Coping Skills That Stick: How Coping Critters™ Help Kids — and Adults — Learn to Regulate
Feb 12 2026 04:25
Renee Kasuboski
Purpose:
To highlight how coping skills can be taught in ways that are engaging, memorable, and meaningful for all ages — and how each Coping Critter™ represents a specific skill and purpose behind emotional regulation.
Coping skills aren’t just for kids.
And they’re not just for crisis.
They’re everyday tools that help people:
- calm down
- reset
- process emotions
- feel safe in their bodies
That’s why Coping Critters™ resonate with both children and adults.
Because everyone needs help regulating sometimes.
🧠 Coping Skills Should Be Simple and Understandable
When emotions feel big, complicated language doesn’t help.
What works better:
- visual reminders
- playful learning
- physical actions
- simple steps
Coping Critters™ take emotional regulation and turn it into something approachable.
Not intimidating.
Not clinical.
Not overwhelming.
Just:
“Here’s something you can try.”
🐾 Every Coping Critter™ Has a Purpose
Each critter represents a specific skill — and a reason behind it.
They aren’t random.
They’re intentionally designed to teach:
- calming the body
- managing stress
- expressing feelings
- releasing energy
- reconnecting with safety
For example, some critters focus on:
Breathing skills
→ slowing the nervous system
Movement skills
→ releasing tension and excess energy
Grounding skills
→ bringing attention back to the present moment
Creative expression
→ giving emotions a safe outlet
Connection skills
→ reminding kids and adults they don’t have to do it alone
Each critter gives people a concrete action when emotions feel overwhelming.
Not just “calm down.”
But “try this.”
💙 Why Kids Connect
Children learn best through:
- play
- imagination
- repetition
- stories
Coping Critters™ make emotional health:
- safe
- fun
- memorable
Kids don’t feel corrected.
They feel supported.
And over time, they start using those skills on their own.
That’s regulation.
🧍 Why Adults Connect Too
Here’s the truth:
Many adults were never taught coping skills growing up.
So when they see Coping Critters™ in action, they often realize:
“Oh… I need this too.”
Adults use them for:
- anxiety
- stress
- overwhelm
- emotional reset
- grounding during hard moments
Because regulation is lifelong.
And simple tools often work best.
🎒 From Classrooms to Communities
Coping Critters™ are used in:
- schools
- counseling spaces
- youth programs
- homes
- community events
They help:
- educators teach emotional skills
- counselors introduce regulation tools
- parents support children at home
- adults reconnect with coping strategies themselves
They create shared language around emotions.
❤️ The Bigger Goal
The goal isn’t just to manage behavior.
It’s to teach:
- emotional awareness
- body regulation
- safe expression
- resilience
When people understand why they feel what they feel — and what to do about it — everything changes.
Meltdowns decrease.
Confidence grows.
Help-seeking becomes normal.
That’s prevention.
💬 A Reminder for Everyone
Coping skills are not a sign something is wrong.
They’re a sign someone is learning how to:
- care for themselves
- respond instead of react
- move through emotions safely
Kids benefit.
Adults benefit.
Families benefit.
And the earlier we start, the stronger those skills become.
📲 Support & Prevention Tools
The Center for Suicide Awareness provides programs like Coping Critters™ to help individuals build emotional regulation skills early — before stress becomes crisis.
If you or someone you know needs support:
Text HOPELINE™ to 741741
to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
#HOPELINE741741
