🎯 Coping Strategy Cards

Printable visual cards that help students remember concrete tools they can reach for when feelings get big.

Use them in calm corners, on lanyards, or as desk visuals to support self-advocacy and independent regulation.

When to Use These Cards

  • During calm corner breaks as a visual menu of choices.
  • In morning meetings to preview coping tools for the day.
  • With individual students building a personalized strategy toolkit.

Implementation Tips

  • Introduce 1–2 cards at a time instead of all at once.
  • Model each strategy with the whole class before expecting independent use.
  • Pair cards with language like "Which tool would help your body right now?"
Printing notes: These previews display the 4x6 strategy card artwork. For classroom sets, print at 4x6 size on cardstock and optionally laminate. In a future update, we will add multi-up PDF layouts for quick batch printing.
Take Deep Breaths coping strategy card

Take Deep Breaths

Use this card to prompt slow, intentional breaths—perfect as a first-line tool for any zone.

Count to 10 coping strategy card

Count to 10

Helpful when students need a short pause before responding or making a choice.

Move Your Body coping strategy card

Move Your Body

Great for wiggly or high-energy moments when movement can help reset.

Take a Break coping strategy card

Take a Break

Use this when a student needs space away from a task, person, or environment.

Go to the Calm Corner coping strategy card

Go to the Calm Corner

A visual reminder that it is okay to ask for time in the Calm Corner when feelings start to grow.

Squeeze a Stress Ball coping strategy card

Squeeze a Stress Ball

Perfect for fidgety hands that need something safe and quiet to do.

Talk to Someone coping strategy card

Talk to Someone

Encourages students to reach out to a trusted adult or peer instead of holding feelings in.

Draw Your Feelings coping strategy card

Draw Your Feelings

A quieter option for students who like to process emotions through art.