Future proofed

from Independent School Parent Prep Autumn 2021

by The Chelsea Magazine Company

A happier note

The journal has lots of engaging exercises that kids will love to share with friends and family as they learn

PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK/SKYNESHER;

future

PROOFED

In her new book, psychologist DR LINDA PAPADOPOULOS shares insights and exercises to help youngsters develop and maintain good mental health and social skills in an increasingly complicated world

With several studies indicating a rise in mental health problems among children and young people over the past few years, exacerbated by the period of uncertainty that Covid-19 brought our way, it has never been more important to be proactive when it comes to addressing our children’s mental health. Building their emotional resilience, social skills and empowering them to nd inner strength in this challenging, ever-changing world is vital.

In my work with young people, I frequently see the e ects that the unhealthy use of social media can have. e constant quest for likes and follows is another demand on the daily pressures our children already face. e hyper self-awareness and insidious social comparisons are a huge challenge, and one that kids are o en le to navigate on their own. As such, it’s important that we start looking at earlier intervention, and prevention.

Right now, one in ve children su ers from a mental health problem in any given year. at’s six in every primary school class… this is not OK. So, when Nadim (Saad) my co-author and co-founder of happycon dent.com I met, our discussions quickly turned to what more we could do to help children at an earlier age. Nadim has already developed a number of fun, science-based tools and journals for children aged six to 12 years, but we felt what was truly needed was to help children dig deep and really get under the skin of the life skills that would protect their mental wellbeing before hitting secondary school. We recognised a need for a structured method of helping kids navigate their emotions, and helping parents touch on the conversations and themes that are critical to good hardiness, good mental health, and positive emotional development.

Our new Happy Con dent Me Life Skills Journal draws on well-established research in the behavioural sciences but does so in child-friendly terms, helping kids to better understand themselves and how their bodies and minds work together. rough 60 engaging activities split across the 10 life skills recognised to enhance future happiness and wellbeing, our intention is that they learn through play – the most proven method for a child to absorb new concepts.

We based the journal on core CBT tenets and exercises drawn from Nadim’s work in educational settings with children over his years of research. e ‘powers’ described in each chapter are presented so as to motivate kids to engage in important self-development. ey’ll start their journal journey developing a deeper sense of self-awareness, ending it with a more rounded sense of self-acceptance. e 10 powers include Optimism, Growth Mindset, Resilience, Mindfulness and Compassion and each section builds on the previous power. s

The journal aims to empower children and help them understand themselves better

We want children to feel that their journal is really helping them, and we want them to WANT to see it through, from start to end. With this in mind, we chose to give them a sense of empowerment, by furnishing them with the real science behind their thoughts, feelings, and actions. We introduce complex concepts such as introspection and interoception (our ability to feel sensations in our body), written in a way that those as young as eight will be able to understand. Importantly, we know that by helping kids understand these deeper concepts in a fun way, they’ll develop a greater sense of pride, and are likely to want to share their new learnings at home and at school.

We spent a lot of time thinking about how to make each of the chapters as engaging as possible, with a real emphasis on experiential real-world learning. And with a desire to spark important conversations between parents and kids, we’ve built in some great activities that will inspire the kids to involve their parents, grandparents, carers and even teachers. Its ability to create these connections makes this journal unlike anything else available, something we’re really proud of.

THE ‘POWERS’ DESCRIBED IN EACH CHAPTER ARE PRESENTED SO AS TO motivate kids to engage in important selfdevelopment. THEY’LL START THEIR JOURNAL JOURNEY DEVELOPING A DEEPER SENSE OF SELF-AWARENESS

During the process, we checked in with kids at every stage. Our research panel included di erent groups of children, of di erent ages, from all types of schools, all across the country. A total of 50 children were consulted in depth over the concept development and design and copywriting period. So far, we’ve had incredible feedback and even adapted some of the earlier dra s to incorporate some of the fantastic suggestions from the children themselves.

Social and emotional skills are of vital importance and need to be taught from the earliest age. is journal will take kids deeper, faster and hopefully, with a huge grin on their faces. And yes, if used correctly, we truly believe this book can make a genuinely positive di erence to the way young people experience the world and their place within it. e Happy Con dent Me Life Skills Journal by Dr Linda Papadopoulos and Nadim Saad (£11.99) is now available to buy online at happycon dent.com and Amazon, as well as at WHSmith stores nationwide.