Thought Bubbles: Supporting the Development of Mental Health Competencies in Young Children

Comprising four colourfully and beautifully illustrated picture books plus a guidebook, 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 heart-warming 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.