Bonus Kids Relaxation: Silly Animal Thoughts

Send us a text

This playful 5-minute, science-based meditation helps kids (and their grown-ups!) understand how their brains work, and that not every thought is true.

Children learn that just like hearts beat and eyes blink, brains think thoughts: some helpful, some worried, and some downright silly! Together, you’ll explore why anxious thoughts happen (your brain’s way of trying to protect you) and discover how to shift out of worry by using imagination and laughter.

Through guided questions and creativity, you’ll imagine the silliest animals, outfits, movements, and voices, helping your brain feel lighter, calmer, and more flexible. This practice builds emotional awareness, resilience, and connection by getting you giggling together!

Perfect for ages 2–10. Listen with a parent or caregiver and have fun being silly together!

Special thanks to Kyle Dine for permission to use his song The Doghouse for the podcast theme!
www.kyledine.com

Find Dr. Whitehouse:
-thefoodallergypsychologist.com
-Instagram: @thefoodallergypsychologist
-Facebook: Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, Food Allergy Anxiety Psychologist
[e-mail]

Episode Transcript

squadcaster-i9b0_1_11-11- (00:06):
Hello friends.
Today we're going to take alittle adventure inside our
brains.
Did you know your brain isalways thinking kind of like how
your heart is always beating, oryour eyes are always blinking?
Sometimes your brain thinkshelpful thoughts like look both
ways before crossing the street.

(00:27):
Or always remember yourepinephrine, but sometimes your
brain thinks thoughts that makeyou feel worried or scared, even
if there's nothing dangeroushappening.
These are called anxiousthoughts.
Your brain is just trying toprotect you.
It's like a little superheroinside your head.

(00:48):
Always on duty.
But sometimes it makes a bigdeal outta small things, and
that's when we feel thatfluttery nervous, uncomfortable
feeling called anxiety.
The fun part, just like yourbrain can think worried
thoughts, you can get it tothink silly thoughts too.

(01:10):
And practicing silly thoughts isa great way to remind your
brain.
To think in silly and fun waysand to remind yourself that all
your thoughts are not true.
Get some paper, pencils andcrayons ready in case you want
to write down or draw what we'reabout to do Sit comfortably with

(01:32):
your grownup nearby.
Rest your hands on your lap oron your tummy.
Wherever it feels comfortable.
Take a deep breath in.
And blow it out slowly.
One more time together, in andout.

(02:00):
Now we're ready to have a reallysilly chat with your brain.
First, let's see what is thesilliest animal your brain can
think of?
Maybe it's a pink giraffe, adancing octopus, or a spaghetti
eating penguin.

(02:22):
Next, what's the silliest thingyour animal could be wearing?
Maybe the octopus has a top haton each tentacle, or the penguin
has a tutu and roller skates,and instead of walking, flying,
or swimming how does your animalmove around?

(02:44):
Maybe it does the moon walk oronly does cartwheels.
It might bounce on a pogo stickor do somersaults everywhere it
goes.
Instead of making its usualanimal sound, what is the
silliest thing your animal couldsay to you, and what's the

(03:05):
silliest voice?
It could say it in Maybe thegiraffe whispers.
I like spaghetti only onTuesdays.
Or maybe the Octopus sings asilly song in a robot.
Voice.
Close your eyes and imagine youranimal in all of its silliness.

(03:28):
Notice how your face starts tosmile and your brain giggles a
little as you picture it.
Then open your eyes and showyour grownup.
You can act it out, draw it, orwrite it down, ask your grownup
to share their silly animal withyou too.

(03:49):
Take turns being silly, actingout each other's silly animals,
or maybe even having them have aconversation or do a little
dance together.
Nothing makes us feel safer andmore connected than laughing
together.
Let's take another deep breathin and while we smile, blow it

(04:10):
out.
Remember, your brain will alwayskeep thinking thoughts, helpful,
worried, or silly.
Just like your heart keepsbeating and your eyes keep
blinking.
The fun part is you get tonotice them and choose which
thoughts you want to play with.

(04:31):
Sometimes your brain might giveyou a what if thought about
something scary or worrying, butyou can always think a silly
thought right after or changethe worried thought into the
silliest thing you can imagine,and that helps your brain settle
down, have fun being sillytogether.