The New Straight Talk Manual: The Lifeskills & Communication Workbook for Kids 8 and Beyond

The New Straight Talk Manual is a no-nonsense, friendly and 'right to the point' program on self-esteem and life skills. It aims to help 8-14 year olds develop better communication and self help skills. Activities, quizzes, information and tips invite kids to explore their experiences, feelings and relationships, while learning to speak up and ask for help, if and when its ever needed.

Straight Talk helps kids explore their experiences, feelings and relationships, while encouraging them to take responsibility for speaking up and asking for help, if and when its ever needed. Throughout the manual, the reader is also encouraged to look out for others who may be in trouble or having a hard time and offers tips for reaching out and offering support to others. The manual includes reproducible worksheets covering topics such as:

• Friendship
• Communication
• Values
• Feelings
• Self-Esteem
• Stress
• Parental Mental illness and Substance Misuse
• Grief and Loss
• Separation and Divorce
• Bullying
• Staying Safe
• Forgiveness and Letting Go
• Helping the Planet
• Challenging our Inner Critic
• Finding Help Fast

The individual stand alone units offer useful information and activities and when filled in and coloured in, become a beautiful and personalised workbook to be treasured and referred back to.

For use by counsellors, teachers and parents.

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"The Straight Talk Manual has been a great tool for us and for our older kid's church. It is written in everyday, down-to-earth language, well set out and easy to copy for discussion groups."
- Shirley Gregory, The Salvos Bendigo VIC

"‘Straight Talk’…. Literally life saving for several of my students."
- Collette, Principal Bagdad Primary School TAS

"The New Straight Talk Manual is fantastic! My students have responded to the chapters really well. Well done."
- Karen, Don College, Tasmania

" I’ve used quite a few of the chapters from the new manual; the friendship one being particularly useful for a group of 3/4 students I’ve been working with. They, along with other students, like the cards which are a great way to get them talking about important stuff."
- Kerrie, Student Family Worker, Ballarat VIC

"You'll be glad to know that two of our Mooroopna Primary Schools are benefiting from Straight Talk. We've been trialing a six week program with Grade 5/6 girls and have just completed week 4 and the girls are interacting beautifully. I bring along some very trendy gel pens and texts and the girls are engrossed in the intricate designs through out the chapters. It's a nice distraction for them as they listen and participate. I'm happy to report that we are loving 'Straight Talk' and the girls are reporting that they look forward to each Wednesday when we meet."
- Jo Barrett, Salvation Army Pathways, Mooroopna