Get Out of My Brain!

A Book Review of Catching Thoughts

Catching Thoughts
Written by: Bonnie Clark
Illustrated by: Summer Macon
Published by: Beaming Books

Catching Thoughts is an excellent book to introduce the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) concept of  restructuring to young children. This is the idea of taking a negative thought process and flipping it to a positive one. Children who learn this concept at an early age, will have a head start on emotional health as they grow. They will learn to take control of their thoughts in order to empower themselves. Negative self-talk is often what leads to poor self-esteem, depression, anxiety and other issues. 

Catching Thoughts is an empowering picture book for children ages 4 - 8. The author, Bonnie Clark, introduces thoughts using a balloon analogy, which helps children think more tangibly about this abstract concept. The main character starts out with "just a teeny, tiny, little thought" that grew into a bigger and more bothersome thought that took over her mind.  

"It seemed like there was no more room in my head for anything but the one horrible thought." 

After many attempts, she was unable to get this big, negative thought out of her mind. When she acknowledged the thought, she was able to see that it wasn't as powerful as it appeared. Only then was she able to catch other thoughts that were more positive. When the negative thought started to come back, she simply acknowledged it and "gently pushed it to the side." This is an important insight in dealing with negative thoughts. They can't be forced out, but if they are acknowledged and consciously set aside, one is able to make room for accepting more positive thoughts. 

Through her empowering language, Ms. Clark demonstrates to children that they have a choice to change their negative self-talk. The illustrator, Summer Macon, does a wonderful job with the pictorial representation of the change in mood and behavior using color, facial expressions and actions that corresponds to pulling in positive thoughts. 

I strongly recommend this book to help children learn, and adults remember, the power they have over their thoughts. To reinforce the concept of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, I have included an activity below. 

​To purchase the book or find fun activities, check out the author's website here. 

Activity Idea for Catching Thoughts

Materials needed:
-pen/pencil
-paper
-Balloons (various colors)
-Black permanent marker
​-string
-scissors

Directions:
1. Discuss negative thoughts with the child and write down some that they have.

2. Brainstorm how they can change those to positive thoughts. Be specific. 

Ex. Negative thought- "Everyone hates me. I don't have any friends."
Positive thought- "A couple kids are mean to me, but I have friends, like Alison and Jamar."  




3. Have child pick a color balloon for a negative thought and blow up balloon. 













​4. Write negative thought on balloon.













5. Have child pick a color balloon for a corresponding positive thought and blow up that balloon. 

6. Write positive thought on balloon.

​7. Continue doing the same with all of their thoughts.





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8. Cut strings and tie to balloons.










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9. Read thoughts together, talk about negative and positive ones and role-play pushing the negative ones aside and embracing the positive ones (actually have child give positive balloons hugs). 

10. You can also gather the happy thought balloons and toss them to eachother, to practice catching and embracing those positive thoughts! You can gather the negative thoughts and throw them to eachother, to practice pushing them away. 

11. As an ongoing practice, Parent/Therapist can help redirect the child when they say negative thoughts out loud, to replace them with the positive thoughts.
It takes practice! 
Have Fun!