Wellbeing Story Time
By Ryo Sugihara
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.
Fairy Walk
Let your imagination run wild!
In this story a group of friends venture around their neighbourhood in search of illusive fairies. Along the way, they encounter a multitude of amazing natural critters and wildlife and use their senses to discover the wonders of nature. These school holidays, make some time to explore our natural world, soaking it in using our senses – looking keenly for wildlife, listening out to the hum of nature and smelling the change in seasons. Using our senses to tune into the world around us is great way to practice mindfulness!
After listening to the story, you could…
- Create a scavenger hunt with a list of things to look for outdoors! You could use some samples below, or create your own.
Go outside and explore the world through the 5 senses: Name some things you can see, hear, smell, touch/feel and possibly even taste!
Collect natural materials from the park or in your yard. Use your imagination to craft different things using these items – you could create a fairy house or a wall decoration.
- If you or your child loves fairies you may enjoy the animated film, ‘Arietty’ produced by Studio Ghibli. It is a whimsical story of a boy who discovers little fairy-like people living in his home, which is sure to spark your imagination and creativity!