Therapy activities for kids

Therapy activities for kids may help when childhood isn’t always carefree. Kids experience stress, anxiety, and big emotions just like adults do, but they often lack the tools to process them. 

Summary

• Therapy activities help children express and process emotions in developmentally appropriate ways, especially when facing stress, anxiety, or trauma. Tools like art, storytelling, and mindfulness provide safe outlets.
• Group therapy activities such as icebreakers, emotion charades, and emotion bingo foster peer support, emotional vocabulary, and self-awareness through play-based learning. Download free emotional literacy worksheets.
• Expressive therapies like drawing feelings or using a “Worry Jar” offer non-verbal kids a way to externalize and manage emotions, while promoting open discussion and emotional insight.
• Mindfulness techniques and role-playing teach emotional regulation, empathy, and conflict resolution—giving kids practical tools to navigate real-life challenges. Using an EHR can help therapists easily store, manage, and access different activities.
• Using an EHR like TheraPlatform can help therapists organize, manage, and access activities and exercises with ease.

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Childhood is a critical period for emotional and social development. For children facing challenges such as anxiety, trauma, or social difficulties, therapy activities for kids can provide a safe and engaging way to express emotions, build resilience, and develop coping skills. 

Structured therapeutic activities for kids can help process feelings, improve communication, and foster healthy relationships in a supportive environment.

Group therapy activities for kids are particularly effective because they encourage peer interaction, normalize emotions, and teach children that they are not alone in their struggles. Whether in schools, therapy settings, or community programs, these therapy activities for kids can be adapted to different age groups and needs.

Icebreaker games: Helping kids open up

Starting a group session can be tricky as some kids are shy, others are bursting with energy, and a few might be reluctant to engage. Icebreakers ease them in by making emotional exploration feel like play.

Feelings charades: Acting out emotions

Remember playing charades as a kid? This version puts an emotional spin on it. Instead of guessing movies or animals, kids act out different feelings—like excitement, frustration, or nervousness—while the rest of the group tries to guess what they’re expressing.

Why it works:

• Some kids struggle to name their emotions, but they can show them through body language.
• It’s a low-pressure way to introduce emotional vocabulary.
• When the group guesses correctly, the child feels seen and understood.

Pro tip: If a child freezes up, offer prompts like, "Show me what your face looks like when you’re surprised!" Keep it light and silly—laughter helps break down walls.

Emotion bingo: A fun twist on feelings check-ins

Traditional check-ins ("How are you feeling today?") can feel repetitive.

Emotion Bingo turns it into a game.

Each square has a different emotion (happy, nervous, proud, etc.), and instead of calling numbers, you describe scenarios:

• "How would you feel if your best friend moved away?"
• "What emotion do you feel when you get a surprise gift?"

Kids mark their cards and discuss why they picked that feeling.

Why it works:

• It encourages kids to think about emotions in different contexts.
• The game format reduces resistance—kids focus on winning, not "therapy."
• Discussions naturally flow as they explain their answers.

Art and expressive therapy: When words aren’t enough

Not every child can articulate their emotions—especially younger kids or those who’ve experienced trauma. Art therapy bypasses the need for words and lets them communicate visually.

The Worry Jar: Giving anxieties a place to live

Kids carry worries like invisible backpacks that are sometimes so full that it weighs them down. A Worry Jar helps them "take out" those anxieties and put them somewhere safe.

How to do it:

1. Grab a clear jar and decorate it together (stickers, glitter, whatever feels fun).
2. Have kids write or draw their worries on small slips of paper.
3. Fold them up and drop them in the jar.

The magic behind it:

• The act of writing a worry and physically placing it in the jar helps kids separate from it.
• You can add a ritual, like shaking the jar to "quiet" the worries for the day.
• For older kids, revisit the jar later and discuss which worries feel smaller now.

Drawing feelings: Colors, shapes, and stories

Ever ask a child, "How are you feeling?" and get a shrug? Try handing them crayons instead.

Simple Prompt: "Draw what sadness (or anger, happiness, etc.) looks like to you."

Some kids will sketch storm clouds; others might use sharp, jagged lines. The key is to let them explain their art without interpreting it for them.

Why art therapy rocks:

• There’s no right or wrong—kids feel safe expressing themselves.
• Over time, you’ll notice patterns (e.g., a child always drawing themselves small when feeling anxious).
• It’s a natural lead-in to deeper conversations: "Tell me about the person in your drawing."

Role-playing and social skills: Practicing real life in a safe space

Kids learn by doing, and role-playing lets them rehearse social interactions before facing them in real life.

Conflict resolution through storytelling

Kids love stories, especially when they get to change the ending!

How it works:

1. Tell a story about two characters having a conflict (e.g., fighting over a toy).
2. Pause before the resolution and ask, "What could they do to fix this?"
3. Let kids act out different solutions—taking turns, compromising, asking for help.

Why role-playing matters:

• It depersonalizes conflict—kids problem-solve for characters, not themselves.
• They practice empathy by seeing different perspectives.
• They build a "toolbox" of responses for real-life disagreements.

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Mindfulness and relaxation: Teaching kids to pause

Kids’ minds race just like ours do. Mindfulness exercises help them slow down and regulate their emotions.

Balloon breathing: A simple calming trick

Tell kids to imagine their belly is a balloon:

• "Breathe in deep … fill the balloon!"
• "Now let the air out slooowly … whoosh!"

Do this 3–5 times. It’s instant calm in a tough moment.

Guided imagery: A mental vacation

Close their eyes and guide them: "Imagine you’re in your favorite place—maybe a beach or a treehouse. What do you hear? What smells are there?"

Why mindfulness works for kids:

• It gives them control over their emotions.
• They learn to pause before reacting (a skill even adults struggle with!).

Tips for success in therapy activities for kids

• Follow their lead: If an activity flops, pivot. Maybe today they need movement instead of drawing.
• Keep it short: Attention spans vary—10–15 minutes per activity is plenty.
• End on a high note: Finish with something uplifting, like a gratitude circle.

What to avoid

• Forcing sharing: Some kids process internally—that’s okay.
• Ignoring group dynamics: Step in if one child dominates or another withdraws.
• Overloading them: Stick to 1–2 activities per session.

Therapy activities for kids shouldn’t feel like work. When done right, they’re playful, engaging, and empowering. The goal isn’t to "fix" children but to give them tools to understand themselves and connect with others.

And hey, you might have fun too. There’s something magical about watching a child’s face light up when they realize, "Oh, I can handle this feeling."

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How EHRs can help with documentation

Modern EHR/practice management platforms (such as TheraPlatform) assist greatly with documentation by providing HIPAA‑compliant, integrated systems for note entry, storage, scheduling, and billing.

They allow therapists to:

• Use and customize templates (e.g., SOAP, DAP, and others) or build their own to streamline note writing and ensure consistency.
• Link notes to treatment plans, goals, and session history so client progress is easily tracked over time.
• Utilize e-fax and secure document sharing via client portal to safely exchange information with clients or other providers while maintaining confidentiality.
• Leverage dictation and telehealth transcription, which can automatically convert sessions into therapy or assessment notes, saving time and reducing manual entry.
• Take advantage of AI features that streamline documentation by automatically populating intake form data into assessment templates and generating complete therapy and assessment notes from the information you provide, all with a single click.

Meanwhile, AI‑assisted note tools are emerging which can further help clinicians by:

• Automatically transcribing session audio (if permitted) and highlighting key moments (e.g. emotional shifts, major themes).
• Suggesting draft notes or filling in objective or assessment sections based on observed data, freeing up clinicians’ time.
• Supporting consistency and reducing missing components in notes, which helps from both clinical, legal, and insurance perspectives.

Together, structured SOAP‑type notes, good EHR platforms, and smart AI tools support better therapeutic outcomes, more efficient workflows, and stronger accountability.

Streamline your practice with One EHR

• Scheduling
• Flexible notes
• Template library
• Billing & payments

• Insurance claims
• Client portal
• Telehealth
• E-fax

Learn More

Resources for mental health therapists

Theraplatform is an all-in-one EHR, practice management and teletherapy solution with AI-powered notes and Wiley Treatment Planners that allow you to focus more on patient care. With a 30-day free trial, you have the opportunity to experience Theraplatform for yourself with no credit card required. Cancel anytime. They also support different industries including mental and behavioral health therapists in group practices and solo practices.

More resources

• Therapy resources and worksheets
• Therapy private practice courses
• Ultimate teletherapy ebook
• The Ultimate Insurance Billing Guide for Therapists
• The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Private Therapy Practice
• Insurance billing 101
• Practice management tools

Free video classes

• Free on-demand insurance billing for therapist course
• Free mini video lessons to enhance your private practice
• 9 Admin tasks to automate in your private practice

References

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). (n.d.). Social-emotional learning interventions. https://www.nasponline.org 

American Psychological Association (APA). (2020). Mindfulness for children. https://www.apa.org/topics/mindfulness 

Child Mind Institute. (n.d.). How to help kids with self-regulation. https://www.casciac.org/pdfs/childmind.org-HowCanWeHelpKidsWithSelf-Regulation.pdf 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Children’s mental health. https://www.cdc.gov/children-mental-health/about/index.html 

Harvard University Center on the Developing Child. (n.d.). Resilience and stress management in children. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resource-guides/guide-resilience/ 

Pinto TM, Laurence PG, Macedo CR, Macedo EC. Resilience Programs for Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Psychol. 2021 Nov 22;12:754115. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.754115. PMID: 34880812; PMCID: PMC8645691. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8645691/