Lorraine M. Hobbs - The Self-Compassion Workbook for Kids: Fun Mindfulness Activities to Build Emotional Strength and Make Kindness Your Superpower

Self-compassion is a powerful resource for coping with whatever life sends our way. When adults learn it, they often say, Why didnt I learn this sooner? Well, now we can start to learn at the earliest possible age. This superb workbook captures the depth and scope of self-compassion in simple, totally delightful practices and activities. Highly recommended for parents, teachers, therapists, and anyone who loves kids.

Christopher Germer, PhD, lecturer on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, codeveloper of the Mindful Self-Compassion program, and author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion

As both a parent and teacher, this workbook by Hobbs and Balentine, The Self-Compassion Workbook for Kids , is my new go-to for teaching, sharing, and supporting kids in learning self-compassion. Its packed full of so many fun, engaging, and supporting practices that are not only essential to help kids, but also an excellent resource for anyone who teaches, parents, and supports the children of our world. This practical and accessible guide will truly change how we can bring the practices of self-compassion to kids.

Lisa Baylis, MEd, teacher, counselor, and author of Self-Compassion for Educators

Hobbs and Balentine have crafted an engaging psychoeducational workbook on self-compassion for youth. The book expertly scaffolds readers from breathing exercises to emotion regulation and values exploration, and includes cleverly linked audio tracks, written mindfulness exercises, yoga, craft activities, and fun educational challenges. It invites children to learn about kindness, compassion, and mindfulness through workbook tasks and added practices. As a child psychologist and author, I highly recommend it!

Amy R. Murrell, PhD, licensed psychologist; coauthor of The Joy of Parenting ; and author of The Becca Epps Series about Bending Your Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors

Lorraine and Amy have created a treasure trove of practices that will help children and their grown-ups cultivate kindness and compassion inside themselves and in the world around them.

Christopher Willard, PsyD, faculty at Harvard Medical School, and coauthor of Alphabreaths

Lorraine Hobbs and Amy Balentines The Self-Compassion Workbook for Kids is remarkable in its simplicity and usefulness. Its lovely, accessible format gives kids and their caregivers a step-by-step approach to experiencing self-compassion directly, and becoming their own best friend. Highly recommended.

Susan Kaiser Greenland, author of The Mindful Child, Mindful Games , and The Inner Kids Program

Full of creative and engaging exercises, this gem of a book guides children in developing and practicing the self-compassion that allows us to flourish.

Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance and Trusting the Gold

Dear Kids, this lovely book takes you on a journey to discover your inner superpower of kindness and mindfulness. Youll have fun, play games, make crafts, enjoy nature, and learn how to tame your inner dragon and make friends with your inner bully all at the same time!

Dzung X. Vo, MD, author of The Mindful Teen

This book is a fabulous resource for children, parents, teachers, and grandparents. The authors make self-compassion accessible and fun, which is no small feat. Packed with creative games and activities, it is both practical and delightful. In fact, it is good for children of all ages!

Susan M. Pollak, EdD, cofounder of the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion at Harvard Medical School, and author of Self-Compassion for Parents

If you are a parent, grandparent, or work with children, I strongly recommend you pick up this book and keep it handy. Full of practical exercises you can use today, it is a beautiful and accessible handbook for helping kids develop the lifelong healthy habit of self-compassion, which we now know is a key building block of psychological resilience and well-being. As a bonus, when you practice with kids, you are sure to benefit as well.

Cassandra Vieten, PhD, executive director of the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation; acting director of the Center for Mindfulness at the University of California, San Diego; and author of Mindful Motherhood

Publishers Note

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

INSTANT HELP, the Clock Logo, and NEW HARBINGER are trademarks of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2023 by Lorraine M. Hobbs and Amy C. Balentine

Instant Help Books

An imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

The Self-Compassion Workbook for Kids is adapted from the Mindful Self-Compassion Program for Teens (formerly Making Friend with Yourself), co-developed by Lorraine Hobbs and Karen Bluth. The original content is based on the Mindful Self-Compassion Program created by Chris Germer and Kristin Neff, who generously granted permission to use the adapted material for this workbook.

The poem Who is In Your Box of Crayons is from The Crayon Box That Talked (Scholastic 1998) and is copyright Shane Derolf. Used by permission.

The meditation A Kid Just Like Me is adapted from Chade Meng-Tans A Person Just Like Me from The Search Inside Myself copyright HarperCollins 2012. Used by permission.

Cover design and illustration by Sara Christian. Interior book design by Amy Shoup.
Acquired by Tesilya Hanauer. Edited by Brady Kahn.

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file

We dedicate this workbook to our own children and all those children we had the pleasure of learning from throughout the years who helped inspire the creation of this book.

Contents

Foreword

In this delightful and fun-filled workbook, kids can learn how to deeply care for themselves and to manage stress in a world that is rapidly changing. Unfortunately, kids in general are experiencing higher rates of distress than ever before, leading to a national emergency in mental health for children and youth. This is happening at a time when kids should be immersed in critical stages of learning.

Whether they are facing trauma because of abuse, significant losses, everyday anxiety about the pandemic, or peer pressure, kids need even more support now at a time when we are facing significant shortages in mental health resources.

This is why self-compassion is such a valuable tool for young people; self-compassion means being a good friend to yourself when you are struggling. It is an opportunity for kids to make compassion a superpower that can help with some of the scary and uncomfortable parts of being young. Ask any kid about the bullies at school or the pressures of social media!

Research shows that self-compassion can reduce anxiety, worry, and stress in teens when they learn to practice self-care, and it also reduces suicidal ideation. Studies also indicate that kids are happier, thrive, and function better when they build the emotional resources through self-compassion that help them face life difficulties. Mindfulness helps kids to focus their attention in the here and now and has the potential to quiet the mind and reduce negative thoughts and emotions. Self-compassion focuses on warmth so that kids can be kind, supportive, and accepting of themselves. This warmth, plus the mindful awareness, has the capacity to help kids deal with the tough stuff in life and reach their full potential. Research shows that the encouragement and constructive criticism through the lens of self-compassion are more effective motivators than harsh self-judgment, helping kids to develop a growth orientation and learn from failure as a part of life.