This free Anxiety Calm Down Coping Cards for Children resource is a printable PDF designed to help young children manage anxiety, worries and big feelings. It contains 56 child friendly calm down cards, each with a simple instruction and a colourful illustration that guides children through a clear coping strategy. The cards include breathing exercises, grounding activities, gentle movement, sensory ideas and positive self talk. Examples include bubble breathing, naming things they can see or hear, imagining a soft cloud, hugging a soft toy, shaking out worry wiggles or telling themselves that a worry will pass.
Anxiety calm down cards work because they break anxiety into small, manageable steps. When children feel overwhelmed, they often struggle to think clearly or remember what helps. This tool offers calm, visual prompts that support emotional regulation and help the body settle. Breathing, grounding and movement activities soothe the nervous system, while positive self talk helps children challenge worried thoughts. This combination makes them ideal for reducing stress, improving focus and helping children feel safer and more in control.
This pack can be used by parents, carers, teachers, SEN staff, social workers, youth workers, ELSA staff, counsellors, play therapists and other professionals who support children’s emotional wellbeing. It is suitable for early years and primary aged children, including children with ASD, ADHD, sensory needs, anxiety or difficulty with emotional regulation. The cards can be used in calm corners, classrooms, therapy sessions, nurture groups, wellbeing lessons, behaviour support plans and direct work.
The mindfulness cards can be printed, cut and laminated to create a practical set of calm down cards that children can choose from when they feel anxious. They work well as part of an emotional regulation toolkit or worry support activity. This resource is ideal for anyone searching for anxiety cards for kids, calm down cards printable, coping skills activities, grounding cards for children, emotion regulation printables, mental health worksheets for young children or free calming strategies for kids.
