Mental health worksheets for kids and teens: by age, for home, school and groups

A good worksheet for a child gives a feeling a shape they can point to. Pictures, colours and scales from 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 do a lot of the work, because many children can't yet find the words for "I'm overwhelmed" but can colour a thermometer up to red. Keep it to one page, a few questions, and lots of space to draw instead of write.

The grown-up matters more than the paper. Sit beside them, do one yourself if they'd like, and keep your reactions calm and curious. A worksheet is a doorway into a conversation, and the most helpful thing you can say is often just "thank you for showing me". These are self-help tools, not therapy or a diagnosis.

KS1 (around 5 to 7): naming and sizing feelings. My Feelings Thermometer helps children show how big a feeling is, and My Calm-Down Plan lets them choose what helps: a squeeze, a song, a drink of water, a cosy corner. Free colouring pages are a lovely, low-pressure way to sit together quietly.

KS2 (around 7 to 11): worries, confidence and routines. My Worry Scale helps shrink a worry by naming it and rating it, Brave Me celebrates who they already are, and Our Good Moments catches one good thing a day for a week. For connection, the free Our Together-Time Menu is a gentle place to start.

KS3 and teens (11 and up): independence and privacy. Teenagers often prefer something they can do alone on their phone. My Mood Scale is a no-pressure check-in, Talk to Yourself Like a Mate works on a harsh inner voice, Turn Down the Volume helps with big feelings including anger, and Say What You Need has scripts for asking for help. The free Beat the Blank Page is good for homework freeze.

Worries: help the child put the worry outside themselves, by drawing it, naming it and rating it, then pick one small thing that would make it a bit smaller. Our anxiety worksheets guide has more on this for older children and adults.

Anger: children need to learn that the feeling is okay and some actions aren't. A thermometer that shows the warning signs at each level (hot face, clenched fists, loud voice) plus a plan for what to do at orange, before red, is far more useful than a sheet about "good choices". Our emotional regulation guide has a section for parents.

Low confidence: look for sheets that collect evidence of what they've done and who they are, not sheets that ask them to repeat affirmations they don't believe. Small, specific and true beats big and vague.

In England, mental wellbeing has been part of statutory health education in state-funded primary and secondary schools since September 2020, so worksheets often turn up in PSHE lessons, nurture groups and youth clubs. In a group, keep it to one simple activity, let young people choose what to share, and make "pass" a normal, acceptable answer.

Avoid anything that asks children to write down their worst experiences or rank their own mental health in front of others. Plan what you'll do if someone shares something worrying: in a school, that means following your safeguarding policy and talking to your designated safeguarding lead. Every Mindmallow sheet can be printed for a group or filled in on screen.

If a child's worries, sadness or anger are lasting for weeks, getting in the way of school, sleep or friendships, or you're simply worried, talk to your GP or the school's SENCo or pastoral team. Young people can call Childline free on 0800 1111, any time, and Samaritans are there on 116 123. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.