How to Help Kids Externalize Anxiety Using Play Therapy
By asking creative questions about what a worry looks like or what silly name it might have, adults invite children into a safe space of exploration. This process diffuses the immediate physiological threat response associated with panic. Kids realize they can observe their anxious thoughts objectively rather than drowning inside them.
Ultimately, giving a worry a voice and a shape allows children to boss it around instead of the other way around. Integrating these playful exercises into a daily routine builds foundational emotional intelligence. Over time, kids learn that while worries may visit, they never have to truly run the show.
Read next: Simple Somatic Calming Strategies for Overwhelmed Children
Shop the deck here.
Get the Printable PDF on Etsy