Picture Books To Ease Anxiety In Kids

With the return to school next week of our students, we have to remember that there may be some who are worried or have fears.

As teachers, we must help to calm our students and ensure them that school is a safe place to be.

So how can we best help our students?

Try reading these picture books related to worries and fears to help put your student’s mind at rest. There is some quality literature out there that offer great starting points for discussions or writing activities such as;

  • Silly Billy by Anthony Browne

  • Go Away, Worry Monster by Brooke Graham

  • Jack’s Worry by Sam Zuppardi

  • Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival

  • Shy by Deborah Freeman

  • Mr Huff by Anna Walker

  • Worry Says What? by Allison Edwards

  • The Very Hungry Worry Monsters by Rosie Greening

  • The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

  • The Boy With Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee

  • Hey Warrior by Karen Young

You can always follow up these stories with activities such as;

  • making Worry Dolls

  • writing a journal response about how they are feeling

  • discuss what they would say to someone feeling worried

Check out my Pinterest board for further activities and book recommendations for students with anxiety.

Do you have students who worry about coming to school, cry with overwhelm or refuse to get up at assembly? What strategies do you use? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.