Children's Mental Health-Tales of the Road
The way we perceive young children, our attitude towards them and connections with them, is crucial in supporting healthy self-esteem and positive mental health. We see the child first before any differences and encourage other children to do the same. Then, in celebrating our differences, we help children feel seen, valued and respected.
Books can be a great resource to connect with young children and to support emotional development and respect for difference in early years settings. As we continue Children’s Mental Health Week, here is a lovely resource produced by Toybox and Early Years- the organisation for young children. ‘Tales of the Road’ is a story book about a Traveller family where stereotypes are challenged in an indirect way, whilst hearing traditional stories about Traveller life from Granda. This helps young traveller children to be visible in our resources and give other children the opportunity to hear positive stories to enable them to explore differences.
Here is the daughter of one of our Early Years Quality Mentors, meeting the author of ‘Tales of the Road,’ Liz Weir, during a story telling session. She was lucky enough to have the book signed by the author herself. (Author Liz Weir, Illustrator Nina Chapman)
For more information please visit https://www.early-years.org/toybox-project
