Children's Emotional Wellness

Brave Young Hearts

Practical Emotional Wellness Tools for Young Hearts—and the Adults Who Guide Them.

Evidence-informed stories and practical toolkits that help parents, counselors, and educators guide children through anxiety, anger, fear, big emotions, and hard transitions—without lectures or meltdowns.

Created by Nancy Hawse

Letters representing the words children may struggle to find

POV:A little peek into the beautiful chaos of my writing brain.

TAILORED SUPPORT

Big Feelings Need the Right Tools.

Practical stories and emotional wellness tools for the adults helping children navigate big emotions—at home, in school, and in therapy.

Brave Young Hearts book cover

AT HOME

For Parents & Caregivers

Ages 6–10 · Stories & Printable Tools

When big feelings take over, you don't need another parenting manual. You need practical tools you can use in the moment.

Discover relatable stories and simple, printable activities that help children understand their emotions, practice calming strategies, and navigate worries, fears, and frustration—with your support.

  • Relatable stories that help children feel seen and understood.
  • Quick Practice worksheets for worries, bedtime anxiety, and big feelings.
  • Simple caregiver prompts to help navigate difficult moments.
Fear Doesn't Get the Final Word professional toolkit cover

IN SCHOOLS & PRACTICE

For Counselors, Therapists & Educators

Professional Resources · Digital Toolkits

Give children practical ways to recognize their emotions, practice calming strategies, and make thoughtful choices.

Designed for supportive conversations, small groups, and learning environments, these digital resources give adults a clear structure for guiding children through difficult moments.

A repeatable framework

Notice Name Calm Choose Reflect

  • Structured digital and printable toolkit activities.
  • Conversation cards, caregiver/counselor guidance, and reflection prompts.
  • Audio guidance included with the Fear Doesn't Get the Final Word toolkit.

Professional toolkits from $49

Explore Professional Toolkits →

A signature idea

GRIEVING THE NOT DEAD.

For children learning how to love, miss, and make sense of someone who is still alive — but no longer present in the way they need.

Some losses don't come with a funeral.

🖍️ Crayon Confessions™

Things children wish grown-ups knew.

“I don't want to talk about Dad. But I wish someone would ask.”

Adult takeaway

A child can be grieving someone who is still alive.

Brave step

You don't always have to fix the feeling. Sometimes you just have to stay.

Explore Crayon Confessions →

Stories

Sometimes a story says what a child can't.

Books and audiobooks for children navigating big feelings, difficult changes, absence, difference and the complicated work of growing up.

Explore the Stories →

Resources

Knowing how you feel is only the beginning.

Practical tools that help children put feelings into words, calm their bodies, repair connection and take their next brave step.

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Method

Big feelings need more than good advice.

The Brave Young Hearts Method gives children and the adults around them a simple way to move from feeling overwhelmed toward understanding, choice and action.

Discover the Method →

Stories

Find the story for this moment.

Because sometimes a child doesn't need another lesson. They need to recognize themselves.

I FEEL DIFFERENT

Stories about identity, confidence and belonging.

Find a story →

MY FEELINGS ARE TOO BIG

Stories about emotional regulation, impulsivity and overwhelming feelings.

Find a story →

THINGS AT HOME ARE CHANGING

Stories about uncertainty, family conflict and difficult transitions.

Find a story →

I'M TRYING TO BE BRAVE

Stories about resilience, hope and finding strength.

Find a story →

The collection

Stories for real emotional moments.

The Pink Scarf cover

The Pink Scarf

A heartfelt story about a girl learning that losing her hair doesn't mean losing her confidence, identity, or joy.

Also on: Spotify
The Weight of Being Me cover

The Weight of Being Me

What if the thing that makes you different… is actually your greatest strength?

Also on: KoboSpotify
Control The Buzz cover

Control The Buzz

A lively story that helps children understand their big energy and discover positive ways to manage impulses, emotions, and attention.

Tima's Superpowers cover

Tima's Superpowers

A child discovers she can hear what people mean — not what they say. Things get politely out of hand.

Also on: Spotify
Blooming in The Dark cover

Blooming in The Dark

A gentle story reminding children that even during dark and difficult seasons, hope can help them keep growing.

Hope Between Cracks cover

Hope Between Cracks

A comforting story for children experiencing family conflict, uncertainty, loneliness, or difficult changes at home.

Also on: Spotify
Never Truly Alone cover

Never Truly Alone

A Boy's Story About Missing Dad, Loneliness, and Finding Strength

Door With Code cover

Door With Code

A heartfelt story about missing Dad, staying connected, and finding comfort in the love between a father and daughter.

The Quiet Strength cover

The Quiet Strength

Strength that doesn't announce itself. It just keeps the lights on and the soup warm.

Brave Young Hearts — Volume 1 cover

Brave Young Hearts — Volume 1

Inside Brave Young Hearts—Volume 1, children meet the feelings, worries, and quiet struggles that can be difficult to put into words. Through heartfelt stories, this collection makes room for courage, uncertainty, belonging, and the small steps that help young hearts feel understood.

Brave Young Hearts — Volume 2 cover

Brave Young Hearts — Volume 2

Three heartfelt stories about children navigating challenges that can make them feel different from the world around them. Pink Scarf explores alopecia, identity, and the courage to be seen beyond outward appearance. The Weight of Being Me follows a boy whose experiences with his body and the reactions of others affect how he sees himself. Control the Buzz explores a child's experiences with ADHD and the challenges of managing feelings, attention, and everyday expectations. A gentle collection about kindness, self-acceptance, understanding, and hope.

Brave Young Hearts cover

Brave Young Hearts

For the kids who raise their hand first, and the ones who raise it two days later. Both count.

Resources

Practical tools for big feelings

Start small. Build support. Go deeper when you need to.

Quick Practice

Small tools for one difficult moment.

$9.99 each
Quick Practice$9.99

SAFETY & WORRY

NOTICE → CHECK → CHOOSE

Danger or Danger Story?

For helping children distinguish real safety concerns from fear-based predictions.

Help children pause, check what is happening, and distinguish a real safety concern from a fear-driven prediction. This focused printable practice guides them toward identifying a safe, appropriate next step.

Get This Practice →
Quick Practice$9.99

ANXIOUS THOUGHTS

NOTICE → NAME → CHECK

What I Know vs. What I Fear

For worries, anxious predictions, and recurring "what if?" thoughts.

Help children separate what they know from what they fear might happen. This guided practice supports children in identifying facts, recognizing fearful predictions, and considering what remains unknown.

Get This Practice →
Quick Practice$9.99

COURAGE & ACTION

CHECK → CHOOSE → ACT

My Next Brave Step

For difficult tasks, uncertain moments, and manageable next steps.

When a challenge feels difficult or scary, help children identify one manageable next step. This focused practice guides them toward choosing an action they can attempt rather than feeling overwhelmed by the whole challenge.

Get This Practice →
Quick Practice$9.99

EFFORT & CONFIDENCE

NOTICE → RECORD → BUILD

I Did Something Hard

For recognizing effort, reflecting on challenges, and building confidence.

Help children notice and record what they managed to do, including the effort it took and what they learned along the way. This reflective practice helps children build a record of their experiences and recognize their growing ability to handle challenges.

Get This Practice →
Quick Practice$9.99

NOTICE

My Big Feeling Signals — Quick Practice

A practical emotional-wellness worksheet set that helps children ages 6–10 notice the body signals, thoughts, and patterns that show up when feelings get big.

Get This Practice →
Quick Practice$9.99

CALM

My Calm-Down Menu — Quick Practice

A practical emotional-wellness worksheet set that helps children ages 6–10 create their own calming menu for when feelings get big.

Get This Practice →
Quick Practice$9.99

MAKE SPACE

The Pause Before I Act — Quick Practice

A practical emotional-wellness worksheet set that helps children ages 6–10 create a small pause between a big feeling and their next action.

Get This Practice →
Quick Practice$9.99

CHOOSE

My Next Safe Step — Quick Practice

A practical emotional-wellness worksheet set that helps children ages 6–10 turn a big feeling or difficult moment into one safe, manageable next step.

Get This Practice →

Practice Collection

Coordinated activities for repeated practice.

$19.99 each
Practice Collection$19.99

NOTICE → NAME → CHECK

Understand My Anxiety

A coordinated collection of practical activities for helping children notice, name, and check anxious thoughts and feelings.

Claim it now →
Practice Collection$19.99

CHECK → CHOOSE → BUILD

From Worry to Brave Action

A coordinated collection that helps children move from worry toward one manageable choice, action, and growing sense of capability.

Claim it now →
Practice Collection$19.99

NOTICE → NAME → CALM

Understand My Big Feelings — Practice Collection

A practical emotional-wellness collection that helps children ages 6–10 notice, name, and understand their big feelings before deciding what to do next.

Claim it now →
Practice Collection$19.99

MAKE SPACE → CHOOSE → REPAIR

From Big Feelings to Safe Action — Practice Collection

A practical emotional-wellness collection that helps children ages 6–10 make space for big feelings, choose safe actions, and repair what happens afterward.

Claim it now →

The Brave Young Hearts Method

Because “calm down” isn't a strategy.

A child in the middle of a big feeling doesn't need a lecture. They need a pathway.

NOTICE

What is happening?

NAME

What am I feeling?

CALM

How can I help my body feel safer?

CHOOSE

What can I do next?

REFLECT

What did I learn?

BRAVE HEART

What is my next brave step?

For Professionals

Support the children you work with.

Practical, research-informed toolkits for educators, counsellors, therapists, and child professionals — with activities, adult support tools, and audio guidance.

Premium Edition$49.00

NOTICE → NAME → CALM → MAKE SPACE → CHOOSE → REPAIR

Fear Doesn't Get the Final Word

A practical emotional-wellness toolkit for children ages 6–10 and the adults who support them. Evidence-informed strategies, ready-to-use activities, and guidance to help children build understanding, confidence, and brave action.

  • ✓21-part digital + printable toolkit
  • ✓Conversation Cards
  • ✓Caregiver & Counselor Guides
  • ✓Five-track Audio Guide
Explore the Toolkit →
Premium Edition$49.00

NOTICE → NAME → CALM → MAKE SPACE → CHOOSE → REPAIR

When Feelings Get Too Big — Premium Edition

A premium emotional-wellness toolkit helping children ages 6–10 understand, regulate, and safely respond to big feelings — with practical activities, adult support tools, and a 13-track audio guide.

  • ✓Practical activities (printable)
  • ✓Adult support tools
  • ✓13-track audio guide
  • ✓Complete 6-step system
Explore the Toolkit →

About

I write for the feelings that don't always have names.

Nancy Hawse is a children's author and the creator of Brave Young Hearts. Her stories and practical resources grew from a simple belief: Children deserve language for the things adults sometimes find difficult to talk about.

Brave Young Hearts brings together storytelling, emotional practice and a simple framework for helping children understand what they feel — and what they can do next.

What if we listened to children before asking them to explain?

Meet Nancy →

Brave Young Hearts Club

Join the Brave Young Hearts Club.

Join the Brave Young Hearts Club — and get your free emotional-wellness toolkit.

  • Emotional understanding and expression — gentle ways to name what they feel.
  • Calm breathing and grounding moments — simple, no app required.
  • Self-soothing and gentle reflection — for the wobbles before bed.
  • A sense of safety, comfort, and reassurance — the whole point.

No spam, no guilt, no email at 4 a.m. Unsubscribe anytime. I'd be touched, but I'd understand.

Recognition & Professional Memberships

The values behind the work.

Five recognition badges representing support for children, emotional regulation, anxiety support, belonging, and expressive arts.
Proud member of the Association of Independent Children’s Authors.