Inspire your kids to bust stress, be happy, and achieve their goals. This activity book for children and tweens will show you how! Coping skills help kids to avoid the damage of toxic stress, manage their frustrations in positive ways, and feel happier. In fact, studies show that kids who are able to self-regulate have a greater chance of excelling in virtually every area of life. This book is ideal for parents, teachers, coaches, and anyone who longs to help kids succeed. In addition to providing an abundance of stress-busting and mood-boosting skills, it also offers valuable insights into why these strategies work. Discover: - Eleven ways kids can boost their mood by changing their thoughts. - Six strategies that encourage children to express how they feel. - Eight practices for inspiring children to draw strength from their faith. - Five ways kids can elevate their mood though gratitude. - Seven tactics for supporting children in becoming present in the moment. - Five ideas for using temperature changes to help kids self-regulate. Children are far too valuable to merely wait and hope their situation improves. Take action by learning the self-regulating ideas in this book. Then, inspire your kids to bust-stress, be happier, and achieve their goals! Plus, a bonus activity book for kids is included! The activity book is packed with printable worksheets to help you pass on the stress-busting, mood-boosting strategies in the book!
I'm the husband to an incredible wife and the daddy to five amazing girls! I spent ten years serving as a children's pastor. Then, I worked as a marriage and family therapist, psychology professor, writing coach, and author.
Today, I've published 23 books. I enjoy helping others elevate their life and leadership through speaking and Christian life-coaching. In my free time, you'll find me reading, preparing for an upcoming marathon, barbecuing, paddle boarding, and enjoying life with our incredible family.
‘You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.’ ~ Christopher Robin
California author Jed Jurchenko is a seminary professor and therapist, as well as an author. His books include HEALING, GROWING AND LIVING WELL, COFFEE SHOP INSPRATIONS, 131 MORE CREATIVE CONVERSATONS FOR COPLES, 131 CONVERSATIONS FOR STEPFAMILY SUCCESS, 131 CREATIVE CONVERSTIONS FOR FAMILIES, and now 131 STRESS BUSTERS AND MOOD BUILDERS FOR KIDS. As he has stated, ‘I'm passionate about helping overwhelmed Christ-followers apply key ideas from the Bible and psychology to their everyday lives, so they can rise above their challenges and live with joy. As someone who has overcome many obstacles, he knows what it's like to experience life's storms. I also know that it is possible to experience a bright future on the other side. In all the books that I write, you will find a mixture of honesty, humor, practical advice, and hope! I am licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, college professor, former children's pastor, and camp counselor.’
Jed has a reader friendly manner of writing and divides this book of guiding children into creative play and healthy growth into the sections The Power of Self-Regulation, Why Coping Skills Work, 131 Stress Busters and Mood Boosters, Helping Kids Fully Recharge. Or as he states, ‘Children who are able to self-regulate have a greater odds of excelling virtually everywhere. Parents who teach their kids to bust stress, boost their mood, and persistently press forward toward their goals, not only pass on an invaluable skill but also equip their children to win at life.’
The content of this book is so well presented that quoting the author is the better choice of reviewing: ‘This book provides an arsenal of coping skills to help children bust stress, boost their mood, and patiently pursue their goals. When practiced consistently, this pattern leads to success. And, it works in virtually every area of life! Because coping-skills develop over time, teaching, modeling, and practicing these skills with your kids on a consistent basis is especially important. In short, taking action is far more valuable than merely knowing what one should do…From the moment a child is born, parents help their kids learn how to cope. A crying baby, who is nursed, changed, and gently soothed to sleep, is taught to seek support from others − a skill that will serve him well for the rest of his life. As children mature, they develop the ability to apply increasingly complex skills, such as stacking coping skills together. This strategy is expanded upon in later chapters. My simple definition of a coping skill is, any healthy strategy that allows a child feel good enough to persist. I like the phrase "good enough," because it highlights a balanced approach. Contrary to what some self-help gurus suggest, it is not necessary to feel elated all of the time. This would be exhausting. Instead, the aim is to prevent negative emotions from taking over. Sometimes life is hard. No skills will change this. The ideas in this book do, however, assist children in persisting through challenges without becoming overwhelmed in the process…Finally, the strategies in this book help children to feel happier. The idea that self-care is selfish is a myth. Children who practice healthy self-care not only boost their mood, they also provide an amazing gift to others. Moods are highly contagious, and when your child is happy everyone he or she meets will share in this joy. If you doubt this, the next time a baby smiles at you, I challenge you to try not smiling back. Thanks to mirror neurons, this is practically impossible.’ These are only a few excerpts of why this book works so very well. Providing real-life examples of the objects of discussion helps considerably.
Very helpful and satisfying little book well worth reading and following Jed’s wise counseling.
131 Stress Busters And Mood Boosters for Kids by Jed Jurchenko is a short book filled with simple (but not always easy to institute) advice to help children more easily master their emotions. Children who are able to do this will become adults able to do this and allow them them to be functional, rational, productive members of society. I dare say that 90% parents understand what the book is all about by the time they are grandparents and hence the often animated discussions across generations over the raising of grandchildren. Much of the advice and suggestion for moderating or changing behavior is "common sense," but not things we turn to or remember when under stress. While the advice is designed for children with parental guidance, most adults would do well to heed it if not already doing so. A companion book provides more specific direction and templates for some activities.
I read this book because I was looking for ways to help my 8 year old God-child deal with the stress of having Type 1 Diabetes. I purchased a second copy because I found that, and so much more! This book is well written and provides practical ways for all of us to manage stress instead of letting stress manage us. Mr. Jurchenko provides enough of the science behind the techniques in his book, to help us understand why & how they work, without going so far over our heads that we can't use the information. I strongly recommend this book for everyone. If we apply what we learn in these pages, our lives cannot help but improve.
I enjoyed this book because it’s Christian-centered but not preachy. And the advice in it works. It’s not a miracle drug but it does work. This book is not just a list of 131 tips. The author discusses, in detail, the reasons behind his methods. Over a short time, I can see how you can boost your kid’s mood and alleviate stress if you’re consistent. I like tip #27. It’s simple to do and yet it’s something we take for granted. Highly recommend this title.
This book is an excellent resource to re-visit over again. It is a go-to when a little calm, variety, and happiness is needed. The author takes such care to impart so many pearls of wisdom to support children and their families. In this day of massive technology being used by all age groups - it is more important than ever, to really pay attention. To ground our families in ways that foster growth and confidence. I am so happy to have fallen upon Jed Jurchenko's work.
Quick and simple read with good examples to help parents help their kids Learn how to cope. This is huge as we Live in a particularly Stressful time. My middle child had a major meltdown today and I tried to help him calm down and stop awfullizing the situation, but it wasn't helping. Finding this book was timely and I will be using these tools.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I learned a lot about the brain, the amygdala (in particular), different kinds of stress and their effects. The ideas given get you thinking how you can help your child handle stress and boost his/her mood. I especially liked the section on changing the mental view.
As a parent to a child that is easily anxious and socially challenged this short easy read is a great starting point to begin to generate strategies and solutions to help a child self regulate and refocus in a more positive direction. It’s a short read, which is perfect for a busy parent or teacher...
The writing was easy to follow. I found some good advice for kids and adults alike. I wan't quite sure what a amygdala was or what it did but have a better understanding now. Also, I liked his story about being tied to a tree for 21 hours. I will be interested in reading more of his books.
Excellent Practical go-to book! Very good ideas in a difficult time, when the mind is bothering and can't think clearly, but also very inspiring for good times as well. Great ideas. Highly recommended!
I love the strategies talked about in this book! I will practice the ones that I already don't in the classroom and see how our students react. Like someone else commented, we could all use a bit of stress busting.
Quick easy read. Lots of ideas I’ve already heard about but some new ideas to try. Some of these not applicable to our lives personally however. Overall it was worth it because I’m walking away with more tools to use and it isn’t a long boring read.