7 New School Anxiety Craftivities to Help Kindergarteners Cope

The first days of kindergarten can be daunting for little ones as they face new environments, routines, and faces. Both educators and parents play a crucial role in easing this transition and helping little ones cope with feelings of school anxiety.

Below are eight craftivities and strategies that can help kindergarteners manage their school anxiety, along with tips for what educators and parents can do to support them.

1. Worry Monsters

Worry monsters are little creations that children utilize to “tell” their worries. You can use a worry monster template, and/or you can ask your child, “If your worry had a face, what would it look like? Draw it for me, please.”

These craftivities help children externalize their fears and provide comfort. Educators can keep supplies for the worry monster creations in classroom calm-down areas for students to use when they’re feeling anxious, and parents can help their child make one at home to help process their child’s feelings before school starts.

How to Make: Use paper, markers, colored pencils, or crayons to create anger monsters that each child can personalize. Make your own, or download a template.

2. Feelings Faces

This craftivity involves creating different faces representing various emotions. Children can pick different faces to express how they’re feeling, helping them to identify and communicate their emotions more effectively.

You can make your own feelings face cards by drawing different facial expressions and emotions on pieces of paper or download The Feelings Faces packet.

Pro Tip: Place a feelings faces chart in a “calm corner” in the classroom or home area where children can go to manage their feelings.

Parent Prep: Practice using the feelings face cards at home to help your child become familiar with expressing their emotions.

3. Comfort Cards

Create small cards with comforting phrases or images that students can keep in their pockets. When feeling anxious, they can pull out a card to remind them that they are safe and supported.

In the Classroom: Teachers can distribute index cards that children can decorate and keep as comfort cards during times of stress, like drop-offs or transitions between activities.

At Home: Parents can help their child create a set of comfort cards to bring to school, perhaps adding personal messages of encouragement.

4. Buddy Bookmarks

Help children make bookmarks featuring a “buddy” character. This buddy can “accompany” them in their books and serve as a comforting presence throughout the day.

Teacher Use: Encourage students to use their buddy bookmark during reading time as a source of comfort.

Parent Preparation: Read books together at home using the buddy bookmark, establishing a routine that continues at school.

How to Make: Take a piece of construction paper or a durable paper-like material and cut it into the shape of a bookmark. Have the child decorate the bookmark with a familiar character or ‘buddy’ who can ride to school with them in the child’s book.

5. Paper Chain of Strength

Students can create a paper chain where each link represents something that makes them feel strong or brave. This visual reminder can help children build confidence in their ability to handle new situations.

In the Classroom: Give each student one piece of the chain to decorate as they see fit. Hang the chain in the classroom where students can see it every day and be reminded of their strengths.

At Home: Parents can start the chain at home, adding a few links together each day leading up to the first day of school.

6. My Safe Place Collage

Children can create a collage of images that represent a safe and happy place for them. This might include pictures of family, pets, or favorite toys. You can have children draw a representation of these images, or you can have them use actual printed photographs to complete their collages.

In the Classroom: Teachers can have students complete this activity at home and bring it in to share with the class, helping to foster a sense of community and understanding.

Parenting Tip: Encourage your child to think about their safe place and discuss how they can imagine it when feeling anxious at school.

7. Goodbye Necklace

This craftivity involves making a necklace that children can wear to remind them of their loved ones. This could include beads with the initials of family members, small charms that have special meaning, or a locket with a small picture of their loved one.

Educators: Allow children to wear their necklace during the school day as a reminder that their family is always with them.

Parents: Help your child make the necklace and explain that it’s a way to keep family close, even when they’re apart at school.

What Educators Can Do in the Moment

If a kindergartener is having a tough time in the hallway or at drop-off, here are a few quick actions educators can take:

1. Offer a Calm Down Activity: Suggest they come color or make a worry monster to help manage their emotions.
2. Provide a Comfort Object: Give them a stuffed animal buddy they can use in the short term for reassurance.
3. Use Reassuring Language: Gently remind them that it’s okay to feel nervous and that they are in a safe space.

What Parents Can Do to Prep Their Kindergartener

Parents can help reduce school anxiety by:

1. Role-Playing School Scenarios: Practice drop-off routines, meeting new people, and asking for help.
2. Creating Morning Rituals: Establish a comforting morning routine that includes extra snuggle time, a special breakfast, or a pep talk.
3. Visiting the School: If possible, visit the school together before the first day so your child becomes familiar with the environment.

Conclusion

Kindergarten is a big step for little ones, but with these craftivities and a supportive approach from both educators and parents, children can gain the confidence they need to thrive in their new school environment. What craftivities or strategies have you found helpful in easing school anxiety? Share your thoughts in the comments!