Tag Archives: Positivity

Jul18

Being You is Enough series- Josh Langley

Posted on by
Standard

Big Sky Publishing

RRP: $14.99

It was such a joy to become connected with the uber-talented Josh Langley online earlier this year and to discover his own magical brand of positivity, particularly as it applies to children. It’s taken a while but this week I received the four books in his amazingly successful series and have fallen in love with them all. After a rather fraught couple of months with the Kid who was struggling with some serious anxiety and other mental health issues, and the frightening stats coming out about the escalating numbers of children and young people presenting with such problems, I can only say that this series could not be more timely. While I know my personal philosophy has always been to encourage self-confidence and self-awareness in children and, in particular, this young woman it is my privilege to be raising, how much more effective is the sharing of such vibrant and entertaining ‘lessons’ via books that make a child laugh as well as think and reflect. Even said Kid laughed when I showed her some of the spreads – and commented ‘Point taken, Gran!’.

Starting early with these vital lessons in being confident, courageous and compassionate, resilience, self-regulation and growth mindset can only prove beneficial for our kiddos. Whether you hold these in your collection (which I plan to do) or share them with your guidance counsellors (which I also plan to do) or if you simply acquire them for use with the small people in your life, Josh’s simple but quirky text in each book accompanied by his joyous cartoon-style illustrations will engage your young readers from the start. And as we all know that hook from the start is the most important part of any learning experience. In fact, seeing these books in person for the first time, I immediately busted out a grin and thought ‘Wow, our very own Todd Parr!’.

The latest in the series was launched a few weeks back and takes as its focus what might just prove to be the most important quality of the decade going forward. The world is in dire need of more kindness. With so much suffering, worry and despair, taking some time to be kind to each other and the Earth itself is vital – for our own mental well-being as much as anything else.

I no longer teach the littlies but even with my older kiddos, I am planning a ‘Being Wildly Kind’ challenge for this term *grin*. My strings of little ‘bee’ lights are ready to go up as are my challenges for them and I believe I will have many of my ‘too cool’ teens rise to the occasion when I ask them the question ‘What kind of person do you want to bee?’.

Josh does not confine himself to his popular books (for children and adults). He also has an online presence with videos and online chats, one of which I joined during the past week to my utter delight. This is a man who not only talks the talk but has walked the walk, his sensitivity and commitment to young people’s mental health being inspired by his own struggles as a child.

I truly cannot recommend these highly enough for your kids – either the ones in your classes or the ones in your family.

Be sure to check out Josh’s website for more resources and inspiration or for information around his school visits and more.

Oct4

Mind Shift to a Better Place – Dr Larsen, Mindshift Foundation, Elizabeth Venzin

Posted on by
Standard

Harper Collins Australia

February 2020

  • ISBN: 9780733340451
  • ISBN 10: 0733340458
  • Imprint: ABC Books – AU
  • List Price: 32.99 AUD

Thankfully mental health has become not only de-stigmatised but supported and managed in ways that previously we had never experienced. It’s fair to say that 2020 has taken almost all of us to emotional places we had never expected to be in and the toll that stress, anxiety and uncertainty has taken is, to employ that ubiqitous word, unprecedented.

The Mindshift Foundation has taken up the mission of supporting Australians, young and old, to become aware of the importance of maintaining positive mental health through developing self-worth, better coping skills and greater resilience.

This book is a primer of useful information and and resources which can become a source of strength for those who are seeking to create for themselves better self-worth, positive well-being and above all, the strongest mental health possible.

Either as an addition to your collection or as a resource for teacher/counsellors this is an excellent resource.

May4

You are Positively Awesome – Stacie Swift

Posted on by
Standard

y648

Harper Collins Australia

May 2020

  • ISBN: 9781911641995
  • ISBN 10: 1911641999
  • Imprint: Pavilion – GB
  • List Price: 24.99 AUD

This is most definitely a very timely and en pointe book for those who have been finding themselves anxious, lonely and unsure in these troubled times. Gloriously colourful and eminently practical filled with reminders, advice, affirmations and enjoyable exercises in positive thinking and self-care this will make a super gift for a young person in your life – or for yourself because you deserve it as well.

We already know that it’s okay not to be okay or that we do need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others or even just that we are lovable but there is no doubt that we often get so caught up with events and circumstances that we forget these important points.

Chapters include:

  • Hey, you’re awesome!
  • Why is this stuff important?
  • We all have times when life is a bit rainy
  • It’s okay
  • Self-love matters
  • You can be a good person with a kind heart and still say ‘NO’

Just scanning these it’s easy to see how this could be a truly vital resource for some of the teens we know – or indeed adults.

You deserve good things.

You deserve to be happy.

You are capable and competent.

Don’t doubt your sparkle.

I will certainly be recommending this highly to my students but this particular copy will go to The Kid who, despite her huge leaps and bounds forward, still finds herself frustrated and at times despondent about her ‘differences’ to her peers. I will make sure it’s part of her current ‘at home’ reading program.

You can follow Stacie on her socials or via her newsletter for more positive vibes.  Why not create your own rainbow of self-belief and see where it will take you?