Calming Strategies for Preschool: Getting Rid of Worries
This session teaches calming strategies for preschoolers, helping young students notice when a worry is growing and make it feel smaller. After a short video, students talk about what they could do when they feel worried at the start of the day, then play a quick movement game where they decide if an action helps shrink a big worry. The takeaway is that worries feel more manageable with a few calming steps.
Extension activity
- Skill
- Self-Regulation
- Goal
- Managing Stress
- Grade level
- Pre-K & K
Get everything you need to teach the skill
These materials are part of a no-prep session designed by our clinical team, with all the structure, scaffolding, and support you need to teach included.
Engaging materials
Video modeling lessonGetting Rid of Worries
Sometimes our worries can get bigger and bigger until they take over all of our thinking. In this lesson, students learn how to shrink their worries so their decisions and plans stay smart.
- Extension activity
Interactive Worksheet: My Worried Toolbox
Review different tools and strategies for managing feeling worried. Students will pick their 3 favorite tools to practice and add to their toolboxes.
Plus everything you need to teach them
Warm-up
- Video: Lion and Cat Breathing3:12
- Video: Our Senses Calming Break2:27
- Video: Yoga Pose Library
Session Opener
Guiding Question: What does worry feel like?
Practice
- Discussion Question
- Role-Play Activity
- Mini Game
How to use it with your students
- 1Watch Play the video modeling lesson so students see the skill in action.
- 2Practice Try the skill together with a discussion prompt, role-play, or mini game.
- 3Extend Use the extension activity to help students carry the skill further.
What's Covered
In this lesson, students learned that feeling worried is okay and normal, but that worries can sometimes grow so big they take over their thinking. They practiced ways to help worries feel smaller, like telling someone how they feel and taking slow, relaxing breaths. Students also explored how worries don't disappear completely, but they can shrink enough that it gets easier to think clearly again.
Key Terms
- Worries
- Worries are thoughts and feelings about something that feels uncertain or scary. You can notice them and use strategies to feel calmer.
- Brain Refocus
- Brain Refocus is a way to help your mind and body feel calm again when you start to feel upset. You can take deep breaths, count to 10, picture something happy, or ask for a break.
Sample IEP Goal This Session Supports
-
Managing Stress
Learner will recognize signs of stress in their own body or thinking (e.g., tight chest, racing thoughts, feeling overwhelmed) and apply a self-selected strategy (e.g., deep breathing, positive self-talk, taking a break) to manage the feeling in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).
Send this tip home to support generalization
Try asking the student which tool they want to keep ready for worried moments, like belly breathing or taking a break. Picking one ahead of time at home or at school makes it easier to reach for when worry shows up.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on Getting Rid of Worries is free. You can access this intervention free for 14 days through the Everyday Speech Session Library. Every user gets three free sessions, but you can get more or extend your access by sharing the Session Library with friends and colleagues.
What ages is this for?
These materials are designed for PreK and kindergarten students.
What's included?
You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on Getting Rid of Worries, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Interactive Worksheet: My Worried Toolbox.
What skill does this intervention teach?
This ready-to-teach session is on self-regulation - more specifically, managing stress.
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