Mindfulness Tools
Tricky Thinking Traps
A kid-friendly reference for the tricky thinking traps brains fall into — catastrophizing, mind-reading, all-or-nothing, and more.Learning to name a thinking trap is half the battle. This guide describes ten common tricky thinking patterns in plain, age-appropriate language with examples — so kids can spot when their brain is playing a trick on them.Best forTweens and teens working on big worries, perfectionism, or self-talk; parents who want shared language.
What you’ll get
- Vocabulary kids can use in the moment ("that's catastrophizing!")
- A natural companion to the Thoughts-Feelings-Actions and Balanced Thinking sheets
- Useful for older teens and parents alike
Inside the PDF
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More from Mindfulness Tools
Thoughts, Feelings & Actions WorksheetA kid-friendly worksheet that helps kids notice the link between what they think, how they feel, and what they do.Balanced Thinking SheetSide-by-side prompts for catching unhelpful thoughts and replacing them with more accurate, balanced ones.Problem-Solving StepsA five-step structure that helps kids untangle a problem instead of avoiding it or melting down.
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