Emma Barrett Say

Helping Children to fill their Inner Happiness Honey Pots…

I have spent 25 rewarding years working in primary education and enjoyed being a class teacher for some of the youngest and oldest children in a variety of school settings. I spent 8 years working in inner London and learned a lot from the 4 years I served as a special educational needs teacher and specialist reading teacher. More recently, I have enjoyed the privilege of completing 9 fulfilling years as a Head Teacher, whilst intermittently serving as a Schools’ Inspector.

I was leading a school when the challenges of COVID-19 struck and observed first hand the emotional impact on children. The extended time away from teachers and friends destroyed the confidence of many young people. As a promoter of pastoral care initiatives, I consider that now, more than ever, we must try to help children recover and move on.

Most crucially, we need to explore whatever strategies we can to engage children in the process of developing resilience and the confidence needed to deal with life’s new challenges.

An Apple, a Cat and a Wish is intended as a shared read between parent and child, teacher and class, or as a free read for older primary aged children. It may also prove an effective tool for professionals working in the field of counselling.

Embedded within are a number of themes that can be discussed with young people, such as friendship, school worries and bereavement. Yet ultimately, it is written as an uplifting tale for children to enjoy, whilst hopefully planting, and nurturing, creative seeds in their imaginations.

The teenage narrator explores the concept of well-being and contentment and, during this process, shares her curiosity for how acts of kindness can lead to happiness.

The book encourages children to spend time in nature and make time for the activities they enjoy. But, crucially, it heralds the value of imaginative play; a proven ingredient for raising levels of fulfilment and well-being in children.

‘Play, more than any other activity, fuels healthy development of children’ (Hogan & Marlin, 2000)

‘Children who are exposed to play display greater levels of resilience and well-being as adults’ (Landreth 2012)

‘Individuals displaying higher levels of resilience are more likely to be successful in life and children who are in a state of well-being present with high levels of self-esteem and determination’ (Laevers 1994)

The original idea for the book first started with my mother, who was also a teacher and who sadly passed away in 2005. Many years ago she shared some thoughts with me about a little witch that exists at the bottom of the garden.

‘Cats have witches’ she said. ‘I want you to write a story about that.’

And finally I have!