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Surviving the Crazy Beautiful

Making Sense of Your Child’s Emotional World

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Child looking out of a window appearing sad, showing how kids can't tell you how they're feeling as they struggle to express emotions with words

Why Kids Can’t Tell You What They’re Feeling — And How They Show You Instead

Child holding emoji faces showing happy, sad, and neutral emotions illustrating how to teach kids emotional intelligence

How To Teach Kids Emotional Intelligence: 6 Play Therapy-Inspired Techniques

Picture of young girl with imaginary butterfly wings used to illustrate the article on guided meditation for kids: benefits and techniques

The Magic of Guided Meditation for Kids: Discover Its Benefits

Mum and child playing with building blocks illustrating one of many play therapy techniques parents can use

21 Powerful Play Therapy Techniques Parents Can Use to Support Their Child

Smiling young girl gently blowing colorful confetti from her hands, symbolizing calm, joy, and the lightness of mindful breathing—a visual metaphor for stress relief and breathing strategies for kids.

7 Best Breathing Strategies For Kids: How to Calm Stress

The printable tools and worksheets included in the free Crazy Beautiful Emotional Toolkit to help parents better understand their child's emotional world
The Crazy Beautiful Emotional Toolkit
Graphic of a young child on a skate board with a cardboard rocket strapped to his back pretending he is going on a space mission. Used to illustrate an article on a parent's guide to play therapy - answering parents questions

A Parent’s Guide to Play Therapy: Answering Important Questions

by Debbie McKelveyupdated on May 2, 2026December 3, 2024

Are you a parent with questions about play therapy? Perhaps you’re wondering is it effective? Could it help your child? And how does it really …

6 Insanely Powerful Ways Play Helps Kids Heal

by Debbie McKelveyupdated on May 2, 2026October 26, 2024

Have you ever wondered how the play during play therapy supports children? Learn the powerful ways play helps kids heal emotionally, build resilience, and transform …

Graphic design of purple jellyfish used as an illustration for the The Graceful Jellyfish: A Guided Meditation for Peacefulness for kids

The Graceful Jellyfish: A Guided Meditation for Peacefulness (That Kids Love!)

by Debbie McKelveyupdated on May 2, 2026October 11, 2024

Looking for a guided meditation for peacefulness? Try The Graceful Jellyfish—a calming visualization that helps children relax, reduce stress, and find calm. Kids live in …

Two young brothers fighting over a piece of cake. Graphic used to illustrate sibling conflict and how the divide and choose method can be used to teach kids skills like cooperation, fairness, and problem-solving

How To Handle Sibling Conflict: This Sanity-Saving Hack is Ingenious

by Debbie McKelveyupdated on May 2, 2026September 21, 2024

Feeling exhausted by sibling conflict? Discover the ‘Divide and Choose’ method – a simple and fair solution that teaches kids cooperation, fairness, and problem-solving. ‘IT’S …

Illustration of Albert Einstein with a cosmic background – featured image for Einstein quotes for kids post.

Best Einstein Quotes For Kids: Inspiring Imagination, Creativity and Kindness

by Debbie McKelveyupdated on May 2, 2026August 2, 2024

Children will love this collection of Einstein quotes for kids. These simple yet powerful words spark imagination, build confidence, and inspire qualities like kindness and …

How to handle back-to-school anxiety: 5 powerful art prompts

by Debbie McKelveyupdated on May 7, 2026July 22, 2024

Help ease kids’ back-to-school anxiety with these powerful art prompts! Create treasure maps, find sunflower superpower, and more ways to transform anxious thoughts into positive mindsets.

Colorful, abstract “worry monster” artwork created by blowing paint with a straw—part of an activity that helps kids externalize anxiety by turning worries into characters they can name, explore, and talk to.

How to Externalize Anxiety for Kids: The Worry Monster Activity

by Debbie McKelveyupdated on May 2, 2026June 7, 2024

This fun worry monster activity helps children shrink overwhelming feelings and manage stress. Learn how to externalize anxiety for kids with this effective and engaging …

Teenage girl with colorful paint on fingers and face used to illustrate blog post on How to reach your child's subconscious through art - 7 questions to ask

How to reach your child’s subconscious through art: 7 powerful questions

by Debbie McKelveyupdated on May 2, 2026May 21, 2024

Reach your child’s subconscious through their art! Use these 7 insightful questions to connect with their inner world and understand what makes them tick. Kids …

Young boy dressed in a superhero costume with a cape. Used for illustration in the article How to Empower Your Child with the Gift of Positive Self-talk

How to empower your child with the gift of positive self-talk

by Debbie McKelveyupdated on May 2, 2026April 10, 2024

Unlock the power of positive self-talk for your child’s success and well-being. Learn how to cultivate a supportive inner dialogue and empower them for life. …

A wooden worry box for children, labeled 'Worry Box,' filled with small toys and trinkets. An engaging worry box activity for kids who worry too much, helping them express and manage their anxious thoughts

The Worry Box: A Simple Tool To Help Kids Who Worry Too Much

by Debbie McKelveyupdated on May 2, 2026March 30, 2024

Discover how the worry box activity for kids can reduce anxiety, validate feelings, and teach healthier coping skills for children who worry too much. Do …

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About Debbie

Welcome
Welcome

My name is Debbie and I'm the play therapist and writer behind 'Surviving the Crazy Beautiful.'

This space is here to help you make sense of your child's emotional world - especially when behavior feels confusing or overwhelming.

Here you'll find play therapy-inspired insights and gentle, practical ways to support children through big feelings and emotional development...

Because sometimes parenting really does feel like surviving the crazy beautiful!

About Debbie
Read more about the 'Surviving the Crazy Beautiful' story here...

Categories

  • Emotional Regulation
  • Emotional Skills & Resilience
  • Understanding Behavior
  • Understanding Through Play
  • Understanding Your Child
  • Visuals
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