Written last night to hopefully help children who struggle with change. This is a BIG change. Clear, simple and hopefully reassuring.

The four basic emotions are covered – happy, sad, angry and scared You will find that most other emotions have a base here. For example worried can come under scared, excited can come under happy, upset can come under sad and furious can come under angry. Learning these 4 first can help develop other emotions in time. Print out a copy for each day. Ask your child how they are feeling today? Ask them to colour the relevant picture, chances are it will be ‘happy’ most of the time initially and this is fine. You are helping them get into the habit of talking about feelings. Ask them to draw their face showing that emotion, use a mirror to help them see their face and have fun making different expressions. Then ask them to talk about it and draw a picture if they want to. If they don’t then just jot down what they have said. You want them to articulate their feelings and talking about it is a great way to do that! In time you will find your child becoming more open and talking more about their feelings. Please make sure you model this too e.g. ‘I feel sad today because it’s raining outside’. ‘I feel happy today because I talked to my friend’. Also make sure you verbalise their emotions too and give a reason. ‘I see you are feeling sad today because…’ ‘I see you are feeling angry today because…’ and so on. Great for home learning

This challenge has been made for Children’s mental health week on the theme of ‘EXPRESS YOURSELF’ It is a printable 5 day challenge with a drawing/writing task and a doing/talking task each day. There is a certificate for the end of the 5 days.

The teen affirmation workbook begins by offering a clear explanation of affirmations and their significance. It is vital for young minds to grasp the concept of positive self-talk and how it can shape their perceptions and attitudes. The workbook helps pupils to craft personalised affirmations that resonate with their unique experiences and aspirations. Teens learn to transform negative thoughts into affirmations that inspire confidence and resilience. Pupils will reflect on any negativity in their lives through self reflection and learn to flip these into positive affirmations. Pupils are encouraged to use their affirmations daily for 2 weeks and monitor their feelings over this time. They are then encouraged to reflect on any changes that have been observed over that 2 week period. What’s included in the teen affirmation workbook? Affirmations are… (what they are) Affirmations can… (how they can benefit you) Self reflection…(what are the negatives?) Turning the negatives…(How to flip those negatives into a positive statement) Your turn…(Practising how to flip the negatives) Creating affirmations (advice on how to write one) Example affirmations Creating your own affirmations Daily affirmation practice Remember… (the importance of daily practice) Keeping track…(A table for helping monitor feelings and any positive changes) Reflection…(How have things changed over two weeks – question prompts)

This leaflet gives a general idea of what an ELSA works on with children. It shows how a lesson may be run which includes and emotional check in, main activity, relaxation and a review. It looks at the aims of the ELSA programme such as building your child’s emotional development and to help them cope with life’s challenges. Also helping children to find solutions to any problems they may have. It covers the areas an ELSA may help with such as loss and bereavement, emotional literacy, self esteem, social skills, friendship issues, relationships, managing strong feelings, anxiety, bullying, conflict, emotional regulation, growth mindset and social stories. It is helpful to give one of these leaflets out to parents when you first start working with them.

This is a children’s feelings dictionary. The title is ‘Feelings Explorers – a journey to discover your feelings’ This dictionary covers the word and a simple definition. It is aimed at primary or older if older students don’t mind the characters. Life presents children with a range of challenging emotions, such as anger, anxiety, or fear. A feelings dictionary equips them with the tools to navigate these emotions more effectively. It empowers children to label their feelings, recognise their triggers, and identify appropriate coping strategies. This emotional resilience not only helps them manage difficult emotions but also promotes mental well-being and fosters a positive outlook on life. Labeling feelings is a crucial step in teaching children how to regulate their emotions. When children can identify and label their emotions, they are better equipped to manage them. By recognising when they are experiencing frustration, for example, children can learn strategies to calm themselves down, such as taking deep breaths or engaging in a preferred calming activity. The ability to regulate emotions effectively contributes to improved self-control and reduced impulsivity. Included in this Children’s Feelings Dictionary 13 Page booklet with a front cover – this is the dictionary from A to Z, lots of words included. Please note there are no words beginning with the letter X. A to Z of feelings worksheet – for pupils to choose words they like and write them down or add words not included in the dictionary. Please note there are no feelings words for x Feelings words I can use worksheet – for pupils to think about the core emotions such as angry, sad, scared, happy, disgusted and surprised and write words they would use to describe those emotions. Feelings words to describe the characters worksheet – pupils can look through the dictionary and choose words to describe the character’s feelings. Synonyms worksheet – pupils can hunt for synonyms of the 6 core emotions. Silly sentences worksheet – pupils can make up silly sentences using some of the feelings words in the dictionary. Draw the feeling worksheet – pupils can choose six words from the dictionary and try to draw what that feeling might look like.

This is a ‘Looking after my mental health’ tab booklet for world mental health day on the 10th October 2023 This resource is to help remove the stigma of mental health and help children to understand what they might need for good mental health. This booklet is here to show that it’s okay to talk about feelings and to help children  know what they can do to have happy and healthy minds. It is aimed at primary and lower secondary. This resource is to support World mental health day. Included in the pack How important are feelings? Who can I talk to? How can I relax? What makes me happy? How can I look after me?

The emotions iceberg is a metaphorical representation of the concept that there are visible and hidden aspects to our emotions. It suggests that what we express or display on the surface is just a small part of the broader emotional experience we have internally. The iceberg is divided into two main parts: Visible Emotions (the ones that show on the surface) These are the emotions that show and what can be seen Visible emotions could include happiness, anger, sadness, excitement, fear, surprise, and disgust. They are usually accompanied by recognisable facial expressions, body language, and vocal cues. Hidden Emotions (the ones that are hidden under the surface) These are the deeper and less visible emotions that lie beneath the surface. Hidden emotions are often more complex, and influenced by personal experiences, memories, beliefs, and thoughts. Examples of hidden emotions include shame, guilt, jealousy, anxiety, vulnerability, insecurity, loneliness, and grief. Identifying hidden emotions requires self-awareness, and empathy towards oneself and others. All the sheets print as A3 apart from the worksheets which are A4. Included in the Emotions Iceberg display pack: Emotions iceberg in A3 but you could print it bigger using adobe print settings Two pockets to include emoji faces and word cards A set of 20 emoji cards that will fit into the pocket 32 cards with suggested feelings words plus some bank cards for handwriting more words A set of editable cards (in PowerPoint) A banner 6 Supporting worksheets 2 quotes

This is a ‘My voice matters pupil leaflet’. It is written in a child friendly way so pupils will understand. This is a special leaflet for children’s mental health week. Focus on expressing yourself and how their voices matter. We have lots of other Pupil Leaflets on our website. Our leaflet comes with its own holder for displaying on the wall. Included in the ‘My voice matters pupil leaflet’: Mental wellbeing? – How talking about thoughts and feelings can help your brain feel better and is the first step to a healthy mind. Emotions matter? – How emotions are normal but sometimes need to be talked about. Boost confidence – How expressing yourself in different ways can boost confidence. Whether that is writing, drawing, body language or talking. Community – How belonging to a community with help boost self esteem and create safety. Respecting everyone’s opinions and ideas and having yours respected too. Strength- How communication makes a difference and makes the world a better place. There is an editable part for you to put your contact details or just your name. Simply type in the blue box. Don’t worry the blue box doesn’t show when you print. You can of course just print it and handwrite your details. There is also a BLACK AND WHITE version included in the pack. Important information This leaflet is meant to be used as part of ELSA Sessions or some other therapeutic session and shouldn’t just be given out to children without some input. Please DO NOT just give these out without that important input. They are purely reminders for the pupil to take away and for parents to get involved. It is your responsibility to decide whether the information in this leaflet will be helpful to your pupils. Under our terms and conditions these leaflets must not be put onto school websites. They are for printing and giving to pupils at the end of a session or you could use them as a basis for your session. Work through each part with the pupil.

ANTS Automatic Negative Thoughts game. ANTs are the spontaneous, habitual, and often irrational thoughts that creep into our minds in response to various situations and triggers. These thoughts can significantly impact our emotional well-being and overall mental health. This game will help pupils to recognise those ANTs and will help them to reframe their thinking so they are more positive. Included in the ANTS automatic negative thoughts game: Game board (print A3) Change it cards – 8 of each type of ANT – 64 in total ANTs cards – 2 sets of 8 – one with their names and one without Positive affirmation cards – 16 cards Editable ‘Change it and Positive affirmation cards’) for you to add your own if needed. This is especially relevant for secondary pupils. This is editable in POWERPOINT so please ensure you have that installed if you want to edit the cards. ANTS covered in this pack: Emotional Edna – thinks with her feelings. eg. I FEEL hopeless, I FEEL like a failure. Fortune Teller Felicity – predicts the worst outcome e.g. I can’t win the race!, I will come last! Guilty Gertrude – Uses the word should and then feels guilty – eg. I should have done my homework, I should have done some exercise. All or nothing Audrey – uses words like always, never, every. Eg. I always lose, I never have anyone to play with. Blaming Barry – blames everyone else – eg. It’s your fault I slept in, It’s your fault I feel angry! Mind Reader Mavis – thinks he can read other people’s minds – eg. He must be laughing at me, I know she hates me! Labelling Lawrence – calls himself and others names – eg I am such a loser, She is such an idiot! Negative Nancy – ignores the positives and only sees the negative – I only came second in the race, I only got one sticker today.

Here’s our “Break the Ice Game” – a fantastic game designed to add warmth and engagement to the start of your sessions! Dive into a world of penguins and ice holes, where penguin cards holds captivating questions waiting to be explored. It’s a great winter game on the run up to Christmas and beyond. It would also be suitable at any time of year so you will get lots out of this game. Say goodbye to the chill of starting a session with a new pupil; our game adds warmth and enthusiasm, setting a positive tone from the beginning. Pupils explore questions that encourage sharing and understanding, fostering a sense of connection within the group. Included in the ‘Break the Ice Game’ pack: A3 game board 90 question cards 9 blank cards if you want to write your own A5 Certificate for completing the game

This is a ‘Building confidence pupil leaflet’. It is written in a child friendly way so pupils will understand. Included in the ‘Building confidence pupil leaflet’: What is confidence? – A description of what confidence is and how you can cross the bridge from self doubt to self confidence What is self doubt? – Description with examples and a chance for the pupil to write down what their little voice might be saying. Confidence knockers – What sort of things knock confidence and a chance for pupils to write down what knocks their confidence. Confidence boosters – Ways to build confidence. Setting yourself a goal – Steps to set a goal – success breeds confidence. There is an editable part for you to put your contact details or just your name. Simply type in the blue box. Don’t worry the blue box doesn’t show when you print. You can of course just print it and handwrite your details. There is also a BLACK AND WHITE version included in the pack. Important information This leaflet is meant to be used as part of ELSA Sessions or some other therapeutic session and shouldn’t just be given out to children without some input. Please DO NOT just give these out without that important input. They are purely reminders for the pupil to take away and for parents to get involved. It is your responsibility to decide whether the information in this leaflet will be helpful to your pupils. Under our terms and conditions these leaflets must not be put onto school websites. They are for printing and giving to pupils at the end of a session or you could use them as a basis for your session. Work through each part with the pupil.

These are lanyard tabbed cards for identifying emotions. The tabs on the side help find the emotion quickly. These are two sets of Tabbed emotion lanyard cards. One is for uncomfortable emotions and the other is for uncomfortable emotions. The comfortable emotions cover – happy, excited, calm, proud, brave and loved. The uncomfortable emotions cover – sad, scared, worried, angry, embarrassed and disgusted. Each set has a card with just the face and a card with the face and a simple scale.

This is a worry worm booklet and poster. Lots of children have worry worms. They are usually crocheted or knitted. Often there is a little poem attached. They are to help pupils let go of their worries. The pupil can talk to their worm and tell it all about their worries. The idea being that the worry worm will hold onto it,so the pupil doesn’t have to. They can let it go. To decide on which worries should be told to the worm it is helpful to look at the Worry tree My idea for this resource was to have somewhere to put those worries. The worry worm booklet is useful for them to write those worries down. Once they have written or drawn their worry they can let it go. The types of worries that the pupil should be encouraged to write down are those worries not in their control. This might be a ‘What if?’ type worry. There are some handy reminders each using ‘worry’ as a mnemonic. Included in the pack: A3 Poster in colour Booklet in colour Booklet in black and white ‘I am worried about ‘page with lines for writing ‘I am worried about’ page blank for drawing

Here is a lovely calming game to play on the run up to Christmas. How to play our Christmas Calming Bingo game: Give each pupil a base board and some counters. Pick one of the calming cards and read through it with the pupils. The pupils can close their eyes so they can imagine the scene you are setting for them. Once they have all done this they place a counter on their base board over the appropriate exercise. Repeat until someone has a row vertically, horizontally or diagonally. The first person to get a row vertically, horizontally or diagonally is the winner of the game. They need to shout out ‘I am calm’ if they win. Included in the pack: 9 Calming activities 9 base boards with the images mixed up. You can play with up to 9 players.

This wooden effect bunting would look fabulous on a calming and natural display. They would look good on a display with a hessian background. I think natural displays are so calming. Anything that is easy on the eye and makes you feel you are in nature is fabulous. Included in the pack are: Full alphabet (CAPITALS) with leaves for decoration Full alphabet (CAPITALS) left blank Numbers 0-9 with leaves for decoration Numbers 0-9 left blank Editable display word cards – you need PowerPoint for these. It is a little extra I have put in to increase the use and value of the pack for you.

Important information This leaflet is meant to be used as part of ELSA Sessions or some other therapeutic session and shouldn’t just be given out to children without some input. They need to learn and understand about their worries and how to cope with being anxious by an adult. Please DO NOT just give these out without that important input. They are purely reminders for the pupil to take away. It is your responsibility to decide whether the information in this leaflet will be helpful to your pupils. Under our terms and conditions these leaflets must not be put onto school websites. They are for printing and giving to pupils at the end of a session or you could use them as a basis for your sessions. You can work through each part with the pupil. You can practise some of the things on the leaflet such as 3 good things or gratitude.

Important information This leaflet is meant to be used as part of ELSA Sessions or some other therapeutic session and shouldn’t just be given out to children without some input. They need to learn and understand about their worries and how to cope with being anxious by an adult. Please DO NOT just give these out without that important input. They are purely reminders for the pupil to take away. It is your responsibility to decide whether the information in this leaflet will be helpful to your pupils. Under our terms and conditions these leaflets must not be put onto school websites. They are for printing and giving to pupils at the end of a session or you could use them as a basis for your sessions. You can work through each part with the pupil. You can practise some of the things on the leaflet such as 3 good things or gratitude.

In this booklet, pupils will embark on a journey of self-discovery and connection as they learn about finding common ground, showing respect, practising inclusion, cultivating empathy, understanding the importance of friendships, recognising their own qualities that make them deserving of friends, and the power of apologising when mistakes are made. Our goal is to provide a safe and engaging space for pupils to explore these themes through activities, and discussions. By fostering a deeper understanding of friendship and the values that underpin it, we aim to empower children to build strong, supportive, and inclusive friendships that enrich their lives. There are 30 pages to the workbook. You can of course use the workbook as it is or if you just want to address certain areas then just print out those areas to work with.

This is great to have alongside your Worry Monster. There is space to write the worry and/or draw a picture. Children can project their anxieties onto the worry monster, externalising their worries and making them feel less overwhelming. Talking to or sharing worries with the worry monster can provide comfort and reassurance to children, helping them feel understood and supported. Worry monsters create a safe space for children to express their fears and concerns without judgment, fostering open communication and emotional expression. By feeding their worries to the monster or placing them inside, children regain a sense of control over their anxieties, empowering them to manage their emotions more effectively. Interacting with the worry monster becomes a coping strategy for children to deal with their worries in a constructive and tangible way, promoting emotional resilience and well-being.