Personal Coping Toolkit · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Your Personal Coping Toolkit

Personal & Social Development · Self-Regulation & Resilience · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. The same coping strategy works best for every kind of feeling.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. Which of these is an example of a coping strategy?

    • Going for a walk when stressed
    • Ignoring the problem and hoping it goes away
    • Yelling at whoever is nearby

  3. What is the best way to find out if a strategy worked?

    • Assume it worked because you tried it
    • Check in with yourself afterward and notice how you feel
    • Ask a stranger what they think

  4. Your friend Alex is angry after losing a game, not sad. What should you do before suggesting a strategy?

    • Ask Alex what he is feeling and what has helped him before
    • Tell Alex to do exactly what worked for you last time you felt sad
    • Say nothing and hope Alex figures it out

  5. Zoe feels nervous before a test and also feels lonely on weekends. Which pairing fits her toolkit best?

    • Deep breathing for both situations
    • Ignoring both feelings until they go away
    • Deep breathing before the test, calling a friend on lonely weekends

  6. Priya listened to music when she felt stressed, but she still felt stressed afterward. What should she do?

    • Keep using the same strategy no matter what
    • Notice it did not help this time and try a different strategy
    • Decide she is bad at coping

  7. Your friend Sam is nervous about moving to a new school. Going for a run always works for you. Which shows you are recommending the right way?

    • Asking Sam what has helped him feel calmer before, then suggesting something that fits
    • Assuming Sam feels exactly the way you would feel
    • Telling Sam to go for a run because it always works for you

  8. Jake says his toolkit only needs one strategy because it is simpler to remember. What is the problem with this thinking?

    • There is no problem, one strategy is enough for everyone
    • A toolkit should only be used during tests
    • Different situations and feelings often need different strategies, so one tool will not always fit
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Your Personal Coping Toolkit W1-mt_Jd2aWEUJ9G-s1

  1. False · Different feelings often need different strategies. That is why a toolkit has more than one tool in it.
  2. Going for a walk when stressed · A walk is something you choose on purpose to feel calmer. The other options do not actually help the feeling.
  3. Check in with yourself afterward and notice how you feel · You are the only one who can feel your own feelings, so checking in with yourself is the real test.
  4. Ask Alex what he is feeling and what has helped him before · A good recommendation starts with understanding the other person's actual feeling, not copying your own.
  5. Deep breathing before the test, calling a friend on lonely weekends · Nervousness and loneliness are different feelings, so matching each one to its own strategy works better than using one tool for everything.
  6. Notice it did not help this time and try a different strategy · A strategy not working once just means it is time to try another tool from the toolkit, not a reason to feel bad.
  7. Asking Sam what has helped him feel calmer before, then suggesting something that fits · The right recommendation starts with Sam's own experience, not with copying what works for you.
  8. Different situations and feelings often need different strategies, so one tool will not always fit · A toolkit works because it has options. Relying on just one strategy means some feelings are left without a good match.
Worksheet · LightMySky