Imagine supporting children’s nutrition by offering them just one vegetable.
Carrots are great. Full of goodness. Some children love them.
But we wouldn’t expect one vegetable to provide everything a growing child needs.
So why would we expect one emotional wellbeing strategy to do the same?
As a clinical child psychologist, I love that mindfulness, breathwork, sensory tools and emotional wellbeing practices have become increasingly normal in our homes and schools.
But no matter how good a technique is, we shouldn’t mistake a good tool for the whole toolkit.
Sometimes a child needs to calm their body.
Sometimes they need to understand why they’re feeling something.
Sometimes they need to talk.
Sometimes they need to move, draw, play, laugh, distract themselves, solve a problem, remember a time they were brave or connect with someone they trust.
And importantly, children are different.
One child loves slow breathing; another finds focusing on their breathing uncomfortable.
One loves mindfulness; another needs movement.
One talks. Another draws. Another works things through in play.
There isn’t one super vegetable and there isn’t one emotional wellbeing strategy that will suit every child, every feeling and every situation. That’s why variety is the spice of life both nutritionally and emotionally
Rather than emotional wellbeing always meaning “sit still and take a deep breath,” we can let children experience these skills through movement, imagination, sensory experiences, drawing, games, stories and playful conversations.
That’s particularly important if we want children to want to practise them again.
Let’s teach children how to breathe and regulate. But let’s also teach them to name emotions, understand worries, notice their bodies, talk about feelings, problem-solve, build confidence and discover what works for them.
That’s the principle I’ve tried to build into my work, from the 4D model for adults to wellbeing teddy bear kits. Choice its self is powerful, so let’s give them a full plate and help children discover what works for them now and learn new strategies for their future.
Meet Teddy
While the Tedology Bear may look like a teddy bear, it is actually an emotional wellbeing kit designed to help children talk about feelings, feel calmer, and manage big emotions through connection and play.