This is an idea for an ELSA Christmas advent calendar and would be a fab activity for groups of children or your one to one children. Each child can colour one or two of the booklets. Some of them require faces drawing on first. They can just colour the image or they can colour the image and background. Depends how much time you have. There are 24 little foldable books. The child can colour the front of one of the books and then write or draw something inside. The pupil needs to understand that what they write or draw could be seen by anyone so they are writing for an audience. What could they write? The purpose of this advent calendar is some quiet mindful time and of course positivity. This activity is ideal for that last week in November, preparing for the 1st of December. Ideas for what you could work on: A Christmas memory Something you are grateful for An act of kindness Positive quotes about Christmas Self care and ways to look after yourself Positive characteristics Relaxing moments Positive affirmations A gift to give someone A joke or something to make you smile Compliments Once all the pieces have been coloured you can use the enclosed A3 sheet to stick the numbers on at random and close each book with a bit of bluetak. You can then use it as an advent calendar. Everyone has been involved and pupils are writing things for others to see so they need to think carefully what message they want to convey. Of course if you want to make it very simple, they could just draw a Christmas picture inside if they want to.

This isolation diary booklet for children will help nurture wellbeing. They may have to stay at home for 14 days to isolate after having contact with a positive Covid case. There are 10 daily challenges but these don’t take long to do. It is a matter of doing a bit of colouring, writing a word or number. If they can’t do them all then that is fine but the more they do the more likely they will be fully occupied on nurturing their wellbeing. There are a couple of differentiated pages so this is suitable for all age groups.

The child can have fun with this by colouring a section of the rainbow each day. I wonder what it will look like when finished. Which mood will be the most popular mood? Great for home learning

Here are some positivity cards. There are 36 cards in the download. Print these out and cut them out and they could be used in lots of ways from discussions at circle time to a child picking one out of a jar and discussing.

These breathing exercise wheels are great as a prompt for trying different breathing techniques when feeling anxious. Pupils can use their favourite or try different ones.

This is a bee display pack with positive messages on. Included in the pack: 31 Hexagons with messages and blanks for your own messages A3 Bee for cutting out Clouds Large flowers 2 Banners One hive I would suggest a pale bluish background if you can so the yellow stands out. This can be made to look like the sky. The flowers could be cut out and put around the bottom or make a border of them by printing them smaller.

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

This is a completely free resource that can be used to get to know children who will be starting school in September. Of course that all depends on the current situation. It is a booklet that was asked for from a Learning mentor who needed something to send home to parents to find out as much as possible about their child. With the current situation home visits won’t be possible. That may change in the next few months but at least you have something you can use. Obviously the parent and child would do this together. There are simple assessments such as colouring in, drawing themselves, drawing an emotion face, writing letters and numbers. Use as many or as few of the sheets as you want to. Parents if you are reading this then make sure there is no pressure on your child to write, draw etc but let them have a go or scribe what they say.

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

These are just image files with a transparent background so you can basically use just like you would an image. The beauty of these is the transparent background so you can overlay them over basically anything. There are 11 image files in the pack. You can insert them into anything where you can insert a photo or graphic. You could add to some work you are marking for a child You could add as an attachment to a child you are emailing You could add to a photograph, there are lots of apps out there that you can do this with but will show you a simple way with PowerPoint. I think most people have that! You could add it to a little note you are sending to a child in word You could even make a sheet of real stickers if you want to by pasting into a word document and then printing on ‘sticker paper’. You can resize them from small to HUGE. The image quality is 300dpi so perfect for enlarging too.

This ‘tell a story PowerPoint’ is perfect for delivering remotely or in the classroom with a whiteboard, laptop or IPAD. You need to be in slideshow mode to ensure the animations work correctly. Click ‘slideshow’ click ‘from beginning’ Please ensure you are using an up to date version of PowerPoint. The slide plays a video which you can stop and start. Some older versions may not work. When you click on the dice it rolls, when you click it again it stops at random. Roll the die 5 times to get your character, setting, emotion, prop and problem. The little squares can be clicked so you can remember what you have rolled. They will turn a blue colour. Then simply tell a story.

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.

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.