Emotional Growth and Resilience

Learn why kids say “I can’t,” how shame and avoidance develop, and what ACT-informed parents can do to support resilience without pressure.

Emotional skill-building doesn’t happen all at once. It develops gradually, through small moments of noticing, trying, pausing, and trying again.

After the holidays, many children feel more emotional, tired, or unsettled. This gentle, research-informed guide helps parents understand what’s normal, why it makes sense, and how to support kids as January unfolds.

Committed Action isn’t about pushing through fear or getting it “right.” It’s about taking one small, meaningful step — even when emotions feel big. In this gentle guide, families explore how tiny actions rooted in values help children build courage, flexibility, and confidence. With simple language, real-life examples, and free mini resources for kids and parents, this post shows how showing up — one tiny step at a time — can quietly change everything.

Kids often try to push away big feelings—but acceptance teaches them to make space instead. Discover how this gentle, science-backed skill helps children and parents build emotional strength, calm, and resilience through small, steady steps. Includes free Making Space Cards to help your family begin today.

Kids (and parents) often get swept up in one tough moment — “I’m the worst at math!” or “I can’t do anything right.” Self-as-Context reminds us we’re always more than one thought, one feeling, or one struggle. In this blog, Sage the Squirrel helps us explore how to see the bigger picture, build resilience, and practice steady presence with kids through playful activities like Ripple Reminder.

Self-regulation skills help kids notice big feelings, pause, and return to calm. In this blog, we share what self-regulation really looks like in daily life, why modeling it matters, and how small, steady steps build emotional skills over time. Download our free Steady Steps Cards for playful, parent-child activities that make practicing regulation simple, fun, and effective—at home, in the classroom, or in therapy.

"Each small noticing becomes a micro-step toward understanding big feelings and making gentle, thoughtful choices later on. Whether it’s watching a caterpillar crawl or feeling a warm breeze, these tiny noticings help kids build curiosity, connection, and emotional strength — one moment at a time."

The best stories don't just entertain - they help kids grow. By using storytelling as a tool for emotional regulation, we give children a powerful way to explore their thoughts and feelings in a safe, engaging way.

Some thoughts just stick... but that doesn’t mean we have to stay stuck. Help kids handle sticky thoughts with playful defusion!

Kids get “sticky thoughts” just like adults—worries, fears, or doubts that cling like gum to a shoe. Defusion helps them step back from these thoughts instead of getting tangled in them. With quick, playful strategies, children can learn to notice their thoughts and gently let them go.

Mindfulness can be simple and playful. Kids learn it through tiny moments of noticing — a color, a sound, a breath. When we pause with them, we help their bodies and minds reset. In Acceptance Acres, Micah the Macaw shows children how to slow down and stay curious. These gentle practices build emotional awareness and calm. Explore our free mindfulness tools, including Micah’s 5 Senses Game and our Fill Your Cup pack.

Discover how ACT helps kids manage big emotions, stay present, and focus on what matters—through fun stories and creative activities!