Wellbeing Corner
By Ryo Sugihara
Glen Waverley Primary School
Wellbeing Story Time
Picture story books often open up conversations and learning opportunities for what might be complex and hard-to-tackle concepts for children. This is true for conversations about mental health issues, which can at times feel awkward or be challenging to discuss. In this series, I will be introducing you to picture story books which will not only entertain but introduce children to a range of mental health issues which they or someone they know might experience.
A Blue Kind of Day
Everyone feels sad or down once in a while. It’s normal to experience disappointment and sorrow when things don’t go our way or when we experience a loss. Depression though, is more than just sadness. It’s a pervasive feeling of hopelessness that can’t be shaken off by merely “getting over it”. It’s a difficult feeling to verbally express, even for adults, and its important to be observant and vigilant for telling signs. This story tracks a child’s unusually demotivated behaviour – unable to describe the feeling of depression – and how his family try to help.
A Blue Kind of Day - Read Aloud
After listening to the story, you could…
- Discuss how your body feels when you are sad – Does it feel heavy or light? Where do you feel the weight?
- What did Coen, the main character, need to help him feel a bit better? Is this similar to what you might need, or different?
- Create a list of activities that you enjoy doing,
- Write down the people who can be there for you when things are challenging – who do you want by your side?