Category: School

New Kids Wellbeing Book – ‘Sophie Says It’s Okay To Make Mistakes’ By Esther Marshall And Buzz Burry. Review by Eleanor.

~ Eleanor Segall ~ 2 Comments

(image: Sophie Says/Esther Marshall/BuzzBurry)

Many of you know that I love Esther Marshall’s bestselling Sophie Says book series for childrens wellbeing. I have blogged before about the books in the series which include ‘I Can I Will’, ‘Its Okay Not To Be Okay’ and ‘Be Proud Of Who You Are’ and now introducing her brand new book ‘It’s Okay To Make Mistakes’. Esther is on a mission to encourage confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing in the children of today. She tragically lost her sister to mental illness and as part of her sister’s legacy she goes into schools and other organisations to read her books and embed wellbeing, promoting wellness from the early years and more.

The blurb says, ‘Mistakes aren’t something to fear — they’re how we learn, grow, and discover what we’re capable of.

In Sophie Says: It’s Okay to Make Mistakes, Sophie and her friends face challenges big and small, from getting an answer wrong in class to trying something new for the very first time. With kindness, courage, and encouragement, they learn that every mistake is a chance to try again.

This heartwarming children’s book teaches little ones that:

  • It’s okay to try, fail, and try again.
  • Mistakes help us build resilience and confidence.
  • Everyone — even grown-ups — makes mistakes.
  • The most important thing is to keep going and never give up.

Beautifully illustrated and filled with empowering messages, this story helps children aged 3–8 embrace failure as part of their journey, boosting their self-esteem and emotional wellbeing.’

Esther says that this book is for parents, teachers, and anyone who wants to raise confident, resilient kids and it contains beautiful illustrations from Buzz Berry. Esther has also thrown in a mistake of her own in the book so that she is also showing children it’s okay to make mistakes. Can you also find bunny hiding on each page? 

This book follows Sophie and her friends as they make a big mess in the kitchen and learn that mistakes can lead to laughter, learning and even better cookies! Throughout the book, the character of Bunny reinforces that its ok to make mistakes.

(image: Sophie Says/Esther Marshall/BuzzBurry)

I will end this blog with a lovely quote from the book,

‘Remember if you stumble or fall,

Mistakes are a part of it all.

They teach us to be better, to learn and to play,

And help us grow stronger in every way!’.

I really love the Sophie Says books and they are perfect for that little person in your life aged 3-8, who needs a wellbeing boost. As well as the books, there are affirmation cards, colouring books and more resources. For more/ to order a copy please see www.sophiesaysofficial.com

Eleanor x

This post is non sponsored.

Suicide Prevention Lessons In UK Secondary Schools- Congratulations 3 Dads Walking!

~ Eleanor Segall ~ 2 Comments

(image: Robinson/Tim Owen/Mike Palmer/Andy Airey)

With everything going on in the world today, some stories can get missed in the flurry of competing news. However, when I saw a post by the Oli Leigh Trust, a charity in my community dedicated to suicide prevention, that suicide prevention lessons are going to be made compulsory in secondary schools, I was so happy. Department for Education (DfE) announced on Tuesday that lessons discussing suicide prevention would be compulsory in secondary schools from September 2026.

Growing up, when I had my own issues with depression and suicidal ideation as part of my bipolar disorder, mental health was not spoken about openly in schools. We know that sadly, the suicide rate in the UK and worldwide has been rising. A group of Dads, Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen, 3 Dads Walking, who lost their daughters Sophie, Beth and Emily to suicide came together to campaign to Sir Keir Starmer and the UK government. Heres what they told the BBC,

‘Lives will be saved. Our Voices have finally been heard. ‘ He said the trio began campaigning shortly after their first walk to raise awareness in 2021 and admitted it had at times felt “like we were swimming through treacle uphill”, but now their “voices have been heard”.

“We have covered a lot of ground, literally and figuratively, over the last few years, but to come to a point where a significant change is going to happen still feels quite unreal. I’m stunned.”

“We are really proud of what we have achieved.”

Suicide is the biggest killer of under 35’s in the UK. In their first walk, they raised nearly 1 million pounds for Papyrus charity. In their second, they walked to all 4 UK parliaments to ensure every child was taught the skills to cope with suicidal thoughts. They then met with MPs to discuss how suicide prevention could be embedded in the curriculum.

“If this is the biggest killer of our young people, why aren’t we talking about it?”

So today I say thank you and congratulations to Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen- three courageous men spreading light and goodness in memory of their beloved daughters. Suicide prevention is so sadly needed.

For more on 3 Dads Walking please visit their website here: https://www.3dadswalking.uk/

Please note: This is not a sponsored post, I have been inspired by the heroism of these 3 Dads.

Mental Health Care In Schools Resources- with Twinkl

~ Eleanor Segall ~ 2 Comments

(image: Kenny Eliason, Unsplash)

I am delighted to be collaborating with Twinkl on their mental health resources for children in schools.

Twinkl say , ‘We must recognise the need to improve understanding of children’s mental health. A person’s mental health is determined by a complex cocktail of different factors interacting. Some of these factors come from a person’s biology, while others come from external factors. Further complicating things, young children don’t always have a full understanding of why they feel they way they do. They can also be reluctant to talk about it, which only adds to the challenge if you’re a teacher trying to support good mental health care at your school. Ultimately, though, if you have concerns that one of your students is struggling with something related to mental health, you should report your concerns to the appropriate authority.’

Twinkl creates resources for teachers and their students, to provide excellent mental health education. This includes resources such as a morning physical and mental health check in, mental health discussion cards, mindfulness colouring pages, and the emotions iceberg to help children understand their feelings.

(image: Twinkl)

Sometimes children come to school unable to express their emotions or what is going on at home. That’s why its so important for teachers to use these tools to help children at school.

Click here to look at the amazing resources and read this blog by Twinkl.

This is an unpaid collaboration with Twinkl.

How to help Teens with Mental Illness succeed at School: Guest blog by Brooke Chaplan

~ Eleanor Segall ~ 2 Comments

teenmentalillness

(image via B Chaplan)

It can often feel like the educational system is not set up to deal with anyone who falls outside of a fairly narrow set of parameters. If you know a teen who is dealing with a mental illness, you have most likely seen ways that the system fails to help him or her. If you want to help that teen succeed, though, you can take a few of the steps below.

 

Seek Out Treatment

The first, and perhaps most important, step is always ensuring that the teen in question is actually receiving treatment for his or her illness. While you might think that the teen’s coping skills are up to the task of school, the truth is that professional help is still the best way to stay on track. Whether this means therapy, medication, or a combination of the two, seeking out treatment is always a wise first step, from a doctor (GP) or psychiatrist if needed.

 

Find the Right School

The next step requires taking a look at the school environment. Some students do well in a typical school, while others might need a more therapeutic environment. Even choosing a smaller college prep high school may be the best way to help out a teen who has to deal with significant emotional problems. The setting in which education occurs matters, so make sure that your teen has the support he or she needs.

 

Create a Support Network

Make sure that the teen in question doesn’t have to do it all on their own. Setting up a support network that involves friends, therapists, and even teachers is a great way to give your teen a bit of extra help when it comes to dealing with the tough days. While you should be careful with how you talk about your teen’s illness, it’s also a good idea to make sure that others are aware of what he or she is going through.

 

Involve the Teen

Finally, give the teen a stake in his or her success. Let him or her be part of the decisions about schooling, therapy, and finding the right support. Developing a sense of agency is a must for any person who deals with a mental illness, so start the process sooner rather than later.

Don’t be afraid to seek out help when your teen is struggling. Find a good therapist, build support networks, and make sure that you’re making the right educational sources.

With the right kind of help, your teen can be quite academically and emotionally successful.

 

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeCha