☁️Thought Clouds
Some thoughts stay. Some thoughts float on by. Let's sort them.
Notice unhelpful thoughts and let them drift away — kid-sized CBT and defusion.
CBT for kids
Thought Clouds is a free, interactive introduction to CBT for kids ages 8–12. It teaches the core cognitive-behavioral therapy skill — noticing that thoughts are just thoughts, not facts — through a simple sorting game. The activity also draws from ACT-style cognitive defusion exercises, helping children recognize unhelpful self-talk and let it drift away instead of believing it.
"I can ask for help when I'm stuck"
Common questions
What age is CBT appropriate for?
Adapted CBT skills are usable as early as age 7–8, when most kids can think about their own thinking (metacognition). Thought Clouds is tuned for ages 8–12 and uses concrete, visual language.
What's the difference between CBT and cognitive defusion?
Traditional CBT asks 'is this thought true and helpful?' and works to rewrite distorted thoughts. Cognitive defusion (from ACT) asks the child to notice the thought as a passing mental event rather than fight it. Thought Clouds blends both — KEEP / LET IT FLOAT / CHECK.
How do counselors use this in sessions?
School counselors and therapists use it to introduce cognitive restructuring without jargon, to gather examples of a child's typical self-talk, and to build a shared vocabulary parents can reinforce at home.