Silly Voices

When negative thoughts loop in your kids’ minds ("I'm not smart enough," "I always mess things up"), they feel powerful and true. But here's a quick way to take away their power:

Have them say the thought out loud in the silliest voice they can imagine – a cartoon character, a pirate, a robot, or a dramatic Shakespearean actor. When students hear their negative self-talk in a goofy voice, it loses its grip on them.

This cognitive defusion technique helps students see these thoughts for what they really are: just mental chatter, not absolute truths.