Help children identify helpful and unhelpful thoughts with the Jolly Jellybean Helpful Thought Hunt CBT Game. This digital and printable cognitive behavioral therapy activity introduces positive thinking, self-awareness, and self-confidence by exploring how thoughts can influence feelings and choices.

Use the 30 printable thought cards and self-checking Google Slides game to introduce or review basic CBT concepts. Recognizing helpful and unhelpful thinking is an early step toward cognitive restructuring and reframing.

This game aligns with Session 3 of Skills for Big Feelings: A Guide for Teaching Kids Relaxation, Regulation, and Coping Techniques. It can also be used independently, with explanation of the two curriculum-specific cards noted below.

📦 What's Included:

• 30 Printable thought cards for identifying, sorting, and discussing helpful and unhelpful thinking
• Self-checking Google Slides CBT game for digital practice

🎒 Quick Details: Grades 1–5 | 👥 Individual, small group + classroom | 🍬 30 printable thought cards | 💻 Self-checking digital game | 🖨️ PDF + Google Slides | 🎯 Helpful thinking + introductory CBT

🛍️ Bundle & Save:

Want a discount on this? Check out the: CBT Skills for Big Feelings Game Bundle includes:

• This Helpful Thought Hunt game plus games about feelings identification, changing unhelpful thoughts, measuring challenges, and matching responses to problems
• Games about mistakes and gratitude for growth mindset and helpful-thinking practice

Want a discount on this? Check out the: Skills for Big Feelings Ultimate Growing Bundle includes:

• 12-Week curriculum teaching relaxation, regulation, and coping skills
• 40 Coping skills crafts and 12 digital interactive workbooks for creative and guided practice
• This game and additional CBT games, family handouts, guided relaxation MP3s, demonstration videos, posters, and editable resources

Choose the eBook bundle or paperback bundle.

🎯 Skills Addressed:

Identifying helpful and unhelpful thoughts, self-awareness, self-confidence, positive and realistic self-talk, flexible thinking, emotional regulation, and recognizing connections between thoughts, feelings, and choices.

💡 Ways to Use It:

• Sort the thought cards and discuss why a thought may be helpful or unhelpful
• Explore how thoughts can affect feelings and choices
• Use the digital game during counseling, classroom SEL, or telehealth
• Invite children to consider whether thoughts are realistic, compassionate, and useful
• Pair with Session 3 of Skills for Big Feelings before introducing further reframing practice

👩‍🏫 Who It's For:

School counselors, child therapists, social workers, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, special education teachers, elementary classroom teachers, and parents supporting students in grades 1–5.

📚 More CBT Resources:

Learn how to introduce helpful thinking and explore alternatives to unhelpful thoughts in Helping Kids Change Unhelpful Thoughts with CBT.

🖨️ Format & Download:

• Printable PDF with 30 thought cards
• Google Slides game for computer, interactive whiteboard, or screen sharing

📌 Important Notes:

• Two cards use vocabulary from Skills for Big Feelings: Feeling-Breath-Thought-Skill (F-B-T-S) and a small rock size challenge. Explain these concepts if students are unfamiliar with the curriculum.
• Helpful thinking does not mean always thinking positively. Validate difficult feelings and genuine concerns while exploring realistic, compassionate, supportive thoughts.
• Adapt discussion to children’s developmental levels, experiences, and communication preferences. This educational CBT activity does not replace individualized mental health treatment.
• This is a digital download. No physical product will be shipped. Due to the digital nature of this resource, all sales are final and refunds are not available.