Capable Kiddos Book Series
The Capable Kiddos book series offers skills and tools to support children and their grownups to tackle common challenges such as friendship troubles, fears and anxieties, and low self-esteem.
My Brilliant, Resilient Mind
How to Ditch Negative Thinking to Handle Hard Things Better
About My Brilliant, Resilient Mind
In this empowering and uplifting story about mindset based on tools found in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, brother and sister twins learn how to be resilient in the face of challenges, all by using their thoughts! Join them as they work through life's ups and downs by recognizing negative thought patterns, reframing their thoughts into more helpful ones, gaining perspective, and bouncing back from hardship. In sharing this book with your own children, students or clients, they will understand how to harness the power of thinking to handle stressors better, help themselves through difficulty, and improve their lives!
Fear Not!
How to Face Your Fear and Anxiety Head-On
About Fear Not!
When fears and anxiety won’t leave him alone -- and pushing them away doesn’t seem to work -- a bold and courageous boy learns to tackle them head-on using three simple steps, with some mindfulness and coping skills along the way. Sharing his newfound knowledge, he empowers young readers to tap into their breath, senses, and skills to put fear and anxiety in their place. By teaching children how to confront their fears and mindfully ride the wave of anxiety, this book equips them with the tools they need to deal with the inevitable stressors of life and feel confident no matter the challenge.
Free Printable Worksheets
Facing Fear and Anxiety Head-On
Sign up to get your free printable woksheets about anxiety and fear here! You will receive one PDF with a note to parents/teachers/therapists and three age-specific worksheets - one for preschoolers, early elementary, and late elementary.
The Not-So-Friendly Friend
How to Set Boundaries for Healthy Friendships
Free Printable Worksheets
Understanding Healthy Friendships
Sign up to get your free printable worksheets about friendship here! You will receive one PDF with three age-specific worksheets - for preschoolers, early elementary, and late elementary.
About The Not-So-Friendly Friend
When an endearing child new to school is confronted with her very first on-again, off-again friend, she is left feeling defeated. What is she to do? Empowered by her own self-respect and empathy for others, she caringly sets boundaries and expectations, opening the door for a healthy and mutually beneficial friendship to form.
The Not-So-Friendly Friend fosters children’s social confidence and emotional well-being by delivering an easy and practical, evidence-based lesson about how to firmly -- yet kindly -- stand up for oneself by setting clear boundaries. Learning this skill is helpful throughout life, and has been linked with increases in self-care, self-respect, self-worth and assertiveness! At the end of the book you will find helpful questions and conversation-starters to support your child’s learning and skill-development.
Check out what other professionals are saying!
The Story Behind the Books
When I started the Real Life Mama blog, it sparked a passion within me for writing that I didn’t know I had. The more I put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, as it were), the more I found that I love to write.
Fast forward to 2020. My daughter was dealing with a prickly friendship that kept bringing her down, so I wrote a little rhyming story for her about boundaries in friendships -- what they are, how to set them, and how to value and love yourself enough to stand up when needed.
I didn't know it at the time, but my first book was born.
Having used bibliotherapy with clients for years, I know the value of books and their power to teach lessons. With that in mind, I took a chance on turning my story into a children's book, which has since evolved into the Capable Kids Book Series.
With my books, I hope to:
- Help children realize they are not alone in their struggles
- Offer practical and manageable tips
- Share evidence-based guidance and information
- Teach and normalize how to process feelings
- Support positive mental health in our youth
- Encourage meaningful conversations with trusted adults
