The children at KU Merewether Preschool have been learning strategies to better manage their emotions.

The children were visited by Lynn Jenkins, an author and clinical psychologist, and Kirrili Lonergan, an illustrator and art therapist, who created the ‘Lessons of a LAC’ (Little Anxious Creature) series of books the children have been reading.

The books look at anxiety and were created to help young children learn more about anxious thoughts and feelings and how to manage those feelings.

“The children were so excited to meet Lynn and Kirrili as we had been reading their books in preschool and learning about feelings, emotional resilience and mental health,” said KU Merewether Director, Nicole Vesperman.

“Lynn and Kirrili read stories to us, performed a puppet show with characters from their books, and we spoke about how our thoughts connect to our feelings and how our bodies change with our feelings.”

“Through the visit the children revealed how capable they were of understanding more complex emotions such as feeling anxious, brave, worried and calm, and they learnt simple strategies to manage their emotions, such as through mindfulness by breathing and counting, and thinking about how we can be good friends.”

It’s never too early to start learning about these concepts, and to provide young children with more awareness around mental health and emotional wellbeing can provide them with skills for life.

An interesting story to teach young children how to find happiness in things other than toys. A good book with a simple but important story for all young children. Do get it!

A wonderful way to teach my kids the importance of positivity, how we can influence our emotions and look at things differently.

It’s easy to become frustrated when things don’t turn out quite right, and this book is a great resource to help little people understand their feelings and how to deal with them. It also shows adults a positive way to respond to help their little person.

I love this material and while I'm not a teacher it has massively helped with engagement with children. It has given me countless opportunities with students and opened up conversations about what is happening for them. This will be my fifth school as a school chaplain that I have used Loppy LAC. I'm so grateful.

Primary school-children will be shown how to channel their inner calm in this story about managing anxiety. Written by clinical psychologist and mother-of three Lynn Jenkins, Lessons Of A LAC has been branded as an emotional resource to help kids develop strategies to manage their anxiety. And there are probably a few lessons in there for mum or dad as well.

This great book is aimed at helping little anxious creatures manage anxieties … written by a clinical psychologist, this is a wonderful book for parents of anxious children.

As a teacher, finding resources to support my students' emotional well-being is crucial, and the Lessons of a LAC Teacher Pack has been an absolute game-changer. The entire pack is a treasure trove of tools and materials that make managing anxiety in the classroom not only easy but also fun for the kids. The books cover essential topics in a way that's engaging and relatable, and the plushies, finger puppets, and Courage Cards add a delightful touch to our lessons. Plus, the digital video lesson units are invaluable resources that make planning a breeze. It's clear that this pack was carefully designed with input from professionals, and the results speak for themselves, my students are more confident, resilient, and better equipped to manage their worries. If you're a teacher looking to create a supportive and nurturing classroom environment, this pack is a must have!

A delightful book … written by an experienced author/clinical psychologist and illustrator/art therapist. It’s an explanation of how children think and how we can help them ‘turn those worries into wonders

Jenkins reminds us how the little things in life become commonplace, losing their uniqueness, but should be experienced as treasures themselves. Through Lonergan’s animated watercolor and ink illustrations, readers will enjoy the “cheeky rat” Ollie as he hops, jumps, and spins his way across the pages filled with beehive-shaped houses and colorful gardens using each of his senses… A wonderful exercise in finding that happiness isn’t that far away, and is perfect to use in the classroom.

What a great book! Brave helped my daughter feel calm and confident during period of worry at school. Highly recommend.

The message here is important. Sometimes we feel sad, and changing our outlook, which is what the different coloured glasses represent, is helpful. There are times we, and children, cannot see the colours and joy in life.

For kids who need to learn perfect just means trying your best .

Children respond to the quality of care they receive, so what are the early things parents can do to ensure they develop well socially and emotionally.

Using minimal text and large expressive drawings, this picture book aims to help children to understand their anxieties. Written by a clinical psychologist, it gives ideas about how to stop worrying.