---
title: "Choosing the Right Coping Strategy"
description: "Understand that different situations require different coping strategies — what works for anger might not work for sadness, and what helps at school might be different from what helps at home"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/choosing-the-right-coping-strategy-mt_j8Pv3s7TZR
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/choosing-the-right-coping-strategy-mt_j8Pv3s7TZR.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Choosing the Right Coping Strategy

Understand that different situations require different coping strategies — what works for anger might not work for sadness, and what helps at school might be different from what helps at home

Subject: Personal & Social Development · Area: Self-Regulation & Resilience · Ages 7 to 9
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/choosing-the-right-coping-strategy-mt_j8Pv3s7TZR

## Ready when they can

- Name at least two different coping strategies and explain when each one is most useful
- Choose an appropriate strategy based on the specific situation and emotion
- Reflect on a time a strategy didn't work and explain what they might try instead

## Lesson: The Right Strategy for the Right Feeling

You already know some calming strategies, like taking a deep breath or counting to ten. But no single strategy works for every feeling. Anger often needs one kind of help. Sadness or worry often needs something different.

**Example.** When Leo feels angry, walking fast around the yard helps him let out that hot, jumpy energy. But when Leo feels worried before a test, walking around does not help much. Talking to his dad about what is worrying him works better.

**Example.** Priya used the same trick, deep breathing, for every hard feeling. It worked well when she felt nervous, but it did not help much when she felt really angry after her sister broke her toy. She tried squeezing a pillow instead, and that worked better for her anger.

*(drawing: Feelings carry different amounts of body energy. Anger is usually the biggest, so it often wants movement. Worry and sadness are quieter, so they often want talking or comfort instead.)*

**Tip.** Before you pick a strategy, ask yourself two questions: What am I feeling, and what do I need right now? Angry feelings often want movement. Sad or worried feelings often want to be talked about. A strategy that works at home might need a quieter version at school.

**Recap.** Different feelings, and different places, call for different strategies, so pick the one that matches what you actually need.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Vocabulary for resilience and self-management](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/vocabulary-for-resilience-and-self-management-mt_i1kk9HDctI)
- [Simple Calming Strategies](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/simple-calming-strategies-mt_Iwg2diBSyW)
- [How emotions feel in your body](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/how-emotions-feel-in-your-body-mt_Ytd8XC3eQr)

## Opens up

- [Resilience and Bouncing Back](https://lightmysky.com/learn/personal-and-social-development/resilience-and-bouncing-back-mt_Amw5ikSSQI)