It can be hard to be optimistic when negative thoughts are weighing us down. Sometimes kids need a way to get rid of the negativity before they can move on.

Ask the child to write down the negative thought is getting in her way. Set up a wastebasket and let her toss that negative thought away by making a basket. The following questions are an important part of the process.

Does that thought keep you from trying something different?

How does that thought make you feel?

Do you think anyone else in your class has that same thought?

How would your life be different without that thought?

Kids often need guidance to navigate some of their tricky feelings and thoughts. Knowing that others might be experiencing the same thoughts, and knowing that they have strategies to manage negative thoughts, can help them move on to more optimistic thinking in the future.