Free Resource: Thirty Questions to Ask Your Kid to Help Them Feel Calm and Comforted | My Comfort Blanket Activity
At any given time, whether I’m hunched over my laptop at work or relaxing on the couch at home, you can find me cozied up under one (or two) of my many blankets. As someone with chronic pain, my go-to blanket combo is a heated blanket beneath me and a lighter, softer blanket across me.
Even when I was in kindergarten, I would roll myself up in my blanket and lay in the floor, waiting for one of my parents to scoop me up and take me to my room. I think we all know the comfort of being wrapped in our a favorite blanket, pulled closely over our head, letting in just enough cool air to breathe comfortably…or maybe that’s just me!
Sometimes when kids are having a hard time, they don’t really need a big conversation right away. They just need something that helps them feel safe, calm, and a little more grounded.
A favorite blanket. Music in the car. sitting with the dog. A warm bath. A quiet corner.
Kids usually know what comfort feels like long before they know how to explain their emotions. When emotions get too big, though, it can be hard to remember what helps us feel better in the moment.
That’s why I created this simple comfort-focused activity My Comfort Blanket. It gives kids a chance to think about the things that make them feel better when life feels overwhelming, stressful, sad, or just plain hard.
It’s a creative, low-pressure coping skills activity that can be used in a therapy session or at the kitchen table.
How to Use this Activity
Because this is a digital resource, kids and teens have the option to print a physical copy and color with their favorite medium, or they can upload the image to apps like Procreate and color digitally on their tablets.
Invite them to think about what makes their bodies feels safe and comforted when they have big feelings. You can talk through the comfort items listed on the pages, selecting what works and adding your own.
When children start recognizing what helps them feel calm or safe, they’re slowly building emotional awareness and coping skills without even realizing.
Completing together as a family or hanging it up on the fridge after a therapy session helps everyone in the home know what helps. Parents, caregivers, and siblings can offer comfort choices, or the child can pick a comfort choice of their own.
As each blanket square is colored, you have the opportunity to explore why they chose that comfort item, how it helps them, when they may need to use it, and where they feel comfort and calmness in their body.
Below are thirty questions you can ask your child about what comforts them.
Which comfort item helps you feel the calmest?
What do you usually want when you’ve had a hard day?
Which comfort item do you use the most?
Was there anything on this page you’ve never tried before?
What helps your body feel safe and relaxed?
What helps when your brain feels too busy or overwhelmed?
Who do you like being around when you’re upset?
Are there certain places where you feel extra calm or cozy?
What helps when you feel nervous?
What helps when you feel sad?
What helps when you feel angry or frustrated?
What helps you feel better after school?
What helps you calm down before bed?
Which comfort item would you want on your hardest day?
Which comfort item makes you feel happiest?
What does comfort feel like in your body?
Do some comfort items work better at different times?
Is there something comforting that isn’t on the worksheet?
If your comfort blanket were real, which square would be the biggest?
Which comfort item would you want to share with a friend having a hard day?
What’s something someone else does that helps you feel cared about?
Are there sounds, smells, or textures that feel comforting to you?
What helps when you feel lonely?
What helps when you feel embarrassed or worried?
What do you wish adults understood about what helps you feel better?
How can I help support you when you’re overwhelmed?
Are there comfort items that help quickly? Which ones take longer?
Which comfort items can you use at school?
Which comfort items can you use at home?
What’s one comfort item you want to remember to use more often?
You can download the My Comfort Blanket activity for free from our store here. It is a part of our grief series, but can be adapted to fit your needs.
Remember: This website and these resources are supplemental and should not be considered a replacement for therapy from a licensed professional.
Comment below, share, and review on Teachers Pay Teachers if this resource was helpful for you. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to never miss a post.
