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Don’t miss out on psychologist Bella Bagdi’s new book — honored with an Educational Innovation Award!
HELP YOUR CHILD WITH EMOTION REGULATION, ATTENTION CONTROL, AND TEACH THEM SELF-DISCIPLINE THROUGH PLAY!
Through the adventures of Captain Moment, children can:
- Learn the basics of emotion regulation
- Master techniques to control their attention
- Learn self-soothing techniques to manage stress more easily
- Learn how not to get trapped in negative thoughts
- Learn how to quiet their inner critical voice
- Learn how to be more open and accepting of themselves and others
What’s inside the book?
10-week
lesson plan
9 interactive
mindfulness stories
85 playful exercises
for emotion regulation and attention control
“Bella’s new book introduces children to the world of emotion regulation and attention control in a fun and practical way, and as we embark on the adventures with Captain Moment at sea, we adults also get to know ourselves better.”
Agnes Vida, psychologist
Why is it important for children to learn emotion regulation and attention control?
Tantrums, outbursts, fighting, impulsive behavior: why does a child act like this?
Children often become impatient, tense, strike out at other children for no reason, interrupt others, or lack the patience to finish tasks at school or kindergarten. These behaviors are often misunderstood as ‘misbehaving’, but the real reason lies in the child’s inability to regulate their emotions.
Insufficient emotion regulation in childhood can cause various problems, affecting different areas of the child’s development.
If a child cannot manage their emotions, this might manifest in outbursts of anger or aggression, but they may also act impulsively (e.g. interrupting others, breaking rules, eating too quickly, rushing).
Lack of emotion regulation can also negatively affect social relationships, as the child may struggle to make friends, frequently get into conflicts with peers, and fail to respond appropriately or understand others’ emotions.
Children struggling with emotion regulation may also be more prone to anxiety or stress, especially in school settings, which can hinder their learning.
Negative emotional reactions point to immature emotional skills, yet managing emotions is crucial for school readiness, academic success and mental health.
Does your child’s attention wander easily?
More and more children struggle with attention disorders, a result, in many ways, of today’s modern world, which is overloaded with artificial stimuli. And not only digital stimuli! Even a simple shopping trip to a shopping mall can overstimulate a developing child’s nervous system, making it hard for them to process the overwhelming amount of input. As a result, they may feel rushed, stressed, tense, frustrated, and unable to focus on tasks or even simple things like reading a story or playing a game they enjoy.
In this book, Bella Bagdi – psychologist, mindfulness teacher (MBSR, MBCT) and mindful self-compassion teacher (MSC) – offers simple and effective methods for preschool and early elementary school children to regulate their emotions and practice attention control.
HOW?
HOW CAN WE TEACH CHILDREN EMOTION REGULATION?
For preschool and early elementary-age children, stories and play are the best ways to learn the techniques of emotion regulation and attention control.
WHEN?
WHEN SHOULD WE START TEACHING THEM?
Experts suggest that it’s beneficial to start teaching emotions and developing emotional intelligence as early as possible, ideally by preschool age.
The Captain Moment program introduces children to the world of mindfulness through interactive stories, playful exercises, and discussions.
The goal of the program is for children to learn how to relate to their feelings and thoughts, and teach them how to bring their attention back to whatever they are currently doing.
The Captain Moment Program's 10 Weekly Themes:
Captain Moment Sets Sail: Introduction to the basics of mindfulness, learning playful mindful breathing techniques.
Captain Moment on the Isle of Five: Discovering and mindfully using the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) with the Magic Hat, which symbolizes mindful presence in the stories.
Captain Moment and Drifty: Attention is like a muscle that can be trained. The ‘puppy’ nature of attention is embodied by Drifty, whom we can learn to call back when he wanders off.
Captain Moment’s Treasure Chest: Discovering the small pleasures of everyday life. Learning to appreciate the good and create feelings such as joy, gratitude, and love.
Captain Moment and the Island of Peace: Developing the ability to self-soothe in stressful situations.
Captain Moment and the Storm of Emotions: Understanding the basic emotions (joy, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust) and playful exercises to manage them.
Captain Moment and the Reef of Thought Clouds: Understanding the nature of thoughts, and exercises on how to break free from the grip of negative thoughts.
Captain Moment and Quieting the Inner Critical Voice: The Grumpy Gremlin embodies the inner critical voice, which children can learn to quiet and discover their inner voice of encouragement.
Captain Moment and Acts of Kindness: Children can discover how kindness can change things. Practicing kindness through attention, words, and deeds.
Mindfulness in Daily Life: Consciously applying the playful mindfulness techniques learned so far in everyday situations.
Come and sail with Captain Moment to the Isle of Five and other exciting destinations! Embark on an adventure across the Sea of Emotions!
“Bella Bagdi’s Captain Moment program combines the tools of modern psychology and mindfulness practices with the magical world of stories. Through its interactive tales and playful exercises, it immerses children in the world of emotional intelligence and mindful presence, while also providing an opportunity for parents and educators to grow together.”
Dr. Kornélia Nyitray, M.D., mindfulness instructor and supervisor
Each session is built around the following framework:
SETTING SAIL – INTRODUCING THE TOPIC
LET'S SET SAIL – INTERACTIVE MINDFULNESS STORY
FOR THE ROAD – WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM CAPTAIN MOMENT TODAY?
ANCHORING – THEMATIC EXERCISES
SAFE HARBOR – SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
I AM CAPTAIN MOMENT! – INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
Take a peek inside the book!
Look Inside!
Reviews
The stories of Captain Moment won my heart from the beginning. I’ve now shared every story with my preschoolers. Since I really wanted to get to know the stories, I decided to tell them in an unconventional way – right before nap time. Since we always tell a story at this time, I found it the perfect moment, as everyone had calmed down by then and listened attentively to the stories. They even eagerly and enthusiastically answered the questions during and after the stories. Of course, we won’t stop there. I plan to explore this program much more deeply with my group starting with the next school year. For me, these stories and the playful activities associated with them are perfectly tailored to the preschool age group. Each story is so interesting, with so much to learn from them. It’s also great that many exercises are suggested for processing the topics, so there’s plenty of options to choose from. Out of all the books I’ve used, this one has been the best. I can wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone.
Ágnes Torda
Orosháza Municipality Daycare and Preschool, Móricz Zsigmond Street
A fantastic book, the story is captivating, and its language is understandable and accessible for both younger and older children. I really like that the psychological background is also included, and the flow of the sessions is clear and easy to follow, even for non-educators. The tasks and exercises are diverse, useful, and provide great help to both children and adults. I read it with my four-and-a-half-year-old son, and we work through it at his level. He loves the story, the characters, and is even starting to experiment with the meditations. In the evenings at bedtime he often asks for the ‘Flashlight Exercise,’ which helps him relax and drift off to sleep quickly. We often call on Captain Moment after a challenging situation to give advice on how to better manage his emotions. He has become my son’s imaginary friend.
I recommend it to both parents and educators. The story is easily understandable even for younger children, but it also engages the older ones. It provides tremendous help to parents in the emotional development of their children. As a teacher, I can’t wait to start the program at school. It will complement the Happiness Lessons wonderfully.
Erika, teacher
We’ve made tremendous progress with the children over the ten weeks of the program. They understood the mission of the characters and the valuable lessons along the way. It only takes one word or sentence from the story, and they immediately know what to do.
For me, it’s been a huge success! I am happy and feel good knowing that I was able to convey the content of the book and the program envisioned by the creator. It is very important and absolutely necessary for children that we address the development of their emotional intelligence and attention control, also in the school setting!
Irén Gonda, teacher
As a mother and a practicing teacher, I find it extremely important to be able to offer support and guidance to children in processing and understanding everyday events and difficulties. The practical guidance in Captain Moment, which is in my opinion a ground-breaking book, provides extraordinary help in this regard. It’s wonderful to see and experience when children use the breathing techniques they have learned in real-life situations and even report that they were able to recognize and recall Drifty, the little puppy, as a wandering thought. By putting on the Magic Hat, they are able to focus on the present moment, and even my 10-year-old daughter now reminds me to wear my Magic Hat when needed, because I will feel much better if I focus on the NOW. For the future, it’s crucial that we integrate the learned techniques into our daily life, so they become family habits. With Captain Moment, I hold the key to unlocking a special world for children—one they may not even have known existed. I am infinitely grateful and happy! Thank you!
Since then, I’ve ordered two more copies as gifts, in addition to the one I own. I recommend it because I’ve personally experienced, through my own and my child’s changed attitude, how incredibly useful and practical the tools in this book are.
Diána Tóth, teacher
The book’s chapters build very well on one another, and young children enjoy working together. I would also recommend it to preschool teachers. It is suitable for small group work.
Erzsébet
It captivated me and really energized me. It is well-structured, and it offers so many useful tools for children. It covers a wide range of topics, and you can link it with many activities. We started processing it in weekly sessions with a second-grade class. A huge thank you!
Andi, teacher
It contains many great exercises. Simple, short stories. Based on our experience so far, the children enjoy it.
Kinga, teacher
The 10-week program is very well-structured. I’m using it with a second-year preschool group. The stories need to be shortened for them, and sometimes reworded, but apart from that, I like using it in my work, and the feedback from the children has been positive. Even those who are beginners in meditation and mindfulness practice can use this book effectively. Of course, it would be best if the sessions were led by experienced educators.
Zsuzsanna
An absolutely super book! My little boy and I read it in no particular order, just wherever we feel like. He loves the interactive tasks in it and is happy to do them. He’s only 5 years old now, so he’ll be able to use this book for a long time. 🙂
I totally recommend it to all parents for use at home. 🙂 Even I learn a lot from it.
Kitti
I am so grateful. This book can really help parents who don’t know how to handle their child’s or grandchild’s behavior properly. Thank you! It has been and will continue to be a huge help to me in the near future. I have learned many new, positive points of views and techniques from it. It would be very useful for children’s development in kindergartens and schools. I would love as many preschool and school-age children as possible to meet Captain Moment and learn the secret of the Magic Hat!
Ildikó
A super useful and amazing book! We really like it! Just as we do the Happiness Lesson books related to boosting self-confidence and the Heart Elf cards, which are also a big favorite! It’s really important for children to start learning these techniques from preschool age so that they can more easily cope with the difficulties they face in the education system!
Tímea Horváth
The book arrived three days ago, and my 5-and-a-half and 3-and-a-half-year-old daughters love it! I love reading it too, the descriptions are so detailed that our imagination can truly take flight. And we can have some great conversations in the meantime about where we are wondering off to in our minds. 😃 Today, the little one even took it with her on a trip. ☺️
Mrs. Anett Bozsó Kotroczó
We ordered it too. We’re using it with our 4-year-old child, and we’re on week three. She loves both the story and the activities. We’re very happy we ordered it and started the 10-week program.
Ildikó Bacsa
Those who have tried and already love Captain Moment…
Source: Facebook
„You try to regain the class’s attention for the umpteenth time – with clever words, with patience, by asking nicely, by ordering them, being firm with them, or even threatening to punish them, but let’s face it, to almost no avail. But then you unexpectedly end up with this new book in your hands, Captain Moment, and like when a black-and-white movie suddenly turns into color, your lips curl into a smile, a strange warmth rushes through your body, and you are filled with gratitude… My God, this is what I have been looking for all these years! Bella Bagdi’s book, Captain Moment, answers an unmet need and is a game-changer for all teachers and parents.”
Márti Szabó, teacher
ABOUT THE WRITER
BELLA BAGDI
Psychologist, mindfulness instructor (MBSR, MBCT), Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher (MSC), founder and lead developer of the Happiness Lesson Program. She launched the Happiness Lesson Program in the 2014/2015 school year, and since then, more than 1,500 kindergartens and schools have joined it. More than 100,000 children and young people can now take part in Happiness Lessons, often referred to by students as “emotion classes”.
Bella’s mission is to use science-based methods to promote mental health and thereby contribute to a happier, healthier, and more compassionate society. Her best-known publications are the Happiness Lesson book series and the Positivity development games.
Awards:
- Forbes Makers Hungary Award 2025.
- HundrED’s Global Collection of the most impactful and scalable innovations for 2025.
- HundrED’s Spotlight of the most effective Wellbeing in Schools programmes, 2025.
- Happiness Lesson OTP Fáy Educational Innovation Award - lower primary school category, 2024.
HundrED, an organization that promotes science-based education programs, has selected the Happiness Lesson Program as one of the 100 most impactful school innovation programs in the world. The Happiness Lesson Program is now included in the HundrED Global Collection 2025 and has also been recognized as one of the 15 most impactful school well-being programs globally.
Illustrator of Captain Moment: Zsanett Fehér
Questions and Answers about the Captain Moment Program
The stories and exercises in the book are recommended for children aged 3 and over, specifically for preschoolers and young schoolchildren. However, older children can also benefit from them if they enjoy stories and games. The program is flexible, so even family members of different ages can do the exercises together.
Yes, young children can easily learn the basics of mindfulness, especially if they encounter it through playful and creative exercises. The stories and activities are designed to engage children joyfully and encourage them to practice.
The Captain Moment program lasts for 10 weeks, with one story and exercise each week. This time frame ensures that children can gradually learn the techniques. However, it is flexible, so you can revisit your favorite stories and exercises anytime.
Nothing is mandatory in this program. Flexibility is the most important aspect. While there is a structure to the 10-week program and stories, each part can stand on its own. If you need to focus on a specific topic, feel free to experiment. You can go at your own pace and choose only the parts that you enjoy the most.
That’s perfectly fine! The stories themselves provide a magical experience, helping your child calm down, wander into an imaginary world, and strengthen the connection between you. If you feel like it later on, you can also try the exercises.
Yes, definitely! Mindfulness is not only a valuable tool for children but also for adults in developing self-awareness, reducing stress, and finding emotional balance. As you do the exercises with your child, you will also experience the beneficial effects of mindful presence.
In Captain Moment’s interactive mindfulness stories, you can actively involve the children in the world of the story through various playful exercises. The goal is for the children to not only be listeners but also participants in the story, which helps them dive deeper into the story’s teachings.
Yes, and it’s actually highly recommended! Children often enjoy it when a particular story or exercise becomes a recurring part of daily life. Repetition helps them deepen their understanding and master new skills. You can even revisit a story or exercise for several weeks in a row to further solidify the lessons learned.
For preschool-age children, the program can be broken down into shorter, 10-15 minute segments. You can adjust each story or exercise to the group’s interest and energy levels. For example, you could tell a story one day and then try the related exercise the next day. The interactive nature of the stories and the playful elements help sustain their attention.
The program can be effectively used not only at home but also in preschools and schools. The exercises fit nicely into preschool group sessions or school lessons, for example, as part of a morning routine, during a break, or as a way to end the day. The stories and exercises processed in groups can also strengthen group cohesion.
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- Captain Moment - Emotion regulation and attention control program
- Heart Elf Card Game Card Game for Emotional Intelligence
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Captain Moment & Gate of Adventures Bundle
- Captain Moment - Emotion regulation and attention control program
- Gate of Adventures Card Game for Creative Problem Solving
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Heart Elf, Gate of Adventures & Captain Moment Bundle
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- Captain Moment - Emotion regulation and attention control program
- Heart Elf Card Game Card Game for Emotional Intelligence
- Heart Elf Calming Breath Cards
- Gate of Adventures Card Game for Creative Problem Solving