Thinking traps for kids
“I always mess up”?
That’s a thinking trap, and it has a name: the Generalizing Giraffe. Teach three moves instead: Spot it, step out, and ask “What else could be true?” Watch the song, then print the free poster.
Send me the free poster Watch the song first
Spot It, Step Out
The song comes out on Monday 23 November. Come back then to sing along!
Shout the animal names together, “Giraffe!” “Monkey!” “Lion!”, and do the moves.
The three moves
Thinking trap? Here’s what I do:
Spot it
Point. Name the animal.
“Giraffe!”
Step out
One big step to the side.
Sitting down? A tiny step on the spot.
What else could be true?
Palms up. Look for a fairer thought.
“I got nine right!”
Spot it, step out — what else could be true?
A fairer thought is not a happy thought. We don’t say “that’s not true.” We look for a thought that fits more of what really happened. The feeling is always OK.
Free Thinking Traps mini-poster
Six trap animals in big, clear type, for the fridge or the classroom: the Generalizing Giraffe, the Mind-Reading Monkey, the Labeling Lion, the Perfectionist Penguin, the Shoulding Shark and the Blaming Bear. When you hear one, point to it and do the three moves together. US Letter and A4, in color and low-ink.
For teachers, counselors and parents
Want all 24 animals?
The full Thinking Traps Kit has 24 two-sided trap cards (the tricky thought on the front, “What else could be true?” on the back), the 24-animal poster, 2 games, sheets, a tracker, the lyric poster, the ad-free video and MP3, and a grown-up guide with a 5-day plan. 34 pages, US Letter + A4.
€12.90tax included · $12.90 in the US
See the kit- 4.9 · 173 reviews
- 1,964 orders
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