Meet
Taes (TESS!)
AS SEEN ON:
BIGHeart
Taes Leavitt is a two-time JUNO Award–winning performer, emotional wellness educator, and the creator of The Big Heart Journey – a movement reshaping how we understand, express, and navigate big feelings.
As one half of the beloved musical duo Splash’N Boots, Taes has spent over two decades creating award-winning music, television, and live experiences that connect children and families — with appearances on Sesame Street, Disney Jr., Universal Kids, and Treehouse TV.
Her work has reached millions worldwide and been featured on outlets like The Today Show, earning her recognition as one of Canada’s leading voices in children’s wellness.
BIGFeelings
But beneath the costumes and the spotlight, Taes saw something deeper: people of all ages – from kids to teachers to caregivers – were overwhelmed by emotions, and under-resourced in how to handle them.
The problem isn’t a lack of care or effort. It’s that we’ve been using an outdated emotional language that no longer works. In a world where hope feels scarce for both children and adults, Taes recognized that we need an entirely new way to talk about and understand feelings.
“Seeing Taes in action amazed me. Her commitment to helping children learn to understand and work with their emotions is unparalleled. She is brilliant at helping children feel seen, heard and unconditionally loved, and that’s exactly what all children need.”
- Dr. Juilia Sen, Psychologist & Author
BIGImpact
That insight led her to create The Big Heart Journey: a science-backed, heart-led approach that gives people the tools they never got as kids – practical, playful strategies that actually work in real life. Her programs are approved by pediatricians and psychologists, and used by families, schools, therapists, and organizations across the globe.
At the heart of her work is the Picture It Method™ – a visual emotional language that makes feelings easier to understand, talk about, and move through. By creating shared visuals and accessible tools, Taes empowers children to express themselves fully, and equips adults to respond with empathy instead of urgency.
Emotional Safety Starts Here
Taes’ live presentations blend storytelling, neuroscience, and experiential learning, offering immediate tools for resilience, regulation, and connection. Whether she’s working with kindergartners, teenagers, teachers, or teams, her mission remains the same: to restore emotional safety where it’s needed most – in classrooms, kitchens, and communities.
Through her unique blend of entertainment expertise and mental wellness innovation, Taes is helping build the new emotional language our world so deeply needs -one heart, one classroom, one workplace, and one community at a time.
