JUDAH'S WORLD
QUESTION: Imagine you could plan a PERFECT day with no school and no homework. What would you do? Would you play games, hang out with friends, go somewhere fun, do an activity, spend time with family, or just relax? Would you want lots of things planned or the whole day to yourself? What would make that day five stars?
ANSWER: I like that! I think everyone's five-star day would probably look different. Sometimes I love having exciting plans, but other times my favorite thing is knowing I don't have to be anywhere and can just enjoy my free time. And I think our answers tell us something about what we enjoy. For you, it sounds like having ______ matters. That's helpful to know!
QUESTION: Would you rather choose your own activity or have someone else pick it for you? What if their activity was actually really fun? Does it matter who gets to choose? Is there a difference between doing something because you HAVE to and doing it because you WANT to?
ANSWER: That makes sense! Some people enjoy getting a say in what they do. I know I often feel more excited about something when I've had a chance to choose it myself. Sometimes we still have to do things other people decide, like going to school or following rules, but having some choices can make a big difference.
QUESTION: What do you think it means to have a WHY? Is it the reason you want to do something? For example, why would someone practice a game, learn to ride a bike, or try to finish homework? Would their reason be getting better, having fun, being able to do something independently, or avoiding something annoying? What's something YOU have a reason for doing?
ANSWER: Exactly! Our why is just our reason. Sometimes it's because we enjoy something, sometimes because we want to get better, and sometimes because doing something now helps us do something we care about later. We don't have to use big fancy words. We're just asking, what's important enough to make this worth doing?
Your BACKPACK suddenly comes to life and can TALK! What's the first thing it says? Does it complain about homework, ask for a vacation, or reveal a secret? Give your backpack a ridiculous name and voice!
That's hilarious! Mine would probably say, Carly, can you PLEASE stop putting so much stuff in here? I feel like your backpack would have some pretty strong opinions. Bonus points if you make me act like the backpack!
Would you rather be able to FLY or turn INVISIBLE whenever you want? Why? What's the first thing you'd do? Would you use your power to have fun, help someone, or get out of something annoying?
Ooh, good choice! I think I'd choose flying because I could go anywhere without sitting in traffic. Although being invisible would be pretty nice when I just want some quiet time! Both have advantages. I guess it depends on what you'd actually want to use your power for.
QUESTION: If you could magically make ONE thing happen MORE often in your week and ONE thing happen LESS often, what would you choose? More games, more free time, more time with friends, more fun activities, more sleep? Less homework, less rushing, fewer rules, less waiting, or fewer annoying things? Why would you choose those?
ANSWER: That makes sense! I know there are things I'd happily do more often and things I'd be perfectly fine doing less. I think I'd probably choose more time to relax and less rushing around. And it's interesting because sometimes we find out what's important to us by noticing what we wish we had more time for.
QUESTION: Imagine Carly tells you that you MUST practice juggling every day, but you don't care about juggling. Would you want to do it? Now imagine you wanted to learn a cool trick for a talent show or impress a friend. Would practicing feel any different? Why? Does having your own reason make something more worth trying?
Sometimes the same activity feels completely different depending on why we're doing it. If someone told me I had to learn a random skill I didn't care about, I probably wouldn't be super motivated. But if it helped me do something I really wanted, I might be willing to practice. That's what finding our why is about.
QUESTION: Imagine two kids practice the same activity. One practices because their parents told them to. The other practices because they really want to get better. Are they doing the same thing for the same reason? Which kid might be more excited to practice? Can someone have BOTH reasons, like wanting to make a parent happy AND wanting to improve?
ANSWER: Yes! Sometimes our reasons come from other people, and sometimes they come from us. And often it's a mix. I think when we're doing something because we care about it ourselves, it can be easier to keep trying. But it doesn't mean doing something for someone else is always bad. We just want to understand which reasons matter to you.
QUESTION: You're in charge of inventing a NEW HOLIDAY. What's it called? What does everyone have to do? Is there special food? Are kids allowed to skip school? What's one ridiculous rule everyone has to follow?
ANSWER: I would absolutely celebrate that! I think I'd invent a holiday where nobody has to rush anywhere and everyone gets to choose a fun activity. I love that you got to make up the rules instead of having to follow somebody else's.
Would you rather have NO HOMEWORK forever or TWO EXTRA HOURS of free time every day? What would you do with that extra time? Play games, see friends, relax, or something else? Would your answer change if you had no homework but still had to go to school?
That makes sense! I think I'd choose the extra free time because sometimes having time to decide what I want to do is the best part of my day. I like that you're thinking about what would actually make your day better.
QUESTION: What's something you've worked hard to get better at because you actually WANTED to? Maybe getting better at a video game, learning a new activity, riding a bike, building something, or practicing a skill. Was it always easy? Did you ever mess up or feel frustrated? What made you want to keep trying instead of giving up?
ANSWER: I like that example! Sometimes when we really want something, we're more willing to keep practicing even when it gets frustrating. I remember learning new things that I wasn't immediately good at, and I didn't always love the practicing part. But when I cared about being able to do it, I had a reason to keep going. That's an example of having your own why. It doesn't make the hard part disappear, but it can make trying feel worth it.
QUESTION: Imagine someone tells you to change something about your day, but you're actually HAPPY with the way it is. Would you feel excited to change it? Why or why not? What if they think their idea would make things easier, but you don't think anything is wrong? Would you want them to explain their reason, ask what you think, or just leave you alone?
ANSWER: I completely understand that. If something is working for me, I probably won't be very excited when someone tells me I should do it differently. And sometimes grown-ups see problems that kids don't experience the same way. Their concerns can still be important, but it helps when they explain why and listen to your perspective too. We can take both points of view seriously.
QUESTION: Imagine Carly teaches you a trick for when something feels annoying, like taking a break, slowing your breathing, or asking for help. But you don't think you need it. Would you be very interested in using it? What if the trick helped you get back to playing faster, feel more comfortable, or do something you wanted? Would that change your mind? What would make a strategy actually worth using for Judah?
ANSWER: That makes sense! Just because I teach you something doesn't mean you're automatically going to need it or remember it. Sometimes we don't notice we're getting worked up, sometimes the strategy isn't the right fit, and sometimes we don't see a reason to use it. I know I've learned helpful things and then completely forgotten about them when I was busy. That's why we experiment and figure out which ideas actually work for you.
QUESTION: You're opening the STRANGEST RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD, and you're in charge of the menu! What are three completely ridiculous foods you'd serve? Maybe spaghetti-flavored ice cream, rainbow cheeseburgers, chocolate-covered broccoli, pizza with jellybeans, or soup that changes colors every time you blink. What's your restaurant called? Would the waiters have to sing, dance, talk like robots, or wear ridiculous costumes? And here's the problem: Carly comes in and complains that her food is TOO NORMAL. What do you serve her instead? BONUS: Act out the scene with Carly as the world's most dramatic customer!
ANSWER: Excuse me, waiter! I specifically ordered the invisible pizza with extra invisible cheese, and this pizza is CLEARLY VISIBLE! I would like to speak to the manager immediately! Oh, YOU'RE the manager? Well, this is outrageous. And why is my water doing cartwheels? Follow his response and let him invent what happens next. If he gets stuck, offer three new absurd menu items and have him choose one.
Would you rather eat your FAVORITE FOOD every day for a month or try a NEW FOOD every day? What if some new foods looked weird but tasted amazing? Would you want to choose which new foods to try, or have someone surprise you?
I can understand that! I love having foods I know I enjoy, and sometimes trying something new can be fun too. Other times, I try something and think, nope, definitely not for me! You don't have to like every new food. It's okay to have preferences, and you can still learn something by exploring.
QUESTION: If you could make ONE annoying part of your life easier, what would you choose? Maybe homework, waking up early, getting interrupted, having to stop something fun, trying unfamiliar foods, being somewhere too loud, or adults asking too many questions. Or maybe there isn't anything you really want to change right now? What would be different if that annoying thing got a little easier?
ANSWER: I can understand that. Sometimes we don't need some huge problem to want something to be easier. Maybe it's just one little thing that makes the day more annoying than it needs to be. And sometimes we're actually pretty happy with how things are. I don't want to invent a problem for you. I just want to know whether there's anything you would find helpful to change.
QUESTION: Imagine there's something that could help you, but the idea sounds BORING or ANNOYING. Would you be willing to try it anyway? Does it depend on what you'd get out of it? For example, would you practice a tricky game move if it helped you beat a level? Would you do an annoying chore if it meant having more free time afterward? What makes something worth the effort?
I know there are things I don't always feel like doing, but sometimes I choose to do them because there's something important to me afterward. The annoying part doesn't magically become fun. I just have a reason. And other times, I decide something isn't worth it. The important part is understanding what we're choosing and why.
QUESTION: If you could make ONE part of Judah World a little easier, what would you pick? Maybe schoolwork, being somewhere noisy, trying new foods, getting along when people disagree, feeling less frustrated, or helping adults understand what you need. Or maybe you'd rather focus on having more fun and getting to talk about your week? What would YOU want to get out of therapy?
ANSWER: I'm really glad to hear what you think. I know adults can have lots of ideas about things to work on, but I don't want to assume their goals are automatically your goals. Sometimes you might want help with something, and sometimes you might just want a space to talk and play. We can keep figuring out together what makes coming here useful to you.
You and Carly have to create the MOST RIDICULOUS STORY EVER, but you must include these three things: a TALKING TOILET, an ALIEN WHO LOVES TACOS, and a FLYING SCHOOL BUS! Who's the main character? What's the problem? Does the alien steal everyone's lunch? Does the flying bus accidentally land on the moon? Does the talking toilet become president? Here's the challenge: Carly starts the story with ONE sentence, then you add a sentence, and we keep taking turns. Every new sentence has to make the story even crazier! BONUS: Add a surprise villain halfway through!
ANSWER: Start with: One ordinary Tuesday, Judah was getting ready for school when the toilet suddenly shouted, DON'T FLUSH! I HAVE IMPORTANT NEWS FROM OUTER SPACE! Then pause for Judah's sentence. If he gets stuck, offer: Did the toilet reveal a secret? Did an alien climb out? Or did the school bus crash through the bathroom wall? Respond enthusiastically to whatever he invents. Add your own twists, but let him lead the story.
Would you rather do something BORING for ten minutes to earn an amazing prize or do something FUN for an hour with no prize? What kind of prize would make the boring thing worth it? A new game, extra free time, something delicious, or maybe nothing?
That's interesting! Sometimes I'll do something I don't particularly enjoy because there's something I really want afterward. But if the reward isn't important to me, I probably won't be very interested. That's a great example of how our reasons can change what we're willing to do.
QUESTION: Imagine you could teach all the grown-ups ONE thing about what it's like being Judah. What would you want them to understand? Maybe that you need breaks sometimes, that you don't always know why you're annoyed, that you don't like being asked too many questions, that you want more choices, or that you sometimes want help without someone taking over. What do adults already do that helps? And what do you wish they'd do differently?
ANSWER: I'm glad you're telling me that. I think adults sometimes have good intentions (reasons why they do something!) but don't always know exactly what a kid needs. Even I can ask too many questions sometimes! And it can be hard to explain what you need when you haven't figured it out yourself yet. That's why I want to keep asking and learning what works for you instead of just deciding for you.
QUESTION: Two kids are offered a challenge. Kid A feels unsure but decides to try one small step. Kid B isn't interested and doesn't try. Does that mean Kid B is bad or lazy? Or might the kids have different reasons, feelings, or needs? What could make Kid B more interested? Getting to choose, understanding why it matters, making it more fun, starting smaller, or deciding it's not something they want right now?
ANSWER: Exactly. Not trying something doesn't automatically mean someone is lazy or doing something wrong. Maybe the challenge feels too big, maybe they don't see a reason, maybe they need help, or maybe they're simply not interested. Being willing isn't the same as always saying yes. It's about being open to considering a step that feels manageable when there's something worth working toward.
QUESTION: Let's say you tell me, I want something to be easier. Why would that matter to you? Would it mean having more fun, getting more free time, feeling more comfortable, spending time with friends, doing things on your own, or not feeling so frustrated? If you could get one of those things, would you be willing to try something a little different to get there? What would be the SMALLEST step you might actually want to try?
ANSWER: I like that we're figuring this out. Sometimes we start by saying we want something to change, but when we look a little closer, we realize there's something important underneath it. Maybe it's having more time with friends, more independence, or feeling more comfortable. And once we know that, we can decide whether trying something different is worth it. We don't have to figure it all out today.
QUESTION: IMPROV CHALLENGE! You're at a restaurant where Carly is the waiter, but the menu only has RIDICULOUS food. You can order spaghetti-flavored ice cream, broccoli milkshakes, or invisible pizza. What do you do? Complain, negotiate, ask for something different, or invent your own food? You have to stay in character!
ANSWER: Welcome to Carly's Very Fancy Restaurant! Unfortunately, all normal food has disappeared. Today's special is invisible pizza with extra invisible cheese. What can I get you? Act out the scene, respond dramatically to his choices, then offer to switch roles.
QUESTION: Would you rather have a DOG that can TALK but NEVER STOPS TALKING, or a CAT that can READ YOUR MIND and tells everyone what you're thinking? Which would be worse? What if the dog followed you to school and kept interrupting your teacher? What if the cat announced your most embarrassing thoughts at dinner? Could you make a rule to control your animal's powers? And what would you name your extremely annoying pet?
ANSWER: Oh, that's a hard one! I think I'd take the talking dog, because at least I could try to teach it to be quiet. The mind-reading cat would be a disaster! Imagine trying to have a normal conversation and your cat suddenly announcing, CARLY THINKS THIS CONVERSATION IS BORING! Absolutely not. Although I would want to know what my dog had to say about me when I wasn't around. What do you think would be the first thing your animal would say?