18 Insightful In-Or-Out Of My Control Activities

Life is full of ups and downs and it can sometimes feel like everything is out of our control. While it’s true that many circumstances are beyond our power to influence, there are still plenty of things that we can do to take charge of our lives and improve our well-being. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of 18 in-or-out of my control activities that are designed to help kids distinguish between what they can and can’t control. Whether they’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious, these activities offer practical and empowering solutions to support their emotional well-being.

1. Circle of Control Poster

This colorful poster serves as a visual aid to teach children about the things that they can and can’t control in their lives. The poster features a circle with two sections: one for things that they can control, such as their actions and attitudes, and one for things that they can’t control, such as the weather or other people’s behavior. 

Learn More: Twinkl 

2. Control Activity

This vibrant worksheet is a practical and easy-to-use tool for helping students identify and focus on the things that they can control, instead of those that they can’t. It also includes a third category to highlight those things that they may be able to influence, but not entirely control. 

Learn More: Twinkl

3. Hand Tracing Activity

In this activity, students trace their hands and label the things that they can control inside the outline and write the things that they can’t control outside of it. The end result is a visual piece for students to identify and focus on what is within their control; helping to reduce worry over things they have no influence over.

Learn More: Counselor Keri

4. Create a Mindful Moment in Time 

Mindfulness is the practice of accepting what is, and not trying to change it. The practice can be tremendously beneficial in helping children counter their urge to control everything, as well as reducing anxiety and feelings of helplessness. 

Learn More: Big Life Journal

5. Teach Kids the N.U.T.S. Acronym

Teaching kids about common causes of stress can help them discern what is and isn’t in their control. N.U.T.S is a helpful acronym that stands for Novelty, Unpredictability, Threat to ego, and Sense of control- the common elements in stressful situations. 

Learn More: Big Life Journal

6. Book-Based Activity With Discussion Questions

This humorous children’s book tells the story of an egg that learns to accept that it’s okay to make mistakes and that it cannot control everything! This extension worksheet helps reinforce this important lesson through writing and discussion. 

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

7. Control Scenarios With Personalized Experiences 

This comprehensive lesson helps students deal with situations that are out of their control. It involves a class discussion, circle drawing, and a worksheet with different real-world scenarios to teach students about what is in and out of their control, and how to avoid focusing on things out of their control. 

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

8. Watch a Video About Control

This engaging, animated video teaches the concept of control using a character named Kiki. She quickly learns the difference between things she can and cannot control with the help of a visual circle; a simple and useful tool for teaching children about emotional regulation and resilience.

Learn More: Morning Messages

9. Play a Game With Prewritten Cards

This colorful sorting activity helps students differentiate between what they can and cannot control; ultimately reducing their worries and improving their well-being. Students sort statements into categories of things that they can control, like their thoughts and how they treat people, and things they cannot control, like other people’s actions and the weather. 

Learn More: Teach Starter

10. Play a Card Game

Playing a fun card game can help kids learn what they can and can’t control by giving them a fun and interactive way to practice decision-making. Kids can control which cards they choose to play and how they strategize their moves, but they can’t control what cards their opponents have or when they will draw specific cards from the deck. This can help them understand the difference between controllable and uncontrollable situations. 

Learn More: Mom Junction

11. Teach Meditation to School Age Children 

Learning meditation can help kids see what they can and can’t control by teaching them to focus their attention on the present moment, without judgment or attachment to thoughts and emotions. 

Learn More: Calm

12. Create a Worry Monster Box for All Grade Levels

To make a Worry Monster Box, get an empty tissue box, pipe cleaners, construction or tissue paper, googly eyes, ribbon, pom-pom balls, and glue or tape. Once made, children can write or draw their worries on a piece of paper and put it in the box, which helps them to cope with overwhelming feelings and discern between things they can and can’t control. 

Learn More: Sanford Health

13. Counseling Activity For Students

Through a series of prompts and questions, this interactive emotional regulation activity encourages kids to reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to develop a sense of agency and empowerment by identifying specific actions that they can take to support their well-being. 

Learn More: Teach Starter

14. Engaging Resource With Literacy Extension

This colorful and clever children’s book is about a young girl who learns about making choices and taking responsibility for the consequences of those choices. It connects to the theme of what kids can and can’t control by highlighting the idea that they have control over their choices, but not always over the outcomes of those choices.

Learn More: Amazon

15. Journal About Normal Worries

Keeping a journal about things that one can and can’t control can be highly beneficial for kids’ mental and emotional well-being. It can also help them develop a sense of acceptance for the things that they cannot control;  allowing them to let go of unproductive thoughts and emotions. 

Learn More: Scholastic

16. Control Worksheet for Independent Practice

This activity involves reading through a list of things that our kids can control before making a list of things that they can’t. It’s a great way to teach them that they cannot control the actions of others, but they can control their own responses. 

Learn More: Elsa Support

17. Play a Bingo Game for Extra Practice 

This fun and educational twist on Bingo contains a variety of activities that are entirely within students’ control such as being honest, taking mindful breaths, and how they respond to challenges.  

Learn More: Bingo Baker

18. Watch a Video About Controllable Aspects of the Human Experience 

This engaging video is narrated by a young boy who shares five things that kids can control in their lives, such as their thoughts, actions, and reactions. 

Learn More: RocketKids