Staying Well Activity Book and Guide to Support Children whose Best Friend is Leaving

The set includes:

Staying Well Activity Book is jam-packed full of strategies and creative activities to help ‘the stayer,’ reflect on how they feel, appreciate their friendship, and build a coping repertoire.

Staying Well Facilitator’s Guide offers guidance notes and prompts to help bring out the best experience for the child and is designed to help the adult feel confident in their delivery and in responding to any questions. It contains key points to consider, examples of ‘what you could say’, and explains the theory behind the activities.

Biography

Claire Holmes is a School Counsellor, her approach is trauma-informed and strength-based, empowering others to access their inner wisdom and knowing. As a mindfulness teacher, she weaves meditation into her work, alongside expressive therapies, and solution-focused interventions. Claire delights in spending time in The Great Outdoors and is a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide in training. She’s passionate about positive transitions, having lived and worked in Singapore for over two decades, she understands, first-hand what it means to be ‘a stayer.’ She is the author of the Moving On Series and is delighted to add the Staying Well books to her collection.

"Claire Holmes has crafted a masterpiece.  It should be a gift from every school to every single student aged 6-12 who will see a friend move away at the end of the year.  Too often the adults' attention goes to the students and families packing their bags and boxes.  This book fills a long overdue gap in the hearts and minds of the stayers.  We have long suspected that the unresolved losses associated with being “a stayer” can impact the ability of these students to make and maintain long-term emotional bonds with others.  Claire’s book addresses this gap, with a storehouse of accessible tricks and tools.  Do not be mistaken by the playfulness of her approach: it is based on sound psychological science mixing mindfulness, cognitive therapy, and polyvagal theory.  This book will help kids stay well and fully reap the benefits of a life where change happens.  We owe Claire Holmes a debt of gratitude for writing it." Dr. Douglas W. Ota, Author of Safe Passage: How Mobility Affects People and What International Schools Should Do About It

"Staying Well is a true gem for kids facing difficult times. The activity book's creative approach makes it not just a book but a canvas for young minds to explore their emotions and questions and build their resilience. It's a practical guide that fosters self-reflection and personal growth whilst providing a platform for nurture and support at a difficult time. The facilitator’s guide is a reassuring companion for adults, equipping them with all the tools and insights to be the supportive rock a child needs during times of loss and change. These books are engaging and incredibly valuable, providing children and their supporting adults with the resources they need to navigate life's changes and challenges. A must-have for anyone supporting a child whose friend is moving away." Dr. Pooky Knightsmith, world renown expert on mental health, author, keynote speaker and advisor