Don’t Give Up Yet! Teaching Kids to Manage Frustration

Frustration is one of the biggest enemies of focus.

A student who becomes frustrated may:

• Shut down
• Say “I can’t”
• Quit
• Become angry
• Blame someone else
• Avoid the task

Counselors can help students understand that frustration doesn’t necessarily mean “I can’t.”

Sometimes it means:

“This is difficult, and I need a strategy.”

Activities

K–2: The Frustration Meter

Students identify what frustration looks and feels like at different levels.

Then brainstorm strategies for each level.

Grades 3–5: Yet Challenge

Give students statements such as:

• “I can’t do this.”
• “I’m terrible at math.”
• “I’ll never be able to do it.”
• “Everyone else is better than me.”

Students add “yet” and rewrite the thought.

Problem-Solving Steps

Teach:

STOP → BREATHE → NAME THE PROBLEM → THINK OF OPTIONS → TRY ONE → TRY AGAIN

Picture-Book Recommendations

• The Most Magnificent Thing — Ashley Spires
• After the Fall — Dan Santat
• The Dot — Peter H. Reynolds
• Wyatt the Wonder Dog Tries Again–Lynne Watts