As children navigate an increasingly complex world, stress and anxiety are becoming more prevalent at younger ages. Recognizing this need, researchers are turning to innovative methods to equip children with coping mechanisms.A new card game,”Take a break KIDS,” developed by Case Western Reserve University professor jennifer King,offers a playful approach to emotional regulation based on scientifically validated techniques. The tool aims to provide children – and their families – with accessible strategies for managing stress and building resilience.
L’ESSENTIEL
- An American professor has created Take a Break KIDS, a card game to help children manage stress.
- The 40 activities offered by the game are based on scientifically validated techniques.
- The goal is to help children understand that their reactions to stress are normal and can be controlled through emotional regulation.
Stress isn’t limited to adults; children experience it too. Recognizing this, Jennifer King, an associate professor and co-director of the Center on Trauma, developed a playful method to introduce younger individuals to emotional regulation techniques.
A Game to Help Children Better Manage Stress
In 2022, King created Take a Break cards – a set of micro-exercises designed to help adults relax. Building on that success, she recently finalized Take a Break KIDS, a new edition specifically for children.
“Children are reacting to a world that increasingly demands from their nervous systems,” explains Jennifer King, in a release. Learning to take short pauses during stressful times helps them develop skills that promote emotional regulation, resilience, and social connection.”
Young children can experience stress for a variety of reasons, stemming from self-imposed pressure, as well as expectations from parents, teachers, peers, and society at large, notes the American Academy of Pediatrics. Events like parental divorce, bullying, or even smaller issues like losing homework can also contribute to a child’s stress levels.
The new card game features 40 exercises covering various stress management techniques, including breathing exercises, self-massage, movement, and paired activities. The aim is to expose children to different, scientifically-backed methods so they can discover what works best for them. Each card includes a QR code linking to detailed digital resources for further exploration.
Recognizing Stress in Children
“I’ve worked with many teachers and mental health professionals who were using the original ‘Take a Break’ cards with their students and patients, explains Jennifer King. While children found the exercises helpful, professionals struggled to explain the benefits to parents. I needed to create a tool that was tailored to both children and their families.”
However, before utilizing the cards, it’s important to identify stress in a child. Understanding childhood stress is increasingly important as rates of anxiety and depression rise among young people. UNICEF has compiled a list of common symptoms based on age. For children aged 4 to 6, stress often manifests as behavioral regression, mutism, irritability, difficulty concentrating, a need for increased adult closeness, disinterest in play, changes in eating or sleeping habits, hyperactivity or hypoactivity, attempts to take on adult roles, or heightened anxiety.
