Feel it.Find a friend.Bounce back.
Meet Beny and his crew: 14 animal friends with big feelings, different interests, and small tools to practice together. Lifelong tools for everyday adventures.
Meet the crew
A basketball bear, a surfer fox, a DJ cheetah and a whole neighborhood of friends. Everybody has something they're great at, and something they're still practicing.
Beny
Beny, the bearKeep trying
Cappy
Cappy, the capybaraBe kind to yourself
Willow
Willow, the owlCheck the story
Ollie
Ollie, the otterNotice your body
Pippa
Pippa, the penguinTry something brave
Tilly
Tilly, the turtleAsk for connection
Hazel
Hazel, the rabbitGive others room
Zuri
Zuri, the zebraMake room for differences
Sully
Sully, the slothGo at your own pace
Ellie
Ellie, the elephantCome back to now
Finn
Finn, the foxPause before responding
DJ Next Play
DJ Next Play, the cheetahChoose your next move
Peri
Peri, the peacockWelcome all of you
Kiki
Kiki, the kangarooFollow through
What kind of moment is it?
Pick one. A friend has something small you can try.
“I missed, and I want to quit.”
Beny can help: keep trying
Try this. Feel the miss. Choose one small thing to try next.
“I can always bounce back.”
Meet Beny“I'm being really hard on myself.”
Cappy can help: be kind to yourself
Try this. Say a kind sentence to yourself, just like you would to a friend.
“I love myself. I love that part too.”
Meet Cappy“My brain is telling a worried story.”
Willow can help: check the story
Try this. Name what you know. Ask what you might be guessing.
“Fact or story?”
Meet Willow“My body feels wiggly, tight or tired.”
Ollie can help: notice your body
Try this. Notice a body signal. Choose water, movement, rest, or support.
“Lion or ghost lion? Three slow breaths.”
Meet Ollie“I want to try, but I'm scared to start.”
Pippa can help: try something brave
Try this. Choose a tiny first step. Practice before you feel perfect.
“Every miss is a rep.”
Meet Pippa“I need help, but it's hard to ask.”
Tilly can help: ask for connection
Try this. Tell, write, or draw a message to someone you trust.
“Victory goes to the vulnerable.”
Meet Tilly“My friend wants some space.”
Hazel can help: give others room
Try this. Ask: company or space? Give your friend room to choose.
“Hold with open hands.”
Meet Hazel“I feel different from everyone.”
Zuri can help: make room for differences
Try this. Name one thing you share and one thing that's different.
“Keep the bread.”
Meet Zuri“Everyone seems faster than me.”
Sully can help: go at your own pace
Try this. Pick one manageable step. Move at a pace that works for you.
“Slow is strong.”
Meet Sully“My mind keeps floating away.”
Ellie can help: come back to now
Try this. Notice your feet, one sound, and one thing you can see.
“Where are your big feet right now?”
Meet Ellie“A big feeling is rising up fast.”
Finn can help: pause before responding
Try this. Let your hands rest. Name the wave. Pause before you respond.
“Palms down.”
Meet Finn“I messed up and can't stop thinking about it.”
DJ Next Play can help: choose your next move
Try this. Hear the feeling. Pause if you need to. Find your next useful beat.
“Feel it, then go.”
Meet DJ Next Play“I want to hide a part of me.”
Peri can help: welcome all of you
Try this. Notice a part of yourself. Give it a kind welcome.
“I love that part too.”
Meet Peri“I said I'd do it, but I haven't started.”
Kiki can help: follow through
Try this. Choose a small action for your promise. Adjust honestly if you need to.
“When I am aware of the work, I work.”
Meet KikiFive ways to grow
Every tool in the neighborhood fits one of five big ideas. Friends practice them together, and nobody has to get them perfect.
Kind to yourself
Talk to yourself the way you'd talk to a friend.
Noticing
Check your thoughts, your body and where your feet are.
Brave steps
Try something new, or ask for what you need.
Making room
Give friends space, and keep being you.
Keep practicing
Go at your pace, find your next move, follow through.
And Beny? He's practicing all five. See every tool
For the grown-ups
Sometimes a kid needs a friend to recognize themselves in. Beny and the crew give you an easy way to talk about a missed try, a busy thought, a friendship, or a hard day.
- A friend for the moment you're in
- A question to ask and a small thing to try
- Words that help when a feeling is big
Grown from Making Space for Love
The same tools grown-ups talk about on the Making Space for Love podcast, made for kids, told by friends.
