This is a shyness resource pack requested by one of you lovely ELSAs. It is aimed at KS2 upwards. This resource pack is to help children who want to be more confident and brave. They want to overcome their shyness because they are perhaps missing out on things in life. Being braver and less socially awkward may help them have more friends, face their fears and open up new opportunities. There are a whole range of emotions that can come from being shy such as nervousness, anxiety, fear, panic, and embarrassment. Children need to be able to deal with these emotions with coping strategies. Included in the pack: One of our TAB booklets in colour and black and white 3 worksheets in colour and black and white Learning objectives you could use for this pack: To understand what being shy means To identify body signs for feeling shy To understand that other emotions might be triggered by being shy To set a small achievable target for overcoming being shy To be able to scale a situation on the shyness scale To identify thoughts linked to shyness and reframe them To identify and use coping strategies for shyness To understand feelings after overcoming shyness

Here is a lovely calming game to play on the run up to Christmas. How to play our Christmas Calming Bingo game: Give each pupil a base board and some counters. Pick one of the calming cards and read through it with the pupils. The pupils can close their eyes so they can imagine the scene you are setting for them. Once they have all done this they place a counter on their base board over the appropriate exercise. Repeat until someone has a row vertically, horizontally or diagonally. The first person to get a row vertically, horizontally or diagonally is the winner of the game. They need to shout out ‘I am calm’ if they win. Included in the pack: 9 Calming activities 9 base boards with the images mixed up. You can play with up to 9 players.

This wooden effect bunting would look fabulous on a calming and natural display. They would look good on a display with a hessian background. I think natural displays are so calming. Anything that is easy on the eye and makes you feel you are in nature is fabulous. Included in the pack are: Full alphabet (CAPITALS) with leaves for decoration Full alphabet (CAPITALS) left blank Numbers 0-9 with leaves for decoration Numbers 0-9 left blank Editable display word cards – you need PowerPoint for these. It is a little extra I have put in to increase the use and value of the pack for you.

Important information This leaflet is meant to be used as part of ELSA Sessions or some other therapeutic session and shouldn’t just be given out to children without some input. They need to learn and understand about their worries and how to cope with being anxious by an adult. Please DO NOT just give these out without that important input. They are purely reminders for the pupil to take away. It is your responsibility to decide whether the information in this leaflet will be helpful to your pupils. Under our terms and conditions these leaflets must not be put onto school websites. They are for printing and giving to pupils at the end of a session or you could use them as a basis for your sessions. You can work through each part with the pupil. You can practise some of the things on the leaflet such as 3 good things or gratitude.

Important information This leaflet is meant to be used as part of ELSA Sessions or some other therapeutic session and shouldn’t just be given out to children without some input. They need to learn and understand about their worries and how to cope with being anxious by an adult. Please DO NOT just give these out without that important input. They are purely reminders for the pupil to take away. It is your responsibility to decide whether the information in this leaflet will be helpful to your pupils. Under our terms and conditions these leaflets must not be put onto school websites. They are for printing and giving to pupils at the end of a session or you could use them as a basis for your sessions. You can work through each part with the pupil. You can practise some of the things on the leaflet such as 3 good things or gratitude.

These are our unwind the mind activity mats. These mats are a combination of working on the particular topic – e.g. be brave and mighty and relaxation activities through refocusing attention. There are puzzles, mindful colouring, drawing, creating patterns and a little writing. You can print them A4 but also if you want them bigger, use your printer settings and print them on A3 paper. These are suitable for KS2 and most of them for secondary too. These unwind the mind activity mats are perfect for Before or after SATs or tests Ending your session Beginning your session Morning routine whole class activity When things are winding down at the end of term Calming corners Homework Transition times Any stressful situations We have the following 10 mats along with answer sheets where needed Be joyful Be mindful Be calm Be positive Be brave and mighty Be kind Be caring to yourself Be determined Be friendly Be proud Benefits of unwind the mind mats Both puzzles and mindful colouring are calming activities that can help children relax and unwind after a busy day or during stressful times. Engaging in these activities encourages deep breathing and fosters a sense of peace and tranquillity. Solving puzzles and colouring mindfully can act as effective stress-relief techniques for children. By focusing their attention on the task at hand, children can temporarily shift their focus away from worries and anxieties, promoting a sense of calmness and emotional well-being. Puzzles and mindful colouring require children to concentrate and pay attention to details, which can help improve their concentration and focus over time. These activities encourage children to stay engaged in the present moment, enhancing their ability to sustain attention and ignore distractions. Puzzles can provide children with opportunities to exercise their problem-solving skills and critical thinking abilities. By deciphering clues, finding patterns, and making logical deductions, children can develop important cognitive skills that are essential for academic success. Mindful colouring allows children to express themselves creatively and explore their imagination through colours and designs. It provides a non-verbal outlet for self-expression, allowing children to convey their emotions and feelings in a safe and therapeutic manner. Successfully completing puzzles and creating beautiful artwork through mindful colouring can boost children’s self-esteem and confidence. Accomplishing challenging tasks and seeing tangible results can instil a sense of pride and accomplishment in children, reinforcing their belief in their abilities. There are lots more benefits to these activity mats.

In this booklet, pupils will embark on a journey of self-discovery and connection as they learn about finding common ground, showing respect, practising inclusion, cultivating empathy, understanding the importance of friendships, recognising their own qualities that make them deserving of friends, and the power of apologising when mistakes are made. Our goal is to provide a safe and engaging space for pupils to explore these themes through activities, and discussions. By fostering a deeper understanding of friendship and the values that underpin it, we aim to empower children to build strong, supportive, and inclusive friendships that enrich their lives. There are 30 pages to the workbook. You can of course use the workbook as it is or if you just want to address certain areas then just print out those areas to work with.

This is great to have alongside your Worry Monster. There is space to write the worry and/or draw a picture. Children can project their anxieties onto the worry monster, externalising their worries and making them feel less overwhelming. Talking to or sharing worries with the worry monster can provide comfort and reassurance to children, helping them feel understood and supported. Worry monsters create a safe space for children to express their fears and concerns without judgment, fostering open communication and emotional expression. By feeding their worries to the monster or placing them inside, children regain a sense of control over their anxieties, empowering them to manage their emotions more effectively. Interacting with the worry monster becomes a coping strategy for children to deal with their worries in a constructive and tangible way, promoting emotional resilience and well-being.