School Worries 🎒
What emotion might you feel when school is about to start?
Nervous, worried, anxious, or excited.
What is your brain's alarm system called?
Amygdala.
What does RED mean?
Stop and notice the thought/feeling.
Name one healthy coping skill.
Any appropriate skill.
You feel nervous before school. What could you do?
Use a coping skill.
True or False: Feeling worried means something bad will happen.
False.
Name one body sign of anxiety.
Sweaty hands, shaking, fast heartbeat, etc.
What does YELLOW mean?
Slow down, think, and check the thought.
What can slow breathing help your body do?
Calm down.
You don't understand your schoolwork. What should you do?
Ask for help.
Name two things kids might worry about when starting school.
Teacher, friends, homework, tests, etc.
What does the thinking brain help us do?
Think, solve problems, make decisions, and regulate reactions.
Your thought is: “I'm going to fail.”
What should you ask yourself?
“Is this 100% true?”
What are the first two steps of 5-4-3-2-1?
5 things you see and 4 things you can touch/feel.
You make a mistake in class. What could you tell yourself?
“Everyone makes mistakes. I can try again.”
Your brain says, “School is going to be terrible!” Is this a fact or a worry thought?
A worry thought.
Name three physical signs of anxiety.
Change “I'm going to mess everything up” into a helpful thought.
“I might make mistakes, but I can keep trying.”
Name three coping skills you could use at school.
Breathing, grounding, positive self-talk, asking for help, etc.
Your heart starts racing during a test. What could you do?
Recognize anxiety, breathe, use positive self-talk, and focus on one question.
What are three things Lucas can do if you feels worried on his first day
Take slow deep breaths, use the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique, and ask a trusted adult for help.
Positive self-talk, take a short break, drink water, focus on one task at a time, or use the Traffic Light Technique.
What happens to your body when you feel anxious?
Your body may feel nervous, your heart may beat fast, or your hands may shake.
Use all three traffic-light steps for: “Nobody will talk to me at school.”
Stop → check whether it's true → replace it/use a coping skill.
Choose five things for your School Coping Toolbox.
Five healthy coping strategies.
Give yourself a first-day-of-school pep talk.
I might feel nervous, but I can handle it. I can breathe, take my time, and ask for help.”