An early intervention resource, the Lessons of a LAC series can be used in the classroom to
manage kids’ anxieties. The ‘resource tool’ picture books give kids a simplified way to
think about anxious chatter and provides them with fun and easy ways to manage
anxiety.
School Visits
Author and Clinical Psychologist Lynn Jenkins and Picture Book Illustrator and Art Therapist Kirrili Lonergan regularly participate in school visits presenting the message of Lessons of a LAC. Passionate about early intervention for children and their well-being, they’ve created an Anxiety Management Program specifically designed for schools covering topics related to anxiety and mindfulness. It’s a fun, interactive session that teachers, parents and students will enjoy.
The session aims to increase understanding about anxiety and empowers kids to become aware of their particular anxious signs. Children will adopt a helpful way to think about anxiety and gain some ‘worry management' tools they can use straight away!
The session includes:
A reading of Lessons of a LAC involving a puppet show
Explanation of anxiety in a way that kids understand
Demonstration of tools to manage anxiety including breathing exercises, mindfulness, relaxation and coping statements.
A hands on illustration session relevant to anxiety management and emotional intelligence
Based in Newcastle in Australia, Lynn and Kirrili are available to travel throughout the region and interstate pending availability.
The session can also be tailored to 'Starting 'BIG' School the BRAVE Way!' Further details for both sessions can be found here.
"The session presented by Lynn Jenkins and Kirrili Lonergan on 'Lessons of a LAC' was educational, informative and entertaining. The students were captivated from the beginning to the end and were able to take with them some great strategies for dealing with anxieties, writing stories and drawing illustrations." Gabriele Quinn,
Teacher Librarian, Lambton Public School
Author and Clinical Psychologist Lynn Jenkins and Picture Book Illustrator and Art Therapist Kirrili Lonergan regularly participate in school visits presenting the message of Lessons of a LAC. Passionate about early intervention for children and their well-being, they’ve created an Anxiety Management Program specifically designed for schools covering topics related to anxiety and mindfulness. It’s a fun, interactive session that teachers, parents and students will enjoy.
The session aims to increase understanding about anxiety and empowers kids to become aware of their particular anxious signs. Children will adopt a helpful way to think about anxiety and gain some ‘worry management' tools they can use straight away!
The session includes:
A reading of Lessons of a LAC involving a puppet show
Explanation of anxiety in a way that kids understand
Demonstration of tools to manage anxiety including breathing exercises, mindfulness, relaxation and coping statements.
A hands on illustration session relevant to anxiety management and emotional intelligence
Based in Newcastle in Australia, Lynn and Kirrili are available to travel throughout the region and interstate pending availability.
The session can also be tailored to 'Starting 'BIG' School the BRAVE Way!' Further details for both sessions can be found here.
"The session presented by Lynn Jenkins and Kirrili Lonergan on 'Lessons of a LAC' was educational, informative and entertaining. The students were captivated from the beginning to the end and were able to take with them some great strategies for dealing with anxieties, writing stories and drawing illustrations." Gabriele Quinn,
Teacher Librarian, Lambton Public School
Professional Development for Teachers
Teachers are increasingly needing to manage kids anxieties within the classroom. Lynn and Kirrili present a professional development session specifically for teachers to manage student anxiety. After participating in this session, teacher's understanding about anxiety will increase. They will be taught simple techniques on how to manage anxiety in themselves as well as their students. The session includes learning a variety of ways to calmly breathe and
relax, the importance of mindfulness and the power of positive self-talk. Teachers will learn to draw emotions and how to teach children how to draw emotions in order to express themselves.
"I wanted to take the opportunity to thank Lynn, Kirrili and yourself again for your presentation and workshop yesterday at the HRIS Student Wellbeing day. The content and resources that you presented proved to be a really valuable tool for those who attended to take away and consider for their own school contexts in various ways. Thanks for much for the effort that you put into preparing your workshop and for the high quality of your work. Your contribution to the day was very much appreciated!" Mr William Wallace, Head of Junior School, Lakes Grammar
Teaching Aids to manage Kids Anxiety
In conjunction with the Lessons of a LAC books, Lynn and Kirrili have developed a set of teaching ideas and resources available for the classroom.
This enables teachers to start a conversation about anxiety with their students from preschool to Year 6. With a variety of exercises for the three different stages covering Early Stage One, Stage One and Stage Two, teachers can present age-appropriate lessons to explain and manage anxiety. The teaching ideas cover a range of tools including breathing techniques, mindfulness and self-talk
This powerful resource can be purchased here or via the Lioncrest Education website.
For further information about our School Visits and Teacher PD Sessions please click on links below.
To make a booking please feel free to contact us.
Teachers are increasingly needing to manage kids anxieties within the classroom. Lynn and Kirrili present a professional development session specifically for teachers to manage student anxiety. After participating in this session, teacher's understanding about anxiety will increase. They will be taught simple techniques on how to manage anxiety in themselves as well as their students. The session includes learning a variety of ways to calmly breathe and
relax, the importance of mindfulness and the power of positive self-talk. Teachers will learn to draw emotions and how to teach children how to draw emotions in order to express themselves.
"I wanted to take the opportunity to thank Lynn, Kirrili and yourself again for your presentation and workshop yesterday at the HRIS Student Wellbeing day. The content and resources that you presented proved to be a really valuable tool for those who attended to take away and consider for their own school contexts in various ways. Thanks for much for the effort that you put into preparing your workshop and for the high quality of your work. Your contribution to the day was very much appreciated!" Mr William Wallace, Head of Junior School, Lakes Grammar
Teaching Aids to manage Kids Anxiety
In conjunction with the Lessons of a LAC books, Lynn and Kirrili have developed a set of teaching ideas and resources available for the classroom.
This enables teachers to start a conversation about anxiety with their students from preschool to Year 6. With a variety of exercises for the three different stages covering Early Stage One, Stage One and Stage Two, teachers can present age-appropriate lessons to explain and manage anxiety. The teaching ideas cover a range of tools including breathing techniques, mindfulness and self-talk
This powerful resource can be purchased here or via the Lioncrest Education website.
For further information about our School Visits and Teacher PD Sessions please click on links below.
To make a booking please feel free to contact us.
Lessons of a LAC is an excellent resource for the classroom. Start a conversation about the 'lessons'. Breathing is a simple and accessible way to calm down for all ages. Breathe in through the nose (not mouth), let the breath fill the bottom of the lungs - it looks like the breath is pushing out the belly button, and breathe out again. LONG, SLOW and DEEP are the key words here. Putting a cushion or cuddly toy on the belly button helps to emphasise the long, slow, deep breath. It will rise as the breath goes in.
Early Stage OneWith this age group it is fun to play
STOP, THINK, WONDER. Show them the illustration of Loppy feeling anxious. Ask them to think about what he might be feeling. Ask them to notice what it is in his body that tells them he is feeling that way. Because there is always a thought story behind feelings, ask them to wonder about what Loppy might be thinking to feel that way. This simple activity helps to improve body awareness and start kids at an early age to be aware of the thinking-feeling link - a CRUCIAL part of anxiety management! |
Stage OneA slightly older version of STOP, THINK and WONDER for this age group is to stop and think about both Loppy and Curly (that is, think about anxious chatter and calming talk).
Ask the children to list some things Loppy might say (e.g., what if..., I can't..., I'll NEVER be able to...). Ask them to list some things Curly might say (e.g., I might give it a try, It's OK, Let's see what happens). Then ask the children to wonder about how they would feel if they listened to Loppy and how they would feel if they listened to Curly. This activity will further enhance children's ability to understand that thoughts influence their feelings. |
Stage TwoThis age group can be introduced to CHOICE. This is what it ultimately comes down to when managing anxiety. That is, choosing to listen to Loppy (anxious chatter) or Curly (calming talk).
Write a list of 'Loppy chatter' along with a list of 'Curly talk'. Cut them out so they are in individual words/sentences. Lay them out and ask the children to choose one. Ask each child: 'If you held onto that thought how would you feel?' THEN they can CHOOSE to keep holding onto that thought OR let it go. If they choose to let it go ask them how they would feel. Perhaps ask them what word/sentence they would CHOOSE to hold onto instead. |