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Surviving the Crazy Beautiful

Making Sense of Your Child’s Emotional World

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Child laughing while building with colorful Lego bricks illustrating why play is important for children

Why Play Matters Way More Than You Think

Understanding your child’s behavior: sad little girl sitting quietly by a garden fence

What Is Your Child’s Behavior Really Trying To Tell You?

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

The Feelings Hotel - a creative emotional check-in for kids – a playful, printable emotions tool showing a hotel where children can ‘check in’ feelings using illustrated emotion suitcases.

How To Do The Feelings Hotel: A Creative Emotional Check-In for Kids

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

21 Play Therapy-Inspired Activities to Help Your Child Explore Their Feelings

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 …

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

by Debbie McKelveyupdated on July 27, 2026October 11, 2024

Explore the incredible benefits of guided meditation for kids. Learn techniques to reduce stress, improve focus, and rewire the brain for a happier, calmer life. …

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.

Young girl painting a rainbow with colourful paints

7 Questions To Ask Your Child About Their Drawings To Help Them Explore Emotions

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

Discover gentle questions to ask children about their art to encourage emotional expression, explore feelings and build a stronger connection through creativity. When a child …

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

  • Building Emotional Skills & Resilience
  • Supporting Emotional Regulation
  • Supporting Your Child Through Play
  • Understanding Your Child
  • Understanding Your Child's Behavior
  • Visuals
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