About

About Cool Kids Online

Cool Kids Online is an online version of our Cool Kids program that is designed to help children who have excessive fears and worries. The program teaches children new skills to help them face their fears and worries, feel more confident, and get more out of life.

Cool Kids Online is designed for parents to work through with their child at home. The program involves eight online lessons that use text, cartoons, videos, and common-sense exercises to teach children:

  • about anxiety, fears and worries,
  • how to face fears gradually,
  • how to deal with worries and unhelpful thoughts,
  • how to be confident around other people, including helpful ways to act if you are bullied, and
  • how to cope with feelings like anxiety, or even anger and sadness.

Cool Kids Online includes instructions, examples, and short videos for children and their parents. There are lots of practice exercises to help children master the skills.

Acknowledgment and Ownership Details

‘Cool Kids Program Online’, Australia (English version), August, 2015, revision of ‘Cool Teens Program Online’, Australia (English version), December 2012

The Cool Kids Online program was developed at the The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University.

Citation

McLellan, L. F., Fitzpatrick, S., Lyneham, H. J., Fogliati, R., Kelly, A., Wuthrich, V., Hudson, J. L., Rapee, R. M. (2015). Cool Kids Online Treatment Program. The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Sydney.

 

Project Director

Dr Lauren McLellan

 

Clinical Psychology Advisors

 Dr Sally Fitzpatrick

 Dr Heidi Lyneham 

 Dr Viviana Wuthrich 

 Prof Jennifer Hudson

 Prof Ron Rapee

 Dr Rhiannon Fogliati 

 

Programming and Graphic Design

 Dr Lauren McLellan and Dr Sally Fitzpatrick

Illustrators

Dominic O’Connell

Characters

Naomi Radom, Clara McCrindle

Vincent Fogliati, Matthew Wallace

Child Guides (Audio)

Dominic Oen and Michaela Flynn

Coach Guides (Audio)

Dr Lauren McLellan and Dr Sally Fitzpatrick

 

Special Thanks

Thanks to the many people who provided feedback and support during development, are involved in evaluating the program, or have been involved in developing previous versions of therapy materials at The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Macquarie University.

 

Our publications

Rapee, R.M., Wignall, A., Hudson, J.L., & Schniering, C.A. (2000). Treating anxious children and adolescents: An evidence-based approach. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Lyneham, H. J, Wignall, A. & Rapee, R. M. (2012). Cool Kids Child and Adolescent Anxiety Management Program Children’s Workbook (2nd Ed.). The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Macquarie University: Sydney, Australia

Lyneham, H. J, Wignall, A. & Rapee, R. M. (2012). Cool Kids Child and Adolescent Anxiety Management Program Parent’s Workbook (2nd Ed.). The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Macquarie University: Sydney, Australia

Lyneham, H. J, Wignall, A. & Rapee, R. M. (2008). Helping Your Anxious Child Children’s  Workbook (2nd Ed.). The Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (previously known as the Centre for Emotional Health), Macquarie University: Sydney, Australia

Lyneham, H. J, Abbott, M. J., Wignall, A. & Rapee, R. M. (2003). The Cool Kids Program - Children’s Workbook. MUARU: Macquarie University: Sydney

Lyneham, H. J, Abbott, M. J., Wignall, A. & Rapee, R. M. (2003). The Cool Kids Program - Parent’s Workbook. MUARU: Macquarie University: Sydney