The Grit Workbook for Kids: CBT Skills to Help Kids Cultivate a Growth Mindset and Build Resilience

by Elisa Nebolsine LCSW, Judith S. Beck PhD (Foreword by)

Overview

A fun and engaging workbook to help kids ages 6-12 build resilience, perseverance, and a growth mindset

As a parent, you want to give your child a solid foundation for living a happy, successful life. But if you have a child who is easily sidelined by obstacles, has trouble bouncing back from setbacks, who melts down easily, or gives up quickly when things get tough—you may worry about their ability to succeed in our competitive, high-pressure world. So, how can you help your child develop grit—a trait that embodies tenacity and self-control?

Fortunately, grit can be learned. Written in a kid-friendly tone and grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), The Grit Workbook for Kids offers a unique approach for learning and practicing the tools, strategies, and skills that make up grit. These activities will help your child:

• Build stamina
• Keep perspective
• Be optimistic
• Solve problems
• Cope with change
• Practice mental flexibility
• Stick up for themselves
• Build good relationships
• And much, much more!

 

Grit is key to helping kids succeed in what they want or need to do—whether that’s getting good grades, making the sports team, or just building an awesome treehouse. By practicing the skills and activities outlined in this accessible workbook—whether on their own or with you—your child will gain powerful tools to help them thrive, well into adulthood.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684036004
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	11/01/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	136
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	5 - 12 Years

About the Author

Elisa Nebolsine, LCSW, is owner and clinician at CBT for Kids, a private practice in Falls Church, VA. She is also adjunct faculty at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, adjunct faculty at Catholic University, and diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. She has presented locally and nationally on the topic of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and children, and is a consultant for schools, agencies, and other organizations on the implementation and use of CBT with children.

Foreword writer Judith S. Beck, PhD, is director of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy and past president of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. Daughter of influential founder of cognitive therapy, Aaron T. Beck, Beck is author of The Beck Diet Solution.
Elisa Nebolsine, LCSW, is owner and clinician at CBT for Kids, a private practice in Alexandria, VA. She is adjunct faculty at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, adjunct faculty at the Catholic University of America, and a diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. She has presented locally and nationally on the topic of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and is a consultant for schools, agencies, and other organizations on the implementation and use of CBT with children, teens, and young adults. She is author of The Grit Workbook for Kids.

 
Judith S. Beck, PhD, is president of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy and clinical professor of psychology in psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. She is author of the seminal text, Cognitive Therapy, which has been translated into more than twenty languages, and whose third edition contains a recovery orientation.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Letter for Parents ix

Introduction for Kids xi

Activity 1 Intro to Grit 1

Activity 2 How Gritty Are You¿ 4

Activity 3 Tracking Your Grit Level 7

Activity 4 The Grittiest of Them All 11

Activity 5 Grit Spotting 16

Activity 6 Brains Can Change 18

Activity 7 Brain Basics 21

Activity 8 Fight, Flight, or Freeze 25

Activity 9 Name to Tame 32

Activity 10 Thoughts and Feelings:BFFs¿ 34

Activity 11 Catching Thoughts 37

Activity 12 Think Again¿ 42

Activity 13 Self-Talk: Yes, Talk to Yourself! 47

Activity 14 Mantras to Motivate 51

Activity 15 The Three Ps 54

Activity 16 Growth Thinking 62

Activity 17 Mindset in Motion 65

Activity 18 Grateful for Gratitude 68

Activity 19 Your Shoes or Mine¿ 72

Activity 20 Lights, Camera, Action! 76

Activity 21 Perspective Check 80

Activity 22 What's the Problem¿ 84

Activity 23 Do You SEE! 88

Activity 24 Grit in Motion 92

Activity 25 Recharge! 98

Activity 26 Tuning In 104

Activity 27 Grounding 107

Activity 28 Nature Helps 109

Keep It Going! 115

Acknowledgments 118

Interviews

Nebolsine resides in Alexandria, VA.

Editorial Reviews

This workbook is an invaluable resource for anyone with children in their lives—parents, teachers, child care providers, and others. It is a very clear and understandable guide to teaching kids skills that will empower them to succeed in all areas of their lives—be it socially, academically, or on the sports field. The wealth of information it provides is not to be missed!”
—Beth Salcedo, MD, DFAPA, past president of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, and medical director at The Ross Center

Beth Salcedo

I’m so happy that Elisa Nebolsine wrote this book about the important topic of grit! Elisa is an exceptional psychotherapist, and she shares her deep understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in a way that is extremely user-friendly for children. This book teaches kids about the skills that contribute to perseverance and resilience, including mindfulness, stress management, and CBT skills for self-assessment, problem-solving, and talking back to self-defeating thoughts. Elisa encourages kids to engage in a number of exercises for developing these skills and putting them into action—and she offers them tools for charting their progress in each area. The Grit Workbook for Kids is written in a conversational style that is clear, straightforward, and encouraging, but does not talk down to kids. And the wonderful illustrations help to make the book accessible to children. It’s a winning combination that makes this an important new contribution to the library of self-help books for young people.”
—Bill Stixrud, PhD, clinical neuropsychologist, and coauthor of The Self-Driven Child

Bill Stixrud

Elisa Nebolsine has done a masterful job with The Grit Workbook for Kids. It is accessible and helpful to children and parents alike. She explains complex concepts such as growth mindset and resiliency in simple and practical terms. The basics of affective brain science are presented in a nontechnical and understandable manner. Each new idea is accompanied with an exercise that puts it into action, building a new skill. Skills build on other skills, developing a range of tools and techniques for preserving and succeeding in the face of the routine stresses and strains in a child’s daily life. This is an outstanding addition to the self-help literature for children.”
—Gary R. VandenBos, PhD, senior professional consultant for the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, and coauthor of Leaving It at the Office

Gary R. VandenBos

The Grit Workbook for Kids is a great resource for children who struggle with anxiety, self-doubt, isolation, depression, or low self-esteem. The concept of identifying, practicing, and growing grit is genius! This practical, engaging book has tons of great ideas and lessons. Nebolsine has great confidence that children are capable of positive change because she has a stellar and successful career helping children using a playful, cognitive-behavioral approach. I’m grateful that she’s sharing her innovative concepts and strategies.”
—Eliana Gil, PhD, founder, partner, and senior clinical and research consultant at the Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education in Fairfax, VA

Eliana Gil

The Grit Workbook for Kids offers practical, important, and evidence-based strategies for kids to improve their perseverance, perspective, and problem-solving skills. The explanations are clear, the illustrations engaging, and the activities substantial. Every child can benefit from building his or her GRIT!”
—Mary K. Alvord, PhD, psychologist, and coauthor Conquer Negative Thinking for Teens and Resilience Builder Program for Children and Adolescents

Mary K. Alvord

The Grit Workbook for Kids is outstanding! It is a very helpful book for children and their parents. It is well written, engaging, interesting, fun for the reader, and chock-full of helpful information and practical coping techniques. The artwork and graphics enhance the book, helping the exercises and text come alive. This workbook focuses on building grit, resilience skills, and a growth mindset. But these exercises also teach children skills to manage their everyday challenges and stresses. Professionals who work with children, regardless of their specific approach, will find this book an asset. I am eager to use it with children in my practice, and recommend it to parents to broaden their children’s ability to persevere and bounce back when life becomes challenging. This is a winner!”
—Jane Annunziata, PsyD, clinical psychologist in McLean, VA; and coauthor of Shy Spaghetti and Excited Eggs and seven other psychological books for children

Jane Annunziata