Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Workbook, Volume 1
40 + Fun Activities & Comics to Learn to Self-Regulate, Find Peace, and Be Kind to Yourself
Foreword by Dr. Kristin Neff, PhD | Based on Research-Backed MSC-CC
This playful, research-based activity book helps children ages 6–12 build foundational skills for mindfulness and self-compassion. Through comics, games, guided activities, and real kids’ voices, children practice noticing emotions, understanding their inner experiences, and responding to themselves with kindness when challenging feelings show up.
Volume 1 is especially supportive for kids who feel things deeply, get overwhelmed by big emotions, or aren’t always sure how to talk about what’s going on inside.
This volume helps kids build mindful awareness and work with common emotional challenges such as big feelings, mixed emotions, and self-talk, while laying the groundwork for a kind, supportive inner voice they can return to as they grow.
“This book is a goldmine for every parent and teacher who wants to help children develop resilience and self-compassion.”
–Dr. Kristin Neff, Author of Self-Compassion
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What is in this book and how will it help my child?
Volume 1 focuses on building a strong foundation for mindfulness and self-compassion—skills kids can return to again and again as they grow.
Learn Through Play
Children learn best when they’re engaged and curious. These workbooks use comics, games, and creative activities so learning mindfulness and self-compassion feels playful, not forced.
Real Kids’ Voices
Each adventure includes quotes and reflections from real children, helping kids feel understood and less alone as they explore their feelings and experiences.
Research-Based Skills
Activities are grounded in the Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers (MSC-CC) program, an approved adaptation of the research-proven Mindful Self-Compassion program.
Families use this workbook in different ways. Some work through it together at bedtime or during special one-on-one time, while other kids dive in independently and share what they’ve discovered afterward.
Educators use it in classrooms and small groups. Therapists often use it one-on-one with children, and sometimes in small groups, to support emotional awareness and self-kindness.
“While this workbook is written with and for children, it is best completed with an adult guide, making it easy to adapt to a classroom or homeschool setting. Given that a growing body of research indicates that practicing self-compassion is a productive way of approaching distressing thoughts and emotions that engenders mental and physical well-being, the adults might even learn a little something themselves!” –Margaret Golden, Ed.D, Greater Good Science Center
Playful Characters and Comics
Children are guided through each adventure by playful characters who make big ideas approachable, relatable, and memorable.
Feelings Habit Animals
Help kids notice patterns in how they experience emotions, such as big feelings, hidden feelings, or sticky thoughts.
Resilience Habit Animals
Guide kids toward helpful ways of responding with kindness, courage, and care when emotions show up.
Activities from the Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Workbooks for Kids
Activities help children turn ideas into practice through imagination, reflection, and play.
Piano Key Feelings
Kids explore why all emotions belong using a playful piano metaphor.
Side-by-Side Feelings
Can you feel more than one emotion at once? Kids learn how feelings can exist together.
Real Tools in Action
See how families use workbook tools for big emotions.
Volume 1 builds foundational skills. Volume 2 builds on these skills, helping kids apply them when life feels hard.
Members of Jamie Lynn’s Newsletter Receive Excerpts of the Books Free
Join the newsletter to receive a free PDF of selected workbook pages, along with tips for supporting kids with mindfulness and self-compassion.
Related Testimonials
“We found this workbook when I was searching for ways to talk to my 8 year old about all of her emotions surrounding school. My daughter loves that she can relate to so many of the examples and descriptions in the book. Using the animals to represent different coping mechanism has been great because it gives us an easy way for her to recognize her own emotions. (‘When that happened, which animal did you feel like?’) I am learning as much from it as she is. The book is long enough that she is working through it in pieces and I think she will keep coming back to it to learn more. I highly recommend this for kids that are experiencing new emotions and like to learn new things.”
–JH, Parent
“My 9 and 10 year old boys LOVE this engaging workbook – especially the colorful drawings, quotes and comics. They both have ADHD and my 9 year old only likes to read comic style books so this is perfect for him. My 10 year old loves the way it celebrates him as he makes progress on the quest, feeling good about himself in the process. I have already seen changes in how my boys relate to themselves and others in a more positive and self-accepting way.”
–Mindy Annette, Parent
“This workbook is such a gem! My kids loved it! I didn’t even have to convince them to use it – I just left it out on the table and my son opened it up and was immediately drawn in. He completed it himself in just 3 days. He loved the activities throughout the book – especially the real life kids who shared stories that he could relate to. One of the most helpful parts of the workbook was the ‘feelings habit animals’. It opened up many great conversations for us. I learned a lot about my son and how he sees himself, and I know he learned a lot about himself, too.”
–Sarah, Parent
“What a breath of fresh air this workbook is! REAL kids sharing their experiences, engaging comics, reflective activities wrapped up in a quest to throw a surprise birthday party for Doodles! My girls loved finding Anty in every comic and it is the level of details like this that encourages kids to subtly think about a topic that may otherwise be intense or preachy.”
–Ann Mish, Parent
“I bought it for my nieces and nephew, ages 7-13. My youngest niece asks to do the book with me when she comes over. I do it with all of them together and we have open conversations about their feelings. Somethings I knew and somethings I did not. We enjoy discussing it. And my youngest loves getting more ingredients for the magical cake.”
–Novelette Munroe, Parent & Grief Companion
“This workbook is full of cute comics that my kids love and full of practical ideas and bonus activities for kids to learn about emotions and how to be kind to themselves for having them. My 6-year-old kid does not like to talk about emotions and actually enjoys doing the activities! Even my 4-year-old loves it too, she is constantly asking for it!“
–KS, Parent
Begin Your Workbook Journey
Support your child in building skills they can return to throughout their life.
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