The Things That Bug Me Worksheet uses a fun, visual approach to help children pinpoint the small, recurring stressors—the "bugs"—that lead to big feelings of frustration, annoyance, or anger. Just as a scientist collects and observes insects, this activity encourages children to become emotional detectives, capturing their triggers across four key areas: home, school, friends, and self.
 
By naming and visually containing these "bugs," children learn that their feelings are often sparked by specific situations they can anticipate. This process moves them away from just reacting to a situation and helps them prepare a safe, healthy response instead.
 
Why It Works
Externalisation: Putting the "bug" (the trigger) onto the worksheet externalises the problem, making it easier to discuss and manage.
Contextual Awareness: The four zones help children recognise that their triggers change depending on their environment.
Proactive Planning: Identifying triggers is the crucial first step in any CBT-based coping strategy; you can't manage anger until you know the source.
Builds Emotional Literacy: Encourages children to put words and pictures to their daily frustrations in a non-threatening way.
 
Benefits for Children
Identify specific anger triggers in their daily life.
Recognise patterns in their negative feelings.
Strengthen self-awareness and reflective skills.
Prepare safe, planned responses for tricky, recurring situations.
Build resilience and emotional self-regulation.
 
What’s Included (A4 Digital Download)
Bug Catcher Worksheet (PDF): A4, printable, illustrated activity for capturing triggers.
 
Note: This worksheet is designed to be a supplementary tool for emotional literacy and is not a substitute for professional therapeutic assessment or treatment.