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The most effective therapy activities for kids (with worksheets)

Finding engaging therapy activities for kids ages 5 to 12 can be challenging. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite ways to ensure pediatric clients make progress while having fun.

Dr. Anum Ali
Dr. Anum Ali, LPCTherapist

Therapists working with kids often face the challenge of keeping children engaged during sessions while helping them make meaningful progress. It's essential to find activities that are not only fun and creative but also rooted in therapeutic goals. Whether you’re helping a child build emotional intelligence, self-esteem, or coping skills, having a toolkit of effective, evidence-based activities can make all the difference. This guide will explore a variety of activities and worksheets to keep your sessions interactive and impactful. 

For additional resources, visit Headway’s clinical support page and pediatric SOAP notes guide.

Why engaging therapy activities matter for kids

Kids naturally have shorter attention spans and may struggle to sit still or focus for extended periods, which can make traditional talk therapy difficult. The best therapy activities for children are those that are interactive, engaging, and help them express their feelings while still meeting clinical goals. It’s important to ensure each intervention is developmentally appropriate for the child you’re working with. Using activities designed specifically for children not only makes therapy more enjoyable but also promotes:


  • Emotional regulation: Interactive activities can help children identify and manage intense emotions.
  • Self-awareness: By engaging in games or creative projects, children can gain insights into their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
  • Skill development: Therapy activities offer a fun, hands-on way for children to practice coping mechanisms, social skills, and problem-solving.


When children are actively involved in their therapy, they’re more likely to retain the skills they learn and apply them in real-life situations. Let's explore the most effective therapy activities for kids that keep them engaged and help them thrive.

Setting up for success: Practical tips for therapists working with children

Working with kids requires a different approach than with adults, and setting the right environment is key. Here are a few practical tips to set up a successful session:


  • Create a safe, comfortable space: Make the therapy space inviting with age-appropriate decor, sensory-friendly objects, and materials they can touch, manipulate, and interact with.
  • Use clear, simple language: Children respond best to straightforward language. Avoid complex instructions, and instead, guide them through activities step by step.
  • Establish a routine: Kids thrive on predictability. Have a consistent structure to each session, even if the activities vary.
  • Use visual cues: Visual aids, such as pictures, charts, or diagrams, help reinforce concepts and instructions.
  • Adapt activities based on developmental level: Understand the child’s age, emotional stage, and cognitive level to tailor the activities accordingly.
  • Encourage creativity: Art, storytelling, and play allow kids to express themselves in nonverbal ways, making therapy feel more like play and less like a “lesson.”


Therapy should feel like a collaborative experience rather than a one-sided directive. These practical tips can help make therapy feel approachable, engaging, and effective.

Helping kids understand their feelings: Emotional intelligence activities

Building emotional intelligence is a critical goal in child therapy. Emotional intelligence (EI) includes the ability to recognize and manage one's emotions, as well as the ability to recognize emotions in others.

Emotions detective: Fun identification worksheets

Children often struggle to label their emotions, which can lead to frustration or outbursts. This activity helps kids become “emotion detectives” by exploring different emotional expressions, body sensations, and triggers. With this worksheet, kids match different facial expressions with corresponding emotions. They can draw their own faces or describe situations that made them feel a certain way.

Example: Emotion detective worksheet

Dear diary: Feelings journal activities that kids actually enjoy

A feelings journal gives kids a safe space to explore their emotions. This journal activity allows for both writing and drawing, making it accessible for younger kids. This practice increases emotional vocabulary and encourages self-reflection.


Example prompts:

  • “What made you happy today?”
  • “What was something that made you feel mad?”
  • “Draw how you feel right now.”

Cooling down: Playful emotional regulation games

Teaching kids to regulate their emotions can be fun! By using physical activities to release pent-up energy, children learn ways to calm themselves when they start feeling overwhelmed. In the freeze dance game, you play music, and when it stops, kids freeze. This physical play helps them practice stopping their physical energy in response to emotional arousal. If managing anger is a priority for your client, our guide to anger management worksheets for kids can offer more support.

Example: Freeze dance game

Build a strong foundation: Self-esteem and identity activities that work for kids

Strong self-esteem is essential for children to grow into confident, resilient individuals. Activities focused on self-esteem and identity help children recognize their strengths and understand their personal value.

Superhero inside: Exploring personal strengths and qualities

The superpowers creative exercise helps kids recognize their own strengths. Have them create a "superhero" based on their positive traits, filling out a worksheet that explores their personal strengths, such as kindness, bravery, or creativity.

Example: My superpowers worksheet

"About Me" narrative activities

This activity helps children construct their identity through storytelling, focusing on their personal interests, accomplishments, and values.


Example sentence starters:

  • “I am proud of…”
  • “I feel happy when…”
  • “I am really good at…”

Gratitude safari: Spotting the good in everyday life

Gratitude activities increase a child’s awareness of the positive aspects of their life, which in turn boosts self-esteem and helps them reframe negative situations. This gratitude safari journal can help kick things off by encouraging children to find “hidden treasures” in their day-to-day life—small but meaningful moments like “a hug from Mom” or “a fun game with friends.” As part of the activity, kids list three things they’re grateful for, helping them develop a habit of noticing the good around them.

Creating positive change: Playful approaches to behavior management and goal-setting for kids

Behavioral change doesn’t have to be boring. When kids are motivated to work on specific goals, they’re more likely to make progress. Here are some fun approaches to encourage goal setting and positive behavior.

Stars and stickers: Creating effective reward systems

One playful and effective approach is using stars or stickers to build an interactive reward system that reinforces positive behavior. For example, you can create a behavior chart where kids earn stars for tasks like “listening” or “doing homework,” which they can later redeem for rewards such as extra playtime or a special treat. This method turns goal-setting into a game, making it both fun and impactful.

Example reward system template: Reward coupons & behavior chart template

Small steps, big dreams: Age-appropriate goal setting

Teach kids to set small, manageable goals that build up to bigger ones. Use a visual goal-setting worksheet to help kids break down their tasks into achievable steps, like SMART goals, which are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.


  • “I want to finish my homework.” (Specific)
  • “I will work on it for 15 minutes today.” (Measurable)
  • “I will ask for help if I need it.” (Achievable)


Example SMART goals worksheet: SMART goals worksheet for kids

Picture this: Visual schedules that keep kids on track

Visual schedules help children understand what’s coming next in their day, reducing anxiety and enhancing time management. Use pictures or icons to represent daily routines like breakfast, school, or homework so kids feel more prepared, secure, and in control.

Example visual schedule: Visual schedule template

Taming the worry monster: Child-friendly anxiety management techniques

Anxiety can be overwhelming for children, but with the right tools, kids can learn to manage their worries effectively. Below are child-friendly techniques to help kids confront their fears and develop healthy coping skills.

Climbing the courage mountain: Kid-friendly fear exposure activities

Gradual exposure to feared situations can help children build resilience and confidence. An engaging way to approach this is by creating a “fear ladder” where kids draw a ladder with their fears ranked from least to most scary placing the least scary fear at the bottom and the scariest at the top. As they work their way up each rung, they take small, manageable steps toward facing those fears, and you can celebrate their progress together to reinforce their bravery and growth.

Example worksheet: Fear ladder worksheet

My anti-worry toolkit: Building coping skills through play

Help children create a “toolkit” of strategies to manage their anxiety, such as deep breathing, visualization, and positive affirmations.


Example toolkit:

  • Deep breathing: “Breathe in for 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 4”
  • Visualization: Imagine a “safe place” to go to when feeling anxious.

Calm kids, happy minds: Mindfulness and relaxation exercises that engage

Mindfulness is an excellent way for children to become more aware of their emotions and practice staying calm in the present moment.

Breathing buddies: Mindfulness exercises for young minds

Teaching children to breathe deeply helps them regulate emotions. Try making breathing exercises playful by introducing “breathing buddies” such as stuffed animals that rise and fall with the child’s breath.

Mindfulness activities to do as a family

Mindfulness isn’t just for kids. Encouraging families to practice together strengthens bonds and builds a supportive environment. Suggest a five senses walk, where a family can take a walk together and pause every few steps to notice something you can see, hear, smell, touch, or even taste. It’s a simple way to slow down, connect, and be present in the moment together.

Magical journeys: Guided imagery scripts for different ages

Guided imagery can be a calming way for children to relax and visualize peaceful scenarios. For younger kids, you might ask: “Imagine you’re floating on a cloud, looking down at the world below…” For older kids, you could suggest: “Picture yourself in a place where you feel completely safe and relaxed. What does it look like? What sounds do you hear?”

The power of words: Positive self-talk activities for children

Research shows that positive affirmations can boost a child’s self-esteem, helping them internalize empowering messages about themselves. Positive self-talk activities teach children how to replace negative thoughts with constructive, affirming statements.

Example affirmations:

  • “I am strong and brave.”
  • “I can handle tough situations.”
  • “I learn from my mistakes.”

Join our community: How Headway supports your work with children

Providing therapy to children requires a unique skill set, creativity, and dedication. Headway supports clinicians with tools, resources, and simplified admin, so you can focus on what matters most: helping your clients. Check out our therapy resources for more worksheets and tips for working with children.

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