbally. He is more apt to just blow up or have a meltdown over how he feels. This was far worse when he was younger.
Over the years I worked very hard at promoting self-advocacy. This is the ability of a child to speak up for themselves. I continue to work with my kids each time they seem stressed or overwhelmed. We have open communication and their feelings are always validating during the talk.
Help with Advice
It’s important that we work to lend advice for kids to reduce stress. While they will need trial and error to determine which coping skills work best for them, lending simple advice for each individual child will help.
I’ve tried to help my kids see that there are many other ways to cope with stress than diving into a YouTube video or a video game. This includes writing in a journal, talking to friends or family, and drawing.
My middle son says he can’t drive, but he actually is a pretty awesome artist. He used to use coloring pages as a coping mechanism to reduce kid’s stress. This was actually included in his 504 plan when he was in a traditional school.
Use a Book
Lastly, when I gave my son the tip to draw, he said he can’t draw without YouTube. He needed some sort of tutorial to help him draw. Well, I found a book that is really awesome to help kids learn how to draw. This book, “How to Draw Without Talent” is now located in our family dining room.
This is the area where we have the most shelving space for our homeschool books, supplies and options for the kids to entertain themselves. Such things found in this area include the book I just referenced, homeschool reading material, our pet hamster, and board games.
In conclusion, I firmly believe the key to helping kids with coping skills to reduce kids’ stress is all about providing a safe and inviting home environment. When kids are raised in a home environment that encourages healthy coping skills to reduce kids stress, they’re less apt to go down a darker path to find coping options.
All About How to Draw Without Talent
Written by Danny Gregory, co-founder of the popular online Sketchbook Skool, How to Draw Without Talent is available nationwide. This book has a suggested retail value of $24.99 and is such a fun read for kids and adults.
Danny didn’t learn how to draw until he was in his thirties. After a tragic family accident, Danny wanted some way to make sense of his life. That’s when he started drawing.
Drawing is a fabulous way to articulate what we have to say, without saying a word. I have a very artistic family, each of my three kids has a different level of artistic skill. This could be music, drawing, video creation and so on. each the trio possesses some pretty awesome talents.
With all that being said, How to Draw Without Talent was created as a tool to help kid and adults learn to draw. Danny believes that drawing is an excellent tool for meditation and learning to find that balance, or as I call it – inner zen.
Within this book, you’ll find exercises and lessons that will encourage you to learn how to draw anything your heart desires even if you have no talent.
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This is a pretty sensitive idea to uncover. I love discussing and learning more about this. It’s definitely going to help a lot of parents cope up.
Very useful tips. My daughter and son are pretty open and always express their feelings. I’ll bookmark this for future reference.
These are great reduce stress tips. Yes helping kids to reduce stress is important.
These are perfect ideas to reduce stress. I might save all of this and found really helpful.
Such an interesting idea. I know nowadays kids are in lots of pressure and stress I will use those with mine.
These are all good ideas for kids to deal with stress. I think drawing is always an excellent choice of a way to decompress and unwind!!
This is such a wonderful post. I know kids can deal with a lot of stress at times too. It’s nice to have certain things like this to help them. I think certain books are extremely helpful too.
Having open lines of communication sure makes a lot of sense but it is amazing how many times I see kids that feel like they have nobody to talk to. I love that you are sharing this!
Oh yes! There have been many kids that my oldest became friends with that when they came over, were shocked to see how open my kids and I are with communication. They often said they wish they had that same openness and support at home. I was shocked to hear that over and over again.
This is a really good advice! So helpful for both parents and kids.
This blog will be a great help for parents. It’s important to know these things so we could help our kids when they start feeling stress. Thanks for sharing.
It sounds like you found some great ways to help your son deal with stress! I hope one day (when the time is right) you can also get another dog, I know they always help me feel less stressed.
It is good for kids to have some coping skills. There are a lot of stressful things for kids to deal with, and they have to learn how to handle it for later in life too.
I will definitely need to take this advice when my son turns the age that he understands the feeling of stress.
These are great tips. Kids need to learn how to handle stress because they have many years ahead of managing stress and if they can’t actually cope then that sets them up for distress and mental health issues.
We as parents need to learn to identify when our kids are stressed, so we can help them to cope with it. I love your advice for coping with stress. Validating their feelings is important.
These sound like some wonderful tips – I was a very stressed out kid but back then I think most people didn’t get that kids could be stressed so it was just overlooked and all mounded up.
I love this. I’ll have to share these ideas with my kids. My daughter loves to draw. My son is pretty good about sharing his feelings. He’s always been blunt.
I really enjoyed reading this post. So many wonderful tips. I have to make sure to keep these tips on hand.
Oh this is good advice. I do think that activities like drawing are great for kids. I wouldn’t mind sharpening my own skills so I could finally win at Pictionary!
It is so great that you pick up on little clues and realized that there is stress that needs to be relieved. Drawing can be a good outlet and help so many kids if they have a parent who is trying to help them.