What if you could help kids calm anxiety for the cost of a sheet of paper?

Predictability and familiarity can be amazing antidotes for anxiety.  Think about it! For most kids who worry the first or second time is the most intense, but at the end of a lacrosse season or course of physical therapy they feel like pros! 

I have shared resources HERE and HEREfor some of my best tips and interventions for how to make the unknown known and decrease anxiety. And today? I wanted to share another low cost resources to help make the unknown known and increase predictability and familiarity - all for the cost of a sheet of paper!

Sound too good to be true?

Hear me out - I am a HUGE fan of visual and interactive routines.  For some kids this may go significantly more in depth with Social Stories, but today we are talking more about picture prompts for routines! 

This means for kids who are starting to read or can’t read a picture sequence of a routine that is predictable and can be done in a sequence each time.  My favorite ways to use this? Morning routine, evening routine, and after school routine.  

These typically have a picture and check box sequence and for kids that are just learning to read it may be accompanied by words about the activity.  Check out this free printable example HERE! 

I also wanted to go more in depth about what I mean when I say “interactive”.  For kids that are older they can use this independently and for younger kids they will need the help of a grownup.  Seeing progress and activities that are completed vs. tasks to be done can be regulating to the nervous system.  Just like when we look at our GPS and see how far we have come and our estimated time of arrival (or time to beat!).

The checklists can be printed and either laminated or mounted in a picture frame.  This allows kids (or grownups) to use a dry erase marker to check off when a task is completed.  At the end of the sequence it can be erased and fresh for the next day.  

Pro tip - use velcro or a string to not lose the dang marker! Nobody wants that showing up in their kids craft supplies or to create art on the wall or couch. 

Sometimes these checklists are temporary to help a child gain confidence with a new routine.  Other times they may provide significant comfort and regulation and may be an ongoing part of these routines!

Real talk? In my house I have sprung for some of these downloads (for under $10) on Etsy that allow me to customize the routine to what we use and the specific routine that works for us! For some families the freebie or even handwriting it or finding clipart will do just fine!

The great news is that there are so many free printables and resources online right now that this is typically a low cost intervention that can have massive results! 

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