🐾 Steady Steps™
A Simple Way to Help Kids Move Through Big Feelings
A calm, repeatable way to support your child — one small step at a time.
Rooted in mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Created by Michael R. Kiel, MA, LPC
See Steady Steps in Everyday Life
When homework turns into frustration, a transition gets stuck, or your child says, "I can't do it," it can be hard to know what will actually help.
Steady Steps offers a simple, repeatable way to slow the moment down and help your child find one small step forward.
Want to practice the steps together with your child?
Look for the linked steps below to explore free parent-child activities you can try together now. More are on the way.
The Five Steady Steps
Steady Steps is built around five simple skills that children can practice during big feelings and everyday challenges.
Together, the steps help children notice what is happening, understand what they're experiencing, make room for difficult feelings and thoughts, and take one small step forward.
1. Notice
Children begin by noticing what is happening in their thoughts, feelings, and body.
2. Name
Putting words to emotions helps children understand what they are feeling and respond more calmly.
3. Make Room
Children learn that feelings can be uncomfortable, but they do not have to push them away. Making space helps kids move through difficult moments.
4. Shrink
Big worries and overwhelming thoughts can feel smaller when we look at them from a new perspective.
5. Try
Even when something feels hard, children can take one small step forward and see what happens next.
Small steps, practiced over time, create meaningful growth.
Children do not need to feel ready first. They just need a way to begin.
That’s the heart of Steady Steps.
🌱 Learn the Steady Steps in Everyday Life
Understanding the Steady Steps is just the beginning.
These articles show how the steps look in real life — when children feel overwhelmed, frustrated, worried, or unsure of what to do next.
Each one focuses on a single step and how small shifts in awareness and action can make a meaningful difference over time.
You don't have to figure it all out at once.
Read the articles below.
Catch Up on the Steady Steps™ Series
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Blog 1 - Helping Kids Build Emotional Skills Through Everyday Activities
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Blog 2 - Why Your Child Refuses to Start Tasks - And What Actually Helps
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Blog 4 - When Kids Feel Stuck: Helping Them Start Moving Again
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Blog 5 - How to Help Kids Handle Big Feelings: The Steady Steps™ Approach
These articles introduce the Steady Steps approach and offer practical ways to begin using it right away.
Start wherever feels most helpful.
🐾 Practice the Steady Steps™
Understanding new ideas is helpful, but growth often happens through practice.
The Steady Steps workbook includes ACT-inspired activities for kids, short reflections, and guided exercises that help children practice these skills in everyday moments.
Each page encourages children to notice what they feel, slow down when emotions grow big, and take small, brave steps forward.
Designed for families to use together, the workbook offers a calm and supportive way to build emotional awareness and resilience — one steady step at a time.
• 50 thoughtfully designed pages
• Gentle reflection prompts for children
• ACT-inspired worksheets and mindfulness activities for kids
• Designed for parents and children to use together
Explore pages, examples, and how the workbook can be used in everyday moments.
Who Steady Steps is For
The Steady Steps approach supports children as they learn to navigate thoughts, emotions, and everyday challenges.
These ACT-inspired tools and activities for kids can be used across environments where children are learning and growing.
For Parents
Support calm conversations, emotional awareness, and small steps forward at home.
For Educators
Help students practice mindfulness, reflection, and flexible thinking in the classroom.
For Therapists and Helpers
Offer a gentle, structured way to introduce ACT-informed skills and emotional regulation.
Wherever children are learning and growing, small steady steps help them move forward.
Feel free to explore the workbook more in-depth. Choose the PDF format or the softcover format, whichever works best for your family.
One Step at a Time
Children do not learn emotional skills all at once.
Growth happens slowly — through small moments of noticing, naming, pausing, and trying again.
The Steady Steps approach is simply a way of remembering that meaningful change begins with one small step.
Whether you are a parent, educator, therapist, or someone who cares deeply about a child, your presence and patience matter more than perfection.
Every steady step helps children learn that they can face challenges, understand their feelings, and move forward with courage.
Thank you for being part of that journey.