Resources for Kids

For kids aged 2-7.

young child smiling in front of pale blue background

Kids in Control resources

We’ve assembled this list of books, movies, TV shows, songs, and podcasts to help kids aged 2-7 better understand and learn more about mental illnesses. We’ve also included content warnings for each resource for any potential triggers or distressing themes.  Please use discretion and care when choosing which resources you share with your child.

  • Books

    We’ve put together this list of books to help kids better understand and learn more about mental illnesses. We’ve also included content warnings for each resource for any potential triggers or distressing themes.

    • Link to printable PDF

    • Link to printable PDF

    • Link to printable PDF

    • Link to printable PDF

    • Themes: emotions, parenting

      CW: anger, meltdowns

    • Themes: trauma, violence

      CW: traumatic experiences

    • Themes: fear, anxiety, speaking, breathing exercises

      CW: anxiety, social anxiety

    • Themes: anxiety, mutism, bravery

      CW: anxiety

    • Themes: grief/loss

      CW: pet death

    • Themes: grief/loss, healing

      CW: parental death

    • Themes: grief/loss

      CW: death

       

    • Themes: emotions, feelings

      CW: anger

       

    • Themes: feelings, emotions

      CW: depression

    • Themes: expressing feelings, emotions

      CW: none

    • Themes: feelings, emotions

      CW: depression, anxiety

       

    • Themes: feelings, emotions

      CW: anger

    • Themes: emotions, neurodiversity

      CW: overstimulation, ADHD/Autism

    • Themes: emotions, sadness

      CW: depression

       

    • Themes: emotions, sadness

      CW: depression

    • Themes: worry, stress, feelings

      CW: anxiety, depression

    • Themes: fear, coping strategies

      CW: anxiety

    Movies & TV

    We’ve put together this list of movies and TV shows to help kids better understand and learn more about mental illnesses. We’ve also included content warnings for each resource for any potential triggers or distressing themes.

    • Themes: Indigenous culture, storytelling, friendship

      CW: bullying, fear

    • Themes: emotion, sadness, Fred Rogers’ teachings

      CW: depression, loss

      Episodes: “Daniel’s Goldfish Dies”,

    • Themes: childhood, growing up, life lessons, slice of life, neurodiversity

      CW: loss, fear, drug use, coping with trauma, autistic meltdowns, anxiety attacks

      Episodes: “Mom and Dad Have a Great Big Fight”, “To Eat or Not to Eat”, “So Long, Spanky”, “Jenna’s Bedtime Blues”, “April 9th”, and “When Carl Met George”

    • Themes: community, friendship, family, diversity

      CW: addiction, loss, domestic violence, recovering from trauma

      Episodes: One Very Special skit, S33E1, S47E15, S25E5, “Farewell, Mr Hooper”, “The Wheels Go Round”, “Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration”

    • Magic School Bus (1994-1997)

      Dropdown 5 Body: (200 – 215 characters)

      Themes: education, learning, science, diversity

      CW: fear, arachnophobia, bugs

      Episodes: “Inside Ralphie”, “Flexes its Muscles”, “Wet all Over”, “Spins a Web”, “Works Out”, “Gets Swamped”

    • Themes: sadness, grief, loss, love

      CW: death, fear/anxiety, kidnapping, claustrophobia

    • Themes: insecurity, fear, sibling relationships

      CW: anxiety, depression, violence, parental death

       

    • Themes: adventure, grief, moving on

      CW: death, loss, grief, struggles to conceive

    Music

    We’ve put together this list of songs and music to help kids better understand and learn more about mental illnesses.

    • Themes: mindfulness, emotions

      Listen here 

    • Themes: fear, anxiety

      Listen here

    • Themes: fear, anxiety

      Listen here

    Podcasts

    We’ve put together this list of podcasts and other media to help kids 2-7 better understand and learn more about mental illnesses. We’ve also included content warnings for each resource for any potential triggers or distressing themes.

    • Themes: calm, mindfulness, yoga

      Listen here

    • Themes: storytelling, relaxation, sleep

      Listen here

    • Themes: bedtime stories, mindfulness, relaxation

      Listen here

    • Themes: feelings, anxiety, self-esteem, mindfulness

      Listen here

    • Themes: yoga, mindfulness

      Listen here