1st Edition
Thought Bubbles: Supporting the Development of Mental Health Competencies in Young Children
Comprising of four colourfully and beautifully illustrated picture books, this set is the perfect tool for early years practitioners to help support the development of mental health competencies in young children.
When it comes to child and adolescent mental health issues, prevention and early intervention is key. These picture books can be used to initiate nurturing conversations, which will help teachers and practitioners assess the child’s mental health competencies, whilst offering practical strategies to help develop resilience. Written as a response to the author’s extensive research, outlined in the guidebook, each story explores a key point for practical action that can be easily implemented when setting up an enabling and nurturing environment, whilst the ‘serve and return’ format allows the key themes to be taken forward in conversation and play.
This set includes:
Cultivating Resilience in Early Childhood: A practitioner guidebook outlining the research behind the stories and created to facilitate the effective use of the storybooks
A Place of My Own: Four children find magic wellington boots that transport them to exciting places. Where will they take you? An exciting story that will help children imagine a place where they can feel happy and secure
A Voice of My Own: All of the characters in this picture book are communicating something important. Can you work out what they are trying to tell you? Children learn about the importance of ‘voice’, both finding their own and listening to others
Someone to Listen: The children create a vegetable garden, working together and building friendships. A heartwarming story that encourages children to think about their role in the community
Memories of Change: The children tackle challenges and solve problems to create an apple crumble machine. A story about resilience, collaborating and embracing change in order to achieve results.
Cultivating Resilience in Early Childhood: A Practical Guide to Support the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young Children A Place of My Own: A Thought Bubbles Picture Book about Safe Spaces A Voice of My Own: A Thought Bubbles Picture Book about Communication Someone to Listen: A Thought Bubbles Picture Book about Finding Friends Memories of Change: A Thought Bubbles Picture Book about Thinking Differently
Biography
Louise Jackson is a teacher, trainer and author who draws on her direct experience of working with children in schools to develop educational materials that are designed to promote participation, relationships and conversation. She has worked on ‘closing the gap’ projects with national charities, local authorities, schools, children’s centres and training organisations to address educational disadvantage; finding new ways to build capacity and resilience across early childhood services and local communities.
Privileged to have worked alongside many inspirational teachers, practitioners and volunteers in educational settings where vulnerable children are thriving, Louise seeks to capture in her research and writing what it is that makes the difference for young children. Working in collaboration with illustrator, Katie Waller she has created a series of books and practical tools which will help local communities, parents, practitioners and teachers understand the valuable role they can all play in cultivating resilience in early childhood.
