Staying Well Activity Book: Practical Activities to Support Children Aged 7-12 whose Best Friend is Leaving

Coping when a friend moves away is hard. This book is designed to help ‘the stayers’ (those left behind) manage this big change. Perfect for children aged 7–12, it’s jam-packed full of activities that invite the reader to use their creativity by annotating and illustrating the pages. This makes the book unique to each child, helping them feel a greater sense of agency and control at a time of change.

The text acknowledges change is stressful and the child is encouraged to think about their own responses to change and build their coping repertoire. The concept of TRUST is introduced, an acronym for five key things to ‘stay well’. The reader explores what each letter stands for and considers how paying attention to these can help make their process smoother. The book concludes with activities that bring together the child’s journey through the pages, helping to solidify their learning and engagement with the text.

Best introduced around eight weeks before the friend leaves, this is a must-have resource to help children ‘stay well’. Grounded in wellbeing and transition research, this activity book contains much wisdom for adults too.

Claire Holmes is a school counsellor; her approach is trauma-informed and strength-based, empowering others to access their inner wisdom and knowing. As a mindfulness teacher, she weaves meditation into her work, alongside expressive therapies, and solution-focused interventions. She delights in spending time in the great outdoors and is a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide in training. She’s passionate about positive transitions, having lived and worked in Singapore for over two decades, and understands first-hand what it means to be ‘a stayer’. She is the author of the Moving On series and is delighted to add the Staying Well books to her collection.