Shush, Jeff
Crafty, anxiety monster banishing workshops for kids aged 4 - 11
The accompaniment to the book This Is Jeff - AVAILABLE NOW!
There’s no denying the pressure on kids is on a scale never seen before. They are not just dealing with endless tests, neurodiversity, and families under financial stress, but also losing some of their formative years to a pandemic, outbreak of wars, terrorism, media filled with violence, and an environmental crisis. They are uncertain about their future, and it is showing in their mental health.
But the marvellous adults in their lives cannot do everything and are understandably not equipped to deal with it. It’s hard to know what to do for the best, right?
In this workshop, I will get the kids exploring their emotions through a series of monster-themed crafty and physical exercises to help them understand how their monsters appear in their body and why before we turn the nasties into nicies.
This in-person workshop helps children to:
Name and explain their monsters as a way of telling you about their emotions
Identify what soothes them
Create a treasure trove of activities to help them deal with their emotions
And for you:
A technique to use and adapt for future conversations
The relief of one thing less to juggle
Pressure off your own already frazzled mind and emotions
An adaptable format - linked to specific areas of the curriculum as needed
Not today, Jeff, not today
A note from the author Gracie Barry
My story means a lot to me because it's about my anxiety monster that I called Jeff.
My anxiety can be really annoying but I want the book to prove to people that everyone feels like that sometimes.
It's fine to feel anxious.
It's fine to feel sad.
It's fine to feel anything.
Everyone feels like it sometimes.
Jeff isn't you.
Jeff is someone who doesn't understand happiness. Jeff doesn't want to even try he thinks that being upset is the only emotion.
It is not.
There are so many different emotions and you need to teach Jeff how many there can be. Jeff and you deserve more than just anxiety, you deserve any emotions.
Don't worry it's gonna be fine.
Even if it doesn't feel fine now it will just wait.
One day.
This time last year Jeff was so annoying I couldn't even go to school and I worried a lot. Now I still worry but I'm a published author too, and I'm happy in my new school. So Jeff is a little quieter.
Curriculum links
The core of the workshop is centered around building the ability of the kids to banish their anxiety monsters, but in the process, we will also work on:
communication skills in explaining their emotions
creative responses to their feelings & artistic interpretation
empathy and friendships
self-awareness
I can also build in movement exercises, literacy, creative writing, and understanding the body and mind.
The sessions
All workshops follow a set structure but can be made bespoke to your needs. Whether it is adapting to a specific curriculum area, changing duration, or enquiring as to running a different kind of event, just let me know what you need.
Cost:
In-person*:
90 min to 2-hours of workshops £250
Half day £350
Full day £650
Online:
1 hour Book reading and 'Draw with Me’ workshop £150
In person workshops - Minimum 90 min, up to full day incursions. * Travel expenses to be added, varies depending on location
Who am I?
Who am I?
A childrens book author-illustrator
Co-founder of educational initiative Be The Future
Learning designer with a decade of crafting user-led learning experiences
A PGCE qualified ex-teacher who has worked at all levels from primary to adult (and even prison) education
Diploma in coaching and accreditated to the ‘gold-standard’ of coaching at ICF ACC level
A somatics and climate change trained coach
A massive child who loves nothing more than getting up to mischief, Disney & cuddling anything fluffy
Oh, and of course, fully DBS-checked
Tell me more…
If you have any further questions feel free to fire them my way and I will get back to you pronto… first things first I’m off to get Jeff back in his cage.
