Mental Filtering Activity: CBT Activity for Thinking Traps in Counseling
Mental Filtering Card Game for Kids: Help kids challenge negative thinking & build balanced thought habits. Looking for a fun, engaging way to teach kids how to manage negative thoughts and build emotional resilience? The Mental Filtering Card Game for Kids is the perfect tool to help children recognize and reframe cognitive distortions - specifically mental filtering.
This research-informed, play-based resource is designed for school counselors, therapists, educators, and parents to support kids in learning CBT-based skills to identify thinking traps, reduce anxiety, and develop a more realistic, balanced view of situations.
What is Mental Filtering?
Mental filtering is a common thinking error where the brain zooms in on one negative detail and ignores everything else. This distorted thinking pattern can contribute to anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. But the good news? It can be taught, challenged, and changed, especially with the right tools!
What’s Inside:
- 90+ unique cards across 4 categories:
- “What Are You Missing?” Scenarios
- Reframe That Thought Prompts
- Self-Check Question Cards
- Self-Compassion Affirmations
- Quick start guide for counselors, teachers, or caregivers
Kids Will Learn How To:
- Spot when they’re focusing only on the negative
- Ask realistic, thoughtful questions to challenge mental filtering
- Reframe filtered thinking with more balanced, flexible thoughts
- Build emotional awareness, resilience, and confidence
Perfect For:
- School counseling lessons and small groups
- CBT-based counseling
- SEL activities in the classroom
- Mental health check-ins or morning meeting tools
- Homeschooling families and parenting supports
Help kids zoom out, think clearly, and feel more confident one card at a time!
Add the Mental Filtering Card Game for Kids to your toolkit today and support stronger thinking, emotional balance, and anxiety coping skills in a fun, low-pressure way.
Please note: this is a digitally downloadable resource. You will not receive anything in the mail.