Hello friends,
The creation of my workbooks for kids began with a deep desire for all children, not just the ones in my classes, to experience the life-changing power of self-compassion… more self-love, more confidence, and the courage to do hard things.
I thought I knew what kids would need. I had years of teaching experience, piles of research, and a whole lot of heart.
But the truth is… the kids knew better.
In those early days, six kids (three pairs of siblings) gathered in my living room. We tested activities, told stories, and played with ideas.
And from the very beginning they pushed me: “We need a quiz. That would make it fun.”
So, we made a quiz. And out of that quiz came the Feelings Habit Animals: Bear, Beaver, Chameleon, Deer (and later, Dragon). Each one shows a different way kids relate to their feelings: sticky, big, hidden, or shame-filled.
Suddenly, kids weren’t just “doing mindfulness.” They were spotting themselves in animals. Laughing. Pointing. Saying things like:
“I’m such a Bear when I get mad!”
“I think I’m a Beaver… my mind never stops.”
The resistance melted.
That’s when I learned one of the biggest truths about teaching kids these skills:
👉 Play is the secret door.
Kids don’t want another lesson. They want a game, a story, a character to identify with. And when we open that door through play, the lessons of mindfulness and self-compassion flow in naturally… helping kids build inner kindness and resilience that last a lifetime.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll share more behind-the-scenes stories of how kids shaped what became the Mindfulness & Self-Compassion Workbooks for Kids — from demanding comics, to designing characters, to dreaming up a magical quest.
It gives me goosebumps every time I remember: this workbook wasn’t written for kids. It was written with them.
With love, joy and PLAY,
Jamie Lynn 💛
P.S. Which one is your child? Take the Feelings Habit Animal Quiz here. And if you’d like to dive deeper, explore Volume 1 of the Mindfulness & Self-Compassion Workbook for Kids here.
P.P.S. Can you guess what my kids are? We’re all a mix in this house… but Maya leans Bear, and Anjali leans Beaver. And even though I always test a bear, I have strong tones of Deer!
Suddenly, kids weren’t just “doing mindfulness.” They were spotting themselves in animals. Laughing. Pointing. Saying things like:
“I’m such a Bear when I get mad!”
“I think I’m a Beaver… my mind never stops.”
The resistance melted.
That’s when I learned one of the biggest truths about teaching kids these skills:
👉 Play is the secret door.
Kids don’t want another lesson. They want a game, a story, a character to identify with. And when we open that door through play, the lessons of mindfulness and self-compassion flow in naturally… helping kids build inner kindness and resilience that last a lifetime.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll share more behind-the-scenes stories of how kids shaped what became the Mindfulness & Self-Compassion Workbooks for Kids — from demanding comics, to designing characters, to dreaming up a magical quest.
It gives me goosebumps every time I remember: this workbook wasn’t written for kids. It was written with them.
With love, joy and PLAY,
Jamie Lynn 💛
P.S. Which one is your child? Take the Feelings Habit Animal Quiz here. And if you’d like to dive deeper, explore Volume 1 of the Mindfulness & Self-Compassion Workbook for Kids here.
P.P.S. Can you guess what my kids are? We’re all a mix in this house… but Maya leans Bear, and Anjali leans Beaver. And even though I always test a bear, I have strong tones of Deer!
🐾Read next: When Kids Told Me the Comics Sounded Too “Teachy” — Discover how kids helped shape the voices and stories that made self-compassion come alive.