Overcome the Fear at the Playground

Mia loved playing at the playground near her home in the Bay Area. But there was one thing she was scared of—the tall, twisty slide. Her friends would giggle and slide down, but Mia stayed at the bottom, watching. Every time she thought about climbing up, her tummy got butterflies. - I want to slide, but it's so high, Mia said to her dad.

One day, Mia decided to try climbing the slide, but her legs felt wobbly. She took a few steps up and then stopped. Her heart was beating fast, and she looked down to see how far she had come. - It's too scary, Mia said, stepping back down. Her dad knelt beside her, giving her a comforting smile. - You can do it, Mia.

Mia tried again the next day, but the slide looked even taller. She reached for the ladder, but her hands felt slippery. - I can't do it today, she sighed. Her dad held her hand and said, - It's okay, Mia. We can try again another time. Mia wanted to be brave, but the slide seemed impossible to conquer.

Feeling defeated, Mia sat on a bench, watching her friends go down the slide. She felt a little sad and thought about giving up. - Maybe I'm just not brave enough, she whispered to herself. Her dad sat next to her and said, - Remember, Mia, being brave means trying, even when you're scared. Mia wasn't sure if she believed him yet.

The next morning, her dad had an idea. - Let's pretend we're brave superheroes, he said. They both put on imaginary capes and marched to the playground. Mia felt a little braver and climbed the ladder again. This time, she didn't look down. - I'm a superhero, she whispered, feeling her courage grow.

With a deep breath, Mia sat at the top of the slide. Her dad cheered from below, - You got this, Mia! She pushed off, sliding down with a whoosh, feeling the wind in her hair. When she reached the bottom, she laughed with joy. - I did it! she exclaimed. From that day on, the slide was her favorite part of the playground.