Developing Resilience Through Story Telling for All Learners

Resilience is the knack of keeping going when things go wrong, and children don't pick it up from being told. They need somewhere safe to practise. A story works well, because a character can be nervous, get it wrong and try again, and your child feels all of that without it happening to them.

You'll learn how to use stories this way at home or in a classroom, including with children who have complex needs. Turn a day at the beach into a personal book with photos, sounds or objects. Pick picture books where someone gets through a setback, and use a character's feelings to ask 'have you ever felt like that?' Add touch, sound or drama so every child can join in.

The ideas come from a teacher with long experience in special education, who has turned carpet tiles and an umbrella hung with objects into books.