Building psychological flexibility in young children through play - Lisa Coyne

ACT for children and young people (CYP)ACT for parents

In this video, Lisa Coyne explores how to help young children differentiate between their noticer (what they experience through their senses) and their advisor (their thoughts or judgements). Using a building sandcastles example, you’ll see how to guide children in recognising these perspectives, making choices, and building their psychological flexibility. This simple yet effective tool introduces mindfulness in a way that’s accessible and engaging for kids.

This video is taken from our ‘Expert tips for ACT’ playlist on YouTube:

LISA COYNE is a licensed clinical psychologist dedicated to enhancing the psychological well-being of children, teens, adults and families. With over two decades of clinical and academic experience, Dr Coyne is known for her developmentally-informed approach to working with children and families facing anxiety, OCD, and emotional regulation challenges. She has published extensively on parenting, child and adolescent mental health, and ACT.

Related content for this resource:

Using ACT with young children

Adapting ACT for children and young people

Using ACT to support young children: Practical strategies for clinicians working with parents

Upcoming live training

ACT in early childhood (4-11 years)

ACT for parents

ACT for adolescents

Knowledge hub

Neurodivergence in young people and ACT

Teen OCD and ACT

ACT for parents

Using ACT with young children

ACT for stuck adolescents

Perinatal mental health and ACT

ACT for sport

Self-harm and suicidality in young people

ACT for children and young people

Autism and ACT

DNA-V - the ACT model for children and adolescents

On-demand training

ACT for teens with OCD

ACT for perinatal mental health

ACT with young people on the autism spectrum

Developing psychologically flexible children and adolescents

Blog: Latest insights into ACT

More than baby brain: A surprising perspective on postpartum mental health

Using ACT to support young children: Practical strategies for clinicians working with parents

Common issues facing adolescents and using ACT and DNA-V to support them

Adapting ACT for children and young people

Enhancing exposure and response prevention with ACT: Supporting teens who have OCD

Pokemon: an insight into popular culture phenomena and special interests

Toddler mind: a mindful approach in ACT for perinatal mental health

The critical importance of early support and access to services for neurodivergent adolescents

What Netflix’s Adolescence gets right about teen psychology – through the lens of ACT

Supporting children and young people's mental health – a necessity not a luxury

Neurodiversity celebration week - Supporting the mental health of people with neurodivergence

Exploring the effectiveness of ACT in easing stress among adolescents – a meta analytic review

ACT for adolescent anxiety: a systematic research review

Meet our speaker: Louise Hayes

Parent, child, and family outcomes following ACT for parents of autistic children: A randomized controlled trial

DNA-V: scientific publications around DNA-V and ACT for youth and adults

Psychological flexibility of parents of children with disabilities: a systematic literature review

Mental health and neurodiversity in young people: what can we do?

Resource hub

Case studies: Using ACT and DNA-V to support adolescents

ACT for children and parents - reading list

The effectiveness of ACT-based parenting training on mood and anxiety in children and self-compassion in parents: Research paper

Adapting ACT for children and young people ebook

Helping young people understand their emotions: Inside outside vision - Louise Hayes

ACT-based online programme for caregivers of autistic children: Lancet-published RCT insights from the REACH-ASD trial

The dragon and armour metaphor: A useful tool in ACT for teen OCD - Ben Sedley

"Toddler mind" An ACT strategy for engaging with parents during the perinatal period - Jennifer Berrett

Name it to tame it - Worksheet for working with children's emotions

ACT for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders: A feasibility and proof of concept study

Supporting students through exam stress ebook

Meta analysis on mindfulness and acceptance-based programs for OCD

ACT values cards

The power of letting go - script

Top technique to try with young people in ACT therapy - Dr Ben Sedley

Parent, child, and family outcomes following ACT for parents of autistic children: A randomised controlled trial

Exploring the effectiveness of ACT in easing stress among adolescents – a meta analytic review

ACT for ADHD - useful links

The secret ingredients to crack the parenting-teen code e-book

The Insight Podcast: Episode #51

Psychological flexibility of parents of children with disabilities: a systematic literature review

Conquering the anxiety monster (with love) metaphor

ACT for autism and related disorders - useful links

Feeding the dinosaur metaphor

DNA-V resources

ACT for autism and related disorders: meta-analyses and reviews

ACT for adolescent anxiety: a systematic research review

ACT for autism and related disorders - JCBS special issue articles

Join our newsletter to be the first to receive updates on our upcoming events, exclusive free resources and other valuable goodies. Sign up now and embark on your ACT journey with us!

Search

Change Currency

Change timezone

Cancel your Registration?

Your consent?