The Trust Tree – A Trust-Building Resource for Children and Teens
This is the Trust Tree. It’s a special tree that holds the people, places, and things you trust the most—what helps you feel safe, steady, and strong. Write or draw them on the leaves, and watch yourself grow as your understanding of trust deepens.
About This Resource
The Trust Tree is a printable activity designed to guide children and teens in exploring the concept of trust through a creative and reflective process. Trust is a vital component of emotional well-being and healthy relationships, and this resource provides a safe space for young individuals to identify the people, environments, and things that bring them comfort, security, and strength.
Whether used in schools, therapy sessions, or at home, this resource promotes open discussions about trust and empowers children to better understand their feelings and relationships.
How to Use This Resource:
For Social Workers: The Trust Tree can be used to help children and teens explore and articulate the people, places and things they rely on for emotional support. This activity is particularly helpful during sessions where trust has been broken or disrupted, such as in cases of family separation, foster care, or trauma. By identifying elements of their lives that feel stable and safe, children can better articulate their emotional needs, which supports care planning and interventions.
For Therapists: In individual or group therapy, the Trust Tree provides a safe, non-intimidating way for children to reflect on trust. Use it as an icebreaker to open discussions about healthy relationships, trust-building and coping strategies for when trust is challenged. For children who struggle with trust, this tool offers insight into their perceptions and provides a basis for developing goals related to emotional resilience and boundaries.
For Educators: In schools, the Trust Tree can be a part of social-emotional learning (SEL) or classroom guidance sessions. For one-to-one sessions with children with special educational needs (SEN), the Trust Tree is an excellent tool for helping them express and explore their understanding of trust in a simple, visual way. This resource can be particularly helpful in building trust with students who may have experienced difficulties in relationships, whether due to developmental, emotional, or behavioural challenges. It can serve as a starting point for discussions around personal boundaries, self-esteem and supportive relationships.
For Group Settings: The Trust Tree works well in group settings such as youth clubs or workshops. Encourage participants to share their trees (if they feel comfortable), promotes an understanding of the different ways people experience and build trust. This can promote empathy and strengthen group dynamics.
By tailoring discussions to the child's experiences and providing supportive dialogue, professionals can use the Trust Tree to help children feel seen, heard, and valued, while promoting a deeper understanding of trust and emotional safety.
Key Features
- Customisable Template: A printable trust tree with blank leaves for children to write or draw their trusted people, places, and things.
- Age-Appropriate and Engaging Design: Suitable for a range of ages, from young children to teens.
- Versatile Usage: Designed for therapists, educators, parents, charity workers, social workers, group facilitators and more to explore trust in a variety of settings.
Benefits
- Promotes Emotional Awareness: Helps children and teens articulate their feelings about trust and identify what makes them feel safe and supported.
- Promotes Healthy Relationships: Encourages understanding of trust-building and the characteristics of trustworthy people and environments.
- Encourages Reflection and Growth: Helps participants consider their own role in building trust, as well as the importance of setting and respecting boundaries.
- Strengthens Bonds: Provides an opportunity for meaningful dialogue between children and adults, helping to build stronger, healthier relationships.
- Safe Exploration of Vulnerability: Offers a non-threatening way for children to share their feelings and experiences, creating opportunities for healing or growth when trust has been challenged.
How to Use the Trust Tree Activity
- Print the Trust Tree template and provide crayons, markers, or pencils.
- Explain the concept of trust, giving age-appropriate examples of what it means to trust someone or something.
- Encourage participants to write or draw their trusted people, places, or things on the leaves.
- Use the completed tree as a reminder that trust exists in their world and helps them grow.
The Trust Tree is a versatile and meaningful resource for children and teens to explore the concept of trust. Through creative expression and guided discussions, it promotes emotional awareness, strengthens relationships and provides a foundation for understanding trust in a safe and supportive environment. Whether in therapy, classrooms, or at home, this activity is a powerful tool for building trust and emotional resilience.
