We are excited to introduce our ADHD Positive Character and Strengths Cards, designed to celebrate and nurture the unique qualities of pupils with ADHD. These cards highlight the positive traits and strengths that make each pupil special, helping to build self-esteem, confidence, and a positive self-image.
Please note that these cards could be used with any child. Lots of children are undiagnosed ADHD so these cards may help to give you evidence towards diagnosis.
Included in the ADHD Positive character and strengths cards:
56 cards (ideas for traits given by practitioners with ADHD or with personal experience of ADHD).
10 ideas on how to use the cards
These cards serve as daily reminders of their strengths, such as creativity, problem solving, and resilience, shifting the focus from challenges to capabilities. By regularly acknowledging and celebrating these qualities, pupils begin to see themselves in a more positive light, fostering a sense of pride and self-worth. The consistent reinforcement of their strengths helps to build confidence, encouraging them to embrace their individuality and approach new situations with a positive mindset. This shift in perception not only enhances their self-esteem but also empowers them to use their strengths in overcoming obstacles and achieving their goals.
The cards are 8 to an A4 sheet of paper. If you want bigger cards use your print settings to print onto A3. This might depend on the age you are working with. Suitable for all children. Children love to learn BIG words and with this pack they can certainly do that.
One of the ideas in the pack:
Create a Personal Strengths Book
Help the pupil create a scrapbook of their trait cards, combining them with pictures and stories that highlight their strengths.
Our Building Resilience pupil leaflet is designed to help children develop the skills and habits needed to bounce back from challenges. Perfect for pupils in primary school, this engaging tri-fold leaflet explains what resilience is, why it matters, and offers practical tips they can try each day to build their confidence and strength. Ideal for classroom use, social-emotional learning support, or for parents looking to encourage resilience at home!
Inside the Building Resilience Pupil Leaflet:
What is Resilience?
This section introduces resilience as the ability to “bounce back” from tough situations. It explains resilience in simple, relatable language, helping children understand that being resilient means staying strong and positive when things get challenging.
Why is it Important?
Here, pupils learn why resilience matters in everyday life.
Building Resilience
This section provides practical tips and strategies children can use to start building resilience.
Positive Habits
This section introduces a list of positive habits that can make resilience part of a pupil’s daily routine.
Reflecting on Resilience
The final section encourages pupils to think back and reflect on previous challenges.
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 a leaflet holder included in the pack which you can use to display your leaflets on the wall. There is also a BLACK AND WHITE version of the leaflet included in the pack. Some children might like to colour in the black and white version as you chat.
Important information
This Building Resilience pupil 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.
This is a memory wheel for transition and can be used for any age group.
Pupils can draw their memories of the past year. This offers a multitude of benefits for their personal and emotional development. This creative exercise allows children to visually express their experiences, enhancing their ability to recall and articulate important moments. By drawing their memories, pupils engage in a reflective practice that fosters self-awareness and helps them appreciate their achievements and growth over the year.
Artistic expression through drawing can also be therapeutic, providing a safe outlet for pupils to process and communicate their emotions. This can be particularly beneficial for those who might find it difficult to express their feelings verbally. Additionally, the memory wheel serves as a visual diary, capturing a snapshot of their year that they can look back on, reinforcing positive experiences and milestones.
Sharing their memory wheel for transition with peers and teachers can strengthen social connections and build a sense of community. It encourages pupils to listen to others’ experiences, fostering empathy and understanding. The activity can boost confidence as children take pride in their artwork and the memories they’ve chosen to highlight.
Overall, the memory wheel activity is a powerful tool for promoting emotional well-being, enhancing memory retention, and encouraging a positive outlook on personal growth and achievements.
This is our little book of summer. It is on of our little books that is one sheet of paper folded to make 4 sides. So easy to prepare and suitable for all primary children.
These could be given out for summer or done when the children return to school in September.
The wrist bands or bracelets are a lovely reminder to pupils to be kind. They can use mindful colouring to colour in their wrist bands. I would recommend printing them on card so they are a bit sturdier.
Benefits of Mindful colouring with our Kindness wrist bands.
Colouring promotes relaxation and helps children unwind after a busy day, reducing stress and anxiety levels.
Engaging in mindful colouring requires concentration, which can help improve attention span and focus in children.
Colouring allows children to express themselves creatively, experiment with colours, and explore their imagination.
Colouring involves precise movements and coordination, which can help develop fine motor skills in children, including hand-eye coordination and pencil grip.
Mindful colouring encourages children to focus on the present moment, promoting mindfulness and awareness of their thoughts and feelings.
Completing a wrist band gives children a sense of accomplishment, boosting their self-esteem and confidence.
Engaging in a relaxing activity like colouring can uplift children’s mood and provide a sense of happiness and satisfaction.
Colouring allows children to express themselves freely, conveying their emotions and thoughts through art.
A paper wristband focusing on kindness serves as a visual reminder for children to practise compassion and empathy daily. It promotes positive behaviour, and cultivates empathy. Empowering children to make a difference, it sparks conversations, serves as an educational tool, and encourages self-reflection. By wearing the wristband, children become ambassadors of kindness, spreading positivity and uplifting others.
This is our ‘Excited or Worried Tab Booklet’ perfect for transition.
Transitioning to a new school, or class brings a mix of excitement and anxiety. Excitement stems from the prospect of new beginnings, learning opportunities, and potential friendships. The idea of a fresh start can be exhilarating.
Anxiety, however, often accompanies this excitement. The fear of the unknown, concerns about fitting in, and pressures to perform academically and socially can be daunting.
This booklet gives pupils a voice to say what is exciting for them and what is worrying for them. It also gives lots of opportunity for them to talk to you about their worries or excitement.
Simply print onto A4 paper and cut out the pieces. Staple together at the top.
This is an ‘unwind the mind transition mat. Perfect for the end of term when pupils needs some calm time. Pupils will enjoy the mindfulness of colouring and answering simple prompts.
There is a class version and a school version included in the pack. Print in A4 for older pupils and by using your print settings you can print on A3 for younger pupils.
Benefits of the unwind the mind transition mat
These offer calming activities that can help children relax and unwind after a busy day or during stressful times. Engaging in these activities encourages deep breathing and fosters a sense of peace and tranquillity.
Working on one of these mats offers effective stress-relief techniques for children. By focusing their attention on the task at hand, children can temporarily shift their focus away from worries and anxieties, promoting a sense of calmness and emotional well-being.
Mindful colouring allows children to express themselves creatively and explore their imagination through colours and designs. It provides a non-verbal outlet for self-expression, allowing children to convey their emotions and feelings in a safe and therapeutic manner.
Successfully completing creating beautiful artwork through mindful colouring can boost children’s self-esteem and confidence. Accomplishing challenging tasks and seeing tangible results can instil a sense of pride and accomplishment in children, reinforcing their belief in their abilities.
This is our Transition Mixed Feelings pack.
Transitioning to a new school, class, or group brings a mix of excitement, anxiety, and sadness. Excitement stems from the prospect of new beginnings, learning opportunities, and potential friendships. The idea of a fresh start can be exhilarating.
Anxiety, however, often accompanies this excitement. The fear of the unknown, concerns about fitting in, and pressures to perform academically and socially can be daunting.
Sadness is another common feeling, arising from leaving behind familiar faces, routines, and environments. The sense of loss and nostalgia for past experiences can be emotionally challenging. Missing old friends and known comforts adds to the difficulty of the transition.
To manage these mixed feelings, it’s good to recognise them. This resource will help your pupils do just that. It’s important to acknowledge and validate all emotions.
The transition mixed feelings pack has a visual ‘face’ version and a ‘word’ version so you can adapt to the capabilities of the pupil. Despite the challenges, with time and support, pupils can navigate these emotions and successfully adapt to their new environments. This activity is fun and engaging. Pupils will enjoy cutting out and sticking their emotions onto the jar.
This is an ‘Exciting times ahead Pupil Leaflet’. It is written in a child friendly way so pupils will understand. This leaflet looks at transition of moving to Secondary school.
Included in the ‘Exciting Times Ahead Pupil Leaflet’
Feelings – Looks at the mix of feelings associated with transition and changes.
What ifs – All those ‘what if’ questions they might have and how they can be worrying
Who can help with ‘What ifs’ – Advice asking for help and a list of people who might be able to help
Exciting questions – All those exciting questions they can ask themselves
Being prepared – Getting answers from questions, having a practice trip to school and imagining their first day.
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.
We also include a leaflet holder so you can display it in your area.
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.
This is a ‘Ready, Set, Secondary’ Transition Workbook. Moving from primary to secondary school is a significant milestone in a pupil’s educational journey, bringing new adventures, opportunities, and challenges. Being prepared for this transition is crucial to ensure pupils approach it with confidence and enthusiasm.
** update we have added a ‘High School’ version
Secondary school introduces new subjects, teachers, and a larger environment. Embracing this change with a positive mindset is key. Encouraging pupils to recognise their strengths and achievements builds the confidence needed to face new challenges.
Setting realistic goals provides students with direction and purpose. Identifying their unique strengths helps them focus on areas where they can excel and positively contribute to their new school environment. Goal-setting fosters a sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Emotional preparation is just as important as academic readiness. Teaching pupils about self-care, self-awareness of feelings, breathing exercises, and visualising that success.
When students feel supported and understood, they thrive. With the right support and mindset, the transition to secondary school can be a rewarding and enriching experience.
This ‘Ready, set secondary’ transition workbook will help pupils to understand their readiness for Secondary school. Lots of transition resources can be based on anxiety and worries whereas this is about empowering the young person. They are awesome, and ready for their next chapter.
It is split into sections
Amazing me!
Discovering my strengths
Goals
Moving forward
Being prepared emotionally
There are 31 pages in the workbook.
This workbook is great for working one to one with pupils who need a bit of a confidence boost to help them realise how ready they are for moving onto Secondary School. Just print one out for each pupil you 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.
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.
These are our unwind the mind activity mats.
These mats are a combination of working on the particular topic – e.g. be brave and mighty and relaxation activities through refocusing attention. There are puzzles, mindful colouring, drawing, creating patterns and a little writing.
You can print them A4 but also if you want them bigger, use your printer settings and print them on A3 paper.
These are suitable for KS2 and most of them for secondary too.
These unwind the mind activity mats are perfect for
Before or after SATs or tests
Ending your session
Beginning your session
Morning routine whole class activity
When things are winding down at the end of term
Calming corners
Homework
Transition times
Any stressful situations
We have the following 10 mats along with answer sheets where needed
Be joyful
Be mindful
Be calm
Be positive
Be brave and mighty
Be kind
Be caring to yourself
Be determined
Be friendly
Be proud
Benefits of unwind the mind mats
Both puzzles and mindful colouring are calming activities that can help children relax and unwind after a busy day or during stressful times. Engaging in these activities encourages deep breathing and fosters a sense of peace and tranquillity.
Solving puzzles and colouring mindfully can act as effective stress-relief techniques for children. By focusing their attention on the task at hand, children can temporarily shift their focus away from worries and anxieties, promoting a sense of calmness and emotional well-being.
Puzzles and mindful colouring require children to concentrate and pay attention to details, which can help improve their concentration and focus over time. These activities encourage children to stay engaged in the present moment, enhancing their ability to sustain attention and ignore distractions.
Puzzles can provide children with opportunities to exercise their problem-solving skills and critical thinking abilities. By deciphering clues, finding patterns, and making logical deductions, children can develop important cognitive skills that are essential for academic success.
Mindful colouring allows children to express themselves creatively and explore their imagination through colours and designs. It provides a non-verbal outlet for self-expression, allowing children to convey their emotions and feelings in a safe and therapeutic manner.
Successfully completing puzzles and creating beautiful artwork through mindful colouring can boost children’s self-esteem and confidence. Accomplishing challenging tasks and seeing tangible results can instil a sense of pride and accomplishment in children, reinforcing their belief in their abilities.
There are lots more benefits to these activity mats.
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 ‘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.
This is a ‘Falling out with friends pupil leaflet’ (conflict) which was an ELSA request. It is written in a child friendly way so pupils will understand.
Included in the ‘falling out with friends pupil leaflet’:
Understanding Conflict – Explanation of what conflict means and the emotions around conflict.
Causes of conflict – examples of situations that lead to conflict.
Win win – What is a win win situation?
Compromise – What it means to compromise along with traffic light reminder.
Test yourself – Questions to check understanding.
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.
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.
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
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.