A story from Distortion Detective
Jayden: convinced he can skip brushing his teeth
It's bedtime, and Jayden is already under the covers with his phone. His mom calls up the stairs to remind him to brush his teeth. He brushed this morning, and his teeth feel fine. He has skipped a lot of nights lately, and nothing bad has happened yet.
“I don't need to brush my teeth every night. They feel totally fine, and nothing is going to happen if I skip tonight either. Everyone makes a huge deal out of it for no reason.”
In the game
Which thinking trap caught Jayden? Name the trap, then check whether the thought holds up.
Free. Kids never need an account. Therapists and parents can guide from their own screen.
🖨️ Print the take-home sheet · the story, three questions to talk over, free
About Distortion Detective
Noticing a thought like "Nobody likes me" or "I always mess up." Naming the trap behind it, then checking whether the thought holds up.
Helpful for: negative self-talk, assuming the worst, black-and-white thinking, jumping to conclusions. More in the glossary