Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Exploring and Understanding a Child's Sensory ...

We all know the 5 senses and learned them from the time we started school. But did you know there are actually 8? Unpacking and understanding these can help us to understand yours and your child's needs and how you move around your space well. Joining Janine is Occupational Therapist, Sarah Collins who unpacks the senses and encourages you to find the words and strategies that work for your child's sensory needs. 

Today Sarah and Janine discuss: 

Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Helping Kids Understand How Their Brain Works

My guest Dr. Crystal Collier and I discuss some tough topics during this episode. Please be aware, especially if younger ears are listening, and please click play with care. 

As parents, we are concerned that our kids and teens may engage in high risk behaviors as they grow up. How can we, as parents, encourage our children away from engaging in these high risk behaviors? Or, if they are already doing any of these behaviors, how can we encourage them to stop them? 

In today’s episode:

Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Coping Skills Practice: Processing

Exploring different coping strategies helps us expand our child’s toolkit of strategies that work. But sometimes, it’s a challenge to get kids to try new skills. In this summer series, Janine tries to make it easier by walking you through six different strategies which she invites you to try with your child. Practice each one a few times to see if it’s a strategy that your child likes, and if they want to add it into their coping skills toolkit.

Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Coping Skills Practice: Movement

Exploring different coping strategies helps us expand our child’s toolkit of strategies that work. But sometimes, it’s a challenge to get kids to try new skills. In this summer series, Janine tries to make it easier by walking you through six different strategies which she invites you to try with your child. Practice each one a few times to see if it’s a strategy that your child likes, and if they want to add it into their coping skills toolkit.

Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Coping Skills Practice: Sensory

Exploring different coping strategies helps us expand our child’s toolkit of strategies that work. But sometimes, it’s a challenge to get kids to try new skills. In this summer series, Janine tries to make it easier by walking you through six different strategies which she invites you to try with your child. Practice each one a few times to see if it’s a strategy that your child likes, and if they want to add it into their coping skills toolkit.

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Homemade Stress Balls

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Homemade Stress Balls

Did you know that you can make your own stress balls? There are 3 different ways I’ve made stress balls. All of them use balloons, but I used 3 different materials to see how each one would feel: flour, rice and play dough. Each of them feels different and you can have your children try them all to see which one they like the most.

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Coping Skill Spotlight: Imagine Your Favorite Place

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Coping Skill Spotlight: Imagine Your Favorite Place

Sometimes all you want to do is run away when you’re faced with a tough or stressful situation. However, you can’t really run away and escape. What you can do is pretend. Your imagination is a powerful tool you can use anywhere to help you calm down and relax.

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10 Coping Skills to Help Kids Calm Down

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10 Coping Skills to Help Kids Calm Down

As a school counselor, I often had kids come into my office in a heightened state, and it was my job to be able to help them calm down and get back to work in class. I had lots of items in my room to help achieve that. It’s always easier for kids to talk about what’s bothering them when they’re doing another activity or playing a game. As a mom, I know that there are lots of things that can help my kids reset when they are having a hard time, or getting into arguments or just have on their cranky pants. Here are some of my favorite items to help kids calm down.

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Using Music as a Coping Skill

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Using Music as a Coping Skill

Has a song ever filled you with happiness and joy so that you can’t help but sing and dance?

Have you ever had strong memories come flooding back when you hear a certain song?

Have you ever cried when listening to a piece of music?

You have experienced the power of music.

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The Value of Movement

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The Value of Movement

Have you ever been at a busy playground surrounded by children moving in all sorts of different directions? As a mom of two, I often find myself there. And every time, it always strikes me as beautiful chaos. The cacophony of voices and the constant movement. All you see is children running, almost in a blur.

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Coping Skill Spotlight: Take a Mindful Walk

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Coping Skill Spotlight: Take a Mindful Walk

Mindfulness can be a helpful tool if you have a hard time managing your thoughts and emotions or if you want to improve your concentration. Mindfulness is being aware of what’s happening in the present moment. It’s not about trying to clear your mind, but allowing thoughts and emotions to come and go without judgment and familiarizing ourselves with the present moment. It takes practice to be able to do this.

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Welcome to Coping Skills for Kids!

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Welcome to Coping Skills for Kids!

I’m Janine Halloran, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, an Elementary School Counselor and a mom of two elementary school aged children. Over the last 15 years, I’ve worked with children around managing big feelings and emotions. Early in my career, I realized the importance of making sure my clients have healthy coping skills. Whenever I work with someone, my goal is to make sure they end up with a variety of healthy coping skills they can use every day.

Copyright © Coping Skills for Kids, part of Encourage Play, LLC 2025