Sensory based coping skills is an effective way to help kids deal with feelings of anxiety. There is a reason that most of us deal with an uncomfortable situation by cracking our knuckles or cope with anger by punching a pillow. Sensory based anxiety coping strategies can help kids deal with stress and feelings of anxiety for long term success and social emotional development.
When a difficult situation comes up in school or other social situation, kids can cope with the stress in that very moment. Teaching these skills to kids requires a little preparation and frequent practice but can be a huge help when kids are feeling completely overwhelmed by feelings of anxiety.
Kids should understand that their body may react in a certain way when they are in a difficult salutation. Feelings of stress and anxiety can be confusing to kids and can even make them feel more overwhelmed and out of control.
Anxiety in kids can arise for many reasons, including sensory-based causes, difficulty organizing oneself, social reasons, behavioral reasons, or nervousness in new or scary situations. Kids should know that their body can give them clues about stress in these tricky situations and that they can understand and use those clues to feel more in control.
Feelings of anxiety might begin during or before anticipated situations that cause the child to feel overwhelmed, nervous, frustrated, or angry. Then, when they start feeling those clues, they start to feel even more overwhelmed.
What a scary thing for a child to feel!
Anxiety and Sensory Based Coping Skills to Help Kids
Imagine the signs that a child might feel when experiencing anxiety:
- Sweaty palms
- Fast breathing
- Upset stomach
- Sweating
- Feeling hot
- Negative thoughts
- Feeling angry
- Wanting to run away
- Feeling helpless
- Feeling that the situation is dumb
- Tense muscles
- Wanting to wiggle or move
- Feeling itchy
- Sore muscles
- Trouble focusing
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Sensory Based Coping Skills for Kids
Proprioception-based Coping Strategies
Vestibular-based Coping Strategies
Oral-based Sensory Coping Strategies
Olfactory-based Coping Strategies
Tactile-based Coping Strategies
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Vision-based Coping Strategies
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Teaching kids to use these sensory based coping strategies to deal with anxiety or stress requires thoughtful discussion with your child and practice to prepare for unknown situations. Try role playing situations where overwhelming feelings have previously presented themselves. Talk about what led up to those feelings and clues and how the child can use different sensory based strategies to beat the anxiety next time.
