ANTs Automatic Negative Thoughts Activity

Conquering Automatic Negative Thoughts with Fun and Memorable Characters

Does your child think or talk negatively about situations, themselves or others frequently?

Introducing the innovative resource designed to help children identify and overcome Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs). Our engaging and memorable ANT characters make learning about cognitive distortions fun and accessible for kids. This resource can empower children with the tools to challenge negative thinking patterns, promoting emotional resilience and positive mental health.

Step-by-Step Activity Guide:

Step 1: Stop the ANTs

• Action: Introduce the concept of ANTs to your child. Explain that these are negative thoughts that can get into your brain automatically and make them feel upset or worried. Our ANTS all have a name to make this fun and memorable for your child. Show them each one and ask if they’ve ever had a Negative Nelly in their brain!
• Thought-Stopping Technique: Teach your child to recognize when an ANT appears and use a simple thought-stopping technique, such as saying "Stop!" out loud, clapping their hands, or visualizing a stop sign. This helps interrupt the negative thought.

Step 2: Reflect on the Situation

• Action: Encourage your child to take a moment to think about what just happened that caused the ANT to appear. Ask them to describe the situation briefly.
• Discussion: Use prompts like "What were you doing when you started feeling upset?" or "What happened just before you had this thought?" This reflection helps identify the trigger for the ANT.

Step 3: Identify the ANT

• Action: Show your child the ANT characters and their descriptions. Each character represents a different type of negative thought (e.g., Shrinking Shannon, Blaming Borris, All-or-Nothing Orla).
• Choosing the ANT: Help your child pick the character that best matches their negative thought. This step personalizes the process and makes it more engaging. It personalises the thought and allows your child the language to name what thought they're having instead of leading to self blame or shame.

Step 4: Investigate the Truths

• Action: Teach your child to question the negative thought by asking themselves if there is any real evidence to support it. Encourage them to think critically about the situation.
• Questions to Ask:
  • "Is this thought really true?"
  • "What evidence do I have that this thought is accurate?"
  • "Have I felt this way before, and what happened then?"
• Discussion: Guide your child in evaluating their answers and considering alternative perspectives. This helps them see that not all negative thoughts are based on facts.

Step 5: Flip the Thought

• Action: Once the negative thought has been questioned, help your child come up with a more balanced or positive thought to replace it. This is known as flipping the thought.
• Positive Reframe: Encourage your child to think of something positive or realistic about the situation. If they're struggling, offer suggestions or ask them what they would tell a friend in the same situation.
• Ask for Help: Remind your child that it's okay to ask for help if they're finding it hard to flip the thought on their own. They can talk to you, a teacher, or another trusted adult for support.

Example Activity:

1. Stop the ANTs: Your child says, "I can't do this math problem. I'm going to fail."
2. Reflect on the Situation: Ask what happened. "I got stuck on a math problem during homework time."
3. Identify the ANT: Together, choose Catastrophizing Carl because your child is imagining the worst-case scenario.
4. Investigate the Truths: Discuss if there's real evidence they'll fail because of one problem. They might realize they usually do well in math.
5. Flip the Thought: Help your child reframe it to, "This problem is hard, but I can try my best or ask for help."

Key Benefits:

1. Promotes Self-Awareness:

   • This resource helps children recognize when they are experiencing ANTs. By becoming aware of these negative thoughts, kids can start to understand their impact on emotions and behavior.

2. Enhances Emotional Regulation:

   • By identifying and challenging ANTs, children learn to regulate their emotions more effectively. This leads to improved emotional stability and reduced anxiety.

3. Builds Positive Thinking Skills:

   • This visual encourages kids to replace negative thoughts with positive, realistic ones. This shift in thinking promotes a more optimistic and constructive outlook on life.

4. Develops Critical Thinking:

   • The resource teaches children to question and evaluate their thoughts critically. This skill is essential for problem-solving and making informed decisions.

5. Encourages Mindfulness:

   • By focusing on their thoughts and feelings, children practice mindfulness. This helps them stay present and reduces the tendency to dwell on negative thoughts.

6. Supports Communication:

   • Provides a common language for children and adults to discuss negative thoughts. This shared understanding fosters open communication and allows for targeted support.

This resource includes one A4 metal board that can be used as a whiteboard over and over again. It also comes with 15 metal square tokens with the ANT characters velcroed on the opposite side.

As a bonus, there's a guide included with step-by-step instructions for parents, teachers, and therapists to facilitate discussions and activities.