Managing Your Child’s Stress

De-Stress Technique: Visualization

Why it works: Giving kids something to do with distressing feelings, even though that something is imaginary, can help them manage those feelings and draw attention to positive thoughts, says Block.

How to teach it: “Bubbles are a great way to help kids practice visualizing emotions and letting them go,” says Lite. Real bubbles are a fun visual aid—or you can simply pretend to use them. Have kids imagine filling the bubbles with negative feelings and watching them float away. “Younger kids can stomp out the bubbles when they land on the ground,” says Lite. “Another technique is to imagine filling them with patience or strength, or whatever quality they need most, and sending that out into the world.”

Times to try it: To get over a sad mood (imagine filling the bubbles with the blues); the night before starting a new class (send any fear into the bubbles); when transitioning from school to home (literally blow off the stress of the day).