Internationally renowned author and speaker in the fields of self-development and spiritual growth, Dr Wayne W. Dyer and his daughter Saje tell a remarkable story from her childhood in which she was able to overcome a physical condition in a very unique way.
This engaging storybook “Goodbye Bumps” provides a unique and imaginative way for children to address and overcome their fears, worries, or “bumps” in life.
Each room modified this tool for their age group, read more to learn what this looks like in the classroom setting.
Pre-Prep Room Book Club Review
The storybook ‘goodbye Bumps” is a central message of facing one’s fears and transforming them into sources of strength and courage is a powerful and valuable lesson for children. It encourages them to develop a positive mindset and resilience in the face of challenges. With a practical approach for children to address their fears by having a conversation with them. This technique can be helpful for parents and educators looking for ways to help children cope with anxiety and worries.
Self-Identity
During morning group time, I engaged pre-prep aged children in an enriching exploration of self-identity and the beauty of our differences, through the ‘Goodbye Bumps” book. Pausing frequently to spark thoughtful discussions. We pondered questions like, “Why do we look different?” and “What do you see when you look in the mirror?”
Self-perception
These queries opened doors to candid conversations about self-perception. I even shared a personal anecdote about getting a haircut when I felt my hair was too long and knotty, illustrating that it’s perfectly normal to want to make changes to our appearance. The overarching message was clear: it’s absolutely fine to have differences from our friends because, in reality, none of us are exactly the same.
Self-awareness and Exploration
As our dialogue continued, the children enthusiastically began to compare themselves to one another, appreciating the unique and beautiful features that set them apart. Some shared aspects they particularly liked, while others revealed aspects, they weren’t so fond of.
To delve even deeper into this exploration, we sat together at a table with mini mirrors, encouraging the children to observe and discuss various features, from eye colour to hair texture.
Extension Activity
Another fascinating activity we embarked upon was an introspective journey into Miss Tracy’s own life. We examined a picture of her as a 4-year-old and compared it to a recent photograph at the age of 40. The observant children keenly noted both similarities and differences. Among the similarities, we recognized her familiar hair and the warm smile that had endured through the years. However, the differences were equally celebrated, including changes in height, actions, clothing choices, age, and the emergence of charming freckles.
Through these engaging activities, we fostered an atmosphere of self-acceptance and appreciation for the beauty that lies in our individuality. The children left with a deeper understanding that our uniqueness is something to be cherished and celebrated, forming the building blocks of self-confidence and respect for one another.
Miss Tracy X
Snakes Room Book Club Review
In the telling of this story Saje and Wayne teach children the important lesson that when something is bothering them, they can change their attitude toward it and not allow it to have power over them. This book will help kids understand that some things about themselves can be changed and others will always be with them, but what matters is how they choose to think about these things. In addition to its valuable lesson, this charming story will remind all readers, both young and old, of what can be done with the childlike belief in what is possible.
Using our certified resilience program, we help the children understand that sometimes things that bother them about themselves can be changed while other times they need to embrace their uniqueness. Even though we may not be able to change a situation, we have the power and choice on how we let our limitations and challenges affect us. “It’s about teaching our children how to think positively about themselves and accepting themselves for who they are.
What We Did First
Firstly, we used mirrors and let the children discuss the differences between what they see of themselves and then what they see of others. One child said “look I have brown eyes and a brown jumper”, another said “look I have bumps”, Where I asked? “On my face”. The rest made faces at themselves and showed their friends their funny faces.
Extension Activity
One week later, we conducted an activity aimed at reinforcing the learning and promoting a positive mindset among the children. We presented them with positive self-talk flashcards and encouraged them to select the ones that resonated with them the most. Nearly all the children chose statements like “I am Loved” or “I am a good friend.” For this activity, we used a cloud-shaped display, and I guided each child to share four positive qualities about themselves. I then wrote these attributes on strips of paper and affixed them to the cloud, which we proudly displayed on our wall.
Comprehension
The book was a bit tricky for the children to understand but breaking the book down and talking about differences and what makes each one unique helped the children understand more. There were some flash cards that I used to ask the children if they think that specific card relates to them and they will tell you, no or yes.
Self-Talk
At bright kids we pride ourselves on teaching children to be resilient, positive and confidant young people. Teaching positive self-talk is a foundational part of our resilience program. Positive self-talk gives children many benefits such as:
- Positive self-talk builds up confidence and self-esteem
- It develops a positive attitude towards life
- They make it considerably easier to handle difficult situations
- They understand their self-worth and the value of other people
- They communicate openly and are willing to have a dialogue when a stressful situation arises
Where To Next?
In the upcoming month, our focus will be on discussing the importance of communicating with our friends, teachers, and others in a positive manner. We’ll be using our emotional intelligence tool to explore the significance of both the content and tone of your communication, emphasizing that “what you say and how you say it truly matters.”
Miss Hannelie X
Dolphins Room Book Club Review
Good-bye Bumps focuses on our ability to take back the power we give to our physical characteristics we may be less than thrilled about. We do not have to feel bad about the issues within our bodies. We can choose to stop letting undesirable physical traits bring us down, and move on with the good things in life.
Exploring tools
After exploring the book for the past week the children in the Dolphins room we reflected on the power of positive talk. We created daily affirmation cards which are a powerful and holistic way of building a positive mind and teaches us positive self talk. When we speak to our selves with kindness we grow, and develop our self confidence. Some I AM statements we created in our classroom:
- I am beautiful
- I am strong
- I am brave
- I am happy
Mirror Work
Engaging in self-love exercises with the help of mirrors, we confidently affirmed, “I am beautiful.” As the children gazed at their own reflections, reactions varied from excitement to laughter. However, all of them concluded the activity wearing broad smiles on their faces.
Inner strength and Physical Strength
Continuing our journey, we affirmed, “I am strong.” The children were then instructed to stand up and lift an object from the floor, and we heard some of them exclaim, “this is heavy!” After successfully completing the task, a resounding chorus of “I am strong” echoed in the room.
Environmental Exploration
We transitioned outdoors where we employed the last two affirmations. Here, the children were encouraged to tackle the rock climbing wall and descend the green slide. Given that this apparatus isn’t frequently utilised by toddlers, it was inspiring to witness their determination and willingness to conquer the climbing challenge and slide down once they succeeded. Following this achievement, we introduced the affirmation card “I am brave.”
In our final phase, we delved into our emotion affirmation card, “I am Happy.” The children have transformed into exceptional communicators and are openly expressing their emotions. As they roamed around the yard, they proudly declared their happiness, much like cheerful dolphins in their playful communication.
Where To Next
Positive affirmations assist children in building confidence, fostering a growth mindset, and instilling genuine self-belief. We plan to incorporate additional daily affirmations into our daily routine to further enhance these positive outcomes as part of our ‘Mindful Kid’s’ Resilience program.
Miss Sabrina X
Little Fish Room Book Club Review
This story talks about taking our power back with a simple mind shift.
By addressing the problem we start to see another perspective. One that feels better. Shifting our mindset regarding the issue will ease the weight it has on our thoughts and behaviour patterns.
In Our Classroom
As the thought pattern and story is rather advanced for the Little Fish age group, we used this book and it’s message as a platform for rethinking day to day interactions with the children.
At this age level, some of the biggest concerns and worries we have revolve around possessions and “things”. One example we ran with, by using inspiration from the book, is how we as educators handle a a situation where a child has an object that another child wants in that moment.
We would usually say ”Tommy”, is playing with that at the moment, we need to wait our turn”, we extended on that by adding, “how about we go have fun over here with this toy, until “Tommy” is finished. We can have just as much fun with this while we’re waiting.”
Not only teaching the children that waiting for our turn is important, but also, that waiting doesn’t have to be boring or make us upset. That we can have just as much fun keeping our mind off the problem that was bothering us. Some things we can change, and somethings we can’t, and if we can’t change them, controlling the way we think about things can have a more positive effect on our well-being.
Wisdom Nuggets
As the children get older, they will be more inclined to use these mindset tools to get through a plethora of problems. In the book it focuses on something more physical. That sometimes we’re born with features that aren’t our favourite. Instead of focusing on those features in a negative way, we’re encouraged to-
- Say hello to whatever is bothering us. Accept that it is a part of me and i am unique.
- Let go of bad feelings and emotions surrounding the things we don’t like.
- Don’t let something that bugs us have power over us (We give it power by making it important!)
- Remind ourselves that we will feel better and happier if we don’t let our problems have power over me.
- Change what we can – and if we can’t, then try to change the way we feel about it.
In the future, we will continue to consider this strategy as a valuable tool for reshaping the manner in which we communicate with the children. It provides us with various approaches to strengthen a positive mindset and guides us towards a more emotionally positive direction.
Miss Tash X
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Good-bye, Bumps! Talking to What’s Bugging You” is a heartwarming and instructive book for children dealing with fears and anxieties. Its empowering message and engaging storytelling make it a valuable addition to any child’s bookshelf.
Self-awareness is the cornerstone to self-love. Self-love serves as the foundation encompassing self-acceptance, self-worth, and self-care. Whether you’re a parent, guardian, teacher, educator, or caregiver, how do you envision the concept of self-love? What do you exemplify as a role model? This book offers valuable guidance to help children navigate difficult moments and steer them towards a positive self-image.
Our Program
Our ‘Mindful Kids’ certified resilience program is embedded and modified to every age group. The books and activities we incorporate assist with the teachings of consolidating and harnessing these life long skills.
Each month we review a different book from our book club. Some will correlate tools for children and some will be parent/educator interconnected.
Let us know your thoughts and if there is anything you wish to share, we would love to hear from you.
That’s all from the Bright Kids team until next time
Miss Honey-Nicodah x
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