In everyday check-ins, counselling sessions and classroom wellbeing time, children often find it easier to try a calming idea when it feels like a game. This roll-and-try dice activity gives young people a simple, varied way to practise coping strategies, notice feelings and choose a helpful next step.
Rolling two dice provides an immediate coping-skills prompt from a 6 by 6 grid, making it easy to choose an activity without lengthy discussion or decision-making. The squares include slow breathing, counting backwards from 20, stretching, taking a movement break, drinking water and noticing sights, sounds and touch.
Several prompts support emotional awareness and self-regulation. Children can name and rate a feeling from 0 to 10, draw how they are feeling, identify what is bothering them, picture a comfortable place, or ask themselves what they can control right now. Other squares encourage kind self-talk and remembering that difficult feelings can change.
Helpful social and practical coping options are included too, such as telling a trusted person how you feel, asking for help, requesting space, moving somewhere quieter, listening to calming music and breaking a hard job into smaller parts. These ideas make the sheet suitable for building a personalised coping toolbox rather than relying on one strategy alone.
School counsellors, pastoral staff, child therapists, parents and foster carers can print the activity for one-to-one support, emotional regulation groups, calm corners or home check-ins. It is most suited to primary-aged children and younger teenagers who benefit from concrete, playful coping skills practice, although adults can use the prompts alongside a child where needed.
