Everyday tools
A tool is something small you can practice: a question, a pause, a brave first step. Every friend has one. Beny practices them all.
Start with a moment
What's happening right now? Pick the one that feels closest.
“I missed, and I want to quit.”
Beny can help: keep trying
Try this. Feel the miss. Choose one small thing to try next.
“I can always bounce back.”
Meet Beny
“I'm being really hard on myself.”
Cappy can help: be kind to yourself
Try this. Say a kind sentence to yourself, just like you would to a friend.
“I love myself. I love that part too.”
Meet Cappy
“My brain is telling a worried story.”
Willow can help: check the story
Try this. Name what you know. Ask what you might be guessing.
“Fact or story?”
Meet Willow
“My body feels wiggly, tight or tired.”
Ollie can help: notice your body
Try this. Notice a body signal. Choose water, movement, rest, or support.
“Lion or ghost lion? Three slow breaths.”
Meet Ollie
“I want to try, but I'm scared to start.”
Pippa can help: try something brave
Try this. Choose a tiny first step. Practice before you feel perfect.
“Every miss is a rep.”
Meet Pippa
“I need help, but it's hard to ask.”
Tilly can help: ask for connection
Try this. Tell, write, or draw a message to someone you trust.
“Victory goes to the vulnerable.”
Meet Tilly
“My friend wants some space.”
Hazel can help: give others room
Try this. Ask: company or space? Give your friend room to choose.
“Hold with open hands.”
Meet Hazel
“I feel different from everyone.”
Zuri can help: make room for differences
Try this. Name one thing you share and one thing that's different.
“Keep the bread.”
Meet Zuri
“Everyone seems faster than me.”
Sully can help: go at your own pace
Try this. Pick one manageable step. Move at a pace that works for you.
“Slow is strong.”
Meet Sully
“My mind keeps floating away.”
Ellie can help: come back to now
Try this. Notice your feet, one sound, and one thing you can see.
“Where are your big feet right now?”
Meet Ellie
“A big feeling is rising up fast.”
Finn can help: pause before responding
Try this. Let your hands rest. Name the wave. Pause before you respond.
“Palms down.”
Meet Finn
“I messed up and can't stop thinking about it.”
DJ Next Play can help: choose your next move
Try this. Hear the feeling. Pause if you need to. Find your next useful beat.
“Feel it, then go.”
Meet DJ Next Play
“I want to hide a part of me.”
Peri can help: welcome all of you
Try this. Notice a part of yourself. Give it a kind welcome.
“I love that part too.”
Meet Peri
“I said I'd do it, but I haven't started.”
Kiki can help: follow through
Try this. Choose a small action for your promise. Adjust honestly if you need to.
“When I am aware of the work, I work.”
Meet KikiAll 14 tools
Grouped by the five ways to grow. Each one has a plain-language name for kids and the original name from the grown-up toolkit.
Keep trying
with Beny the bear
Try this. Feel the miss. Choose one small thing to try next.
Beny practices every tool below.
Kind to yourself
Your worth doesn't depend on getting it right. Talk to yourself the way you'd talk to a friend.
Be kind to yourself
with Cappy the capybara
Try this. Say a kind sentence to yourself, just like you would to a friend.
Grown-up toolkit: Love yourself unconditionally
Welcome all of you
with Peri the peacock
Try this. Notice a part of yourself. Give it a kind welcome.
Grown-up toolkit: Love that part too
Noticing
Noticing the moment gives you a place to begin. Check your thoughts, your body and where your feet are.
Check the story
with Willow the owl
Try this. Name what you know. Ask what you might be guessing.
Grown-up toolkit: Don't believe every story
Notice your body
with Ollie the otter
Try this. Notice a body signal. Choose water, movement, rest, or support.
Grown-up toolkit: Listen to your body
Come back to now
with Ellie the elephant
Try this. Notice your feet, one sound, and one thing you can see.
Grown-up toolkit: Be where your feet are
Pause before responding
with Finn the fox
Try this. Let your hands rest. Name the wave. Pause before you respond.
Grown-up toolkit: Palms down
Brave steps
You can take a small step while something still feels hard. Try something new, or ask for what you need.
Try something brave
with Pippa the penguin
Try this. Choose a tiny first step. Practice before you feel perfect.
Grown-up toolkit: Enter the arena
Ask for connection
with Tilly the turtle
Try this. Tell, write, or draw a message to someone you trust.
Grown-up toolkit: Connect courageously
Making room
Friendship makes room for each person. Give friends space, and keep being you.
Give others room
with Hazel the rabbit
Try this. Ask: company or space? Give your friend room to choose.
Grown-up toolkit: Don't eat the bunny
Make room for differences
with Zuri the zebra
Try this. Name one thing you share and one thing that's different.
Grown-up toolkit: Relationship grilled cheese
Keep practicing
A next step can be small, and you can come back to it. Go at your pace, find your next move, follow through.
Go at your own pace
with Sully the sloth
Try this. Pick one manageable step. Move at a pace that works for you.
Grown-up toolkit: Walk to win
Choose your next move
Try this. Hear the feeling. Pause if you need to. Find your next useful beat.
Grown-up toolkit: Next play speed
Follow through
with Kiki the kangaroo
Try this. Choose a small action for your promise. Adjust honestly if you need to.
Grown-up toolkit: The vow
A tool isn't a magic trick
Using a tool doesn't make a feeling disappear. It gives you something to do next. Sometimes the next thing is another try, sometimes it's a hug, and sometimes it's just a little more time.