CBT Triangle for Kids
The CBT triangle for kids shows how thoughts, feelings, and actions are three connected corners - change one, and the other two start to move. A story, a sorting game, and a triangle of your own, for about ages 9 and up or together with a grown-up.
Three corners that pull on each other
Here's something cool about how your mind works: thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected, like the three corners of a triangle. Thoughts are the words in your head, like 'this will be fun' or 'nobody likes me.' Feelings are what happens inside you: happy, mad, scared, excited. Actions are what you do - stuff a camera could see, like laughing, hiding, or slamming a door. The corners pull on each other. A scary thought can start a scared feeling. A scared feeling can make you want to hide. And here's the good news: change one corner, and the other two start to move.
Same moment, two triangles
Here's a story about how it works. Jayden's teacher says, 'Please see me after class.' Jayden thinks, 'I'm in trouble.' His stomach squeezes and he feels scared. He walks up super slowly and stares at the floor. Now rewind. Same teacher, same words. This time Jayden thinks, 'Maybe she liked my story!' He feels curious and a little excited. He packs up fast and hurries over to her desk. Nothing about the teacher changed. Only the thought changed - and it pulled the feeling and the action right along with it.
The sorting game: find the thoughts
Time to play detective. Remember: thoughts are words in your head. Feelings are usually one word, like mad or excited. Actions are things a camera could see you do. Check only the thoughts below. There are three.
Your turn: what happened?
Think of a time this week when you had a big feeling. What happened right before it? Just say what happened, like you're describing a photo - no thoughts or feelings yet.
The thought corner
What words popped into your head when it happened? Write them just the way they sounded.
The feeling corner
What was the feeling's name - mad, sad, scared, embarrassed, something else? Say it out loud, or tell your grown-up. Then mark how big it was.
The action corner
What did you do next? Remember, an action is something a camera could see.
Spin the triangle
Now the fun part. Go back to your moment and try a different thought - one you could actually believe, not just a fake happy one. Write the new thought. Then guess: what feeling might come with it? What might you do then?
What did you find out?
You just mapped your own triangle - nice work. Which corner was easiest to spot: the thought, the feeling, or the action? Which corner will you watch for this week? If you're doing this with a grown-up, tell them one thing you noticed.
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