Page 28 - Jeff the Monkey

Worksheet
On this page, you want to reinforce rational self-messages (“if the others can do it so can I.” “I will need to learn to do this so I need to start now.”) Do not reinforce punitive self-messages (“If I don’t, they will think I am chicken.”)
Help your child understand that doing new and difficult things can cause negative emotions such as being a little scare or nervous and that’s okay. Avoiding situations because of these negative emotions is just what caused Jeff his problems.
You want your child to recognize that confronting your fears will make you feel better and that there is no expectation that you must be perfect. They need to recognize that if Jeff would have tried to climb, he may not do well at first but he could get better.
Let children generalize to some real life situation of their own. These situations can be simple or common examples, such as getting ready for a test or cleaning their room. Try and get them to give some realistic feelings and behaviors for those thoughts. You want them to realize the relationship between thinking and emotions/behaviors.
1. Why did Jeff not want to climb the banana trees?
(He thought he should not have to learn...he was afraid after the trees got taller)
2. What could Jeff have told himself to want him to climb the trees?
(“If the others can do it so can I,” or “I will need to learn to do this so I need to start now”)
3. When Jeff thought that way, how would he feel?
(Maybe a little upset or scared but mainly okay)
4. How would he act when he felt this way?
(He would have been willing to try and learn to climb)
25