Self-Control Activities for Teens: Managing Anxiety
This session includes self-control activities for teens, helping older students manage anxiety by noticing body clues early and choosing a calming strategy. Using their Self-Controller Scanner, they watch a short video, then discuss what happens when they scan their body and pick a strategy in a high-pressure moment like the night before a test. A quick game has them replay a short interaction to spot where it went off track and what could have shifted it.
Extension activity
- Skill
- Self-Regulation
- Goal
- Using Your Self-Controller
- Grade level
- Middle & High School
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 lessonManaging Anxiety
In this video, students explore strategies for managing anxiety, like recognizing physical and emotional signs, using self-awareness tools, and choosing effective calming techniques.
- Extension activity
Dealing with Anxiety
In this immersive game, students will demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, and application of stress management strategies in order to escape Cyber City!
Plus everything you need to teach them
Warm-up
- Video: 4-7-8 Breathing2:13
- Video: Obstacles into Opportunities Visualization1:19
- Video: Yoga Pose Library
Session Opener
Guiding Question: How can noticing anxiety early help a person?
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 how anxiety shows up as physical and emotional signs, like a racing heart or trouble focusing. They practiced scanning their brain and body to name what they were feeling and what was causing it. They also tried calming strategies, like mindfulness and slow breathing, to find what felt helpful for them.
Key Terms
- Body Clues
- Body clues are signals you notice inside your body, like a fast heartbeat, a hot face, or tense muscles, that tell you a feeling is starting. Noticing them early can help you figure out what your body needs.
- Self-Controller Scanner
- Using your Self-Controller means noticing early signs of strong emotions and choosing strategies before reacting, so you can respond in a safe way.
Sample IEP Goal This Session Supports
-
Using Your Self-Controller
Learner will use their Self-Controller to manage stress responses when triggers arise (e.g., unexpected changes, transitions away from preferred activities) by recognizing stress signals and applying a self-selected strategy before reacting in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).
Send this tip home to support generalization
At home or in the classroom, when a student seems anxious, try asking what they notice in their body and which strategy might help right now. Naming the signal early can make it easier to choose a calming step.
Ready to teach Managing Anxiety?
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More Self-Regulation Activities
Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on Managing Anxiety 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 middle and high school students.
What's included?
You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on Managing Anxiety, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Dealing with Anxiety.
What skill does this intervention teach?
This ready-to-teach session is on self-regulation - more specifically, using your self-controller.
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