The Resilience Backpack - At School.

The Resilience Backpack at School with Tommy

Tommy is a school kid, a young one just like you.

Tommy at times has problems, and doesn’t always know what to do.

Sometimes life is tricky, in that there is no doubt.

But with time and courage, it’s in your control, just breathe and work it out.

Tommy has a backpack, and in it there are tools.

These tools help when life gets tricky, to help Tommy keep super cool.

Tommy's Resilience Backpack

Tommy was at school one day and in the playground he stood, all alone with no one to play with - Tommy wanted to cry if he could!

He looked around and as he did, he saw other kids having fun. This just made him feel alone and Tommy just wanted his mum.

It was then that Tommy remembered, that he was in control, so Tommy opened up his backpack, and came up with a lunchtime goal!

Tommy got out his notepad, and in it he wrote down his idea.

Tommy took a deep breath, and thought to himself, “I got this, yeah!�

Tommy made a decision, instead of standing all alone, Tommy would play on the playground, until he had a friend to call his own!

Tommy felt oh so nervous, his heart beat so so fast! But Tommy knew that with deep breaths, the nerves, they wouldn’t last!

Tommy walked on over, to the monkey bars he jumped, and when he did a cool trick, another boy gave him a fist bump!

“My names Sam, Sam the man!” the fist bumper announced proudly, “Wanna be my friend?” He asked and Tommy said “Yes please!” loudly.

It was then that Tommy realised, if his lungs were full of air, there was no space for the butterflies to create the feeling of fear!

You can have a backpack too, to help when times get tricky.

You have the power, the strategies to help when things get icky.

Your Resilience Backpack

Later that week with Sam in tow, Tommy was shooting some hoops. When all of a sudden another kid came and threw the ball just laughing “Oops!�

Tommy and Sam felt angry.

Sam had brought that ball from home!

But Tommy remembered he had the tools, he just needed to think with his dome!

Tommy reached into his backpack, and out he pulled his torch. He uses it when times get tough to illuminate his thoughts.

Tommy realised this boy was alone, with no one to play with that day. Tommy thought maybe he threw it to try join in and play?!

“Hi I’m Tommy”, Tommy said, with Sam standing behind not feeling brave.

“I didn’t like that you threw our ball, but maybe you just wanted to play?”

“Hi I’m Rex” said the boy, looking a bit ashamed.

“I just wanted to play and you look like fun! But I’m sorry how I acted” Rex explained.

“People don’t always like me, they don’t let me play their games, so sometimes I don’t know how to join in, and then I always get blamed”.

Tommy looked at Sam, and Sam gave Tommy the nod...

You can have a backpack too, to help when times get tricky.

You have the power, the strategies to help when things get icky.

Time went past and Tom, Sam and Rex played happily as friends.

They were ‘The Three Musketeers’ they called themselves, and never wanted the friendship to end!

But one day Rex came to school, a dark look upon his face. “What’s the matter?” asked Sam as Rex bent down to tie his lace.

“I gotta move schools, it’s not fair!” Rex wailed in dismay.

“Mum got a new job in the city, they don’t care what I have to say!”

Sam looked at Tommy, and the boys too felt upset. They had just become The Musketeers - they weren’t ready to let go yet!

So Tommy reached into his backpack, and in it he grabbed for the mic - he liked to use this to voice his feelings...

So down the three sat all together, and Rex talked right from the heart. Together they came up with a plan, so they didn’t have to always be apart!

“We can write you letters!”

“And you’ll make lots of new friends!”

“There’s plenty of time for us to catch up, it will just have to be in the weekend!”

The boys all nodded in agreement, a weight lifted off Rexs chest.

“Thanks for having my back guys” he said, “you guys are really the best!”

You can have a backpack too, to help when times get tricky.

You have the power, the strategies to help when things get icky.

Your Resilience Backpack

Tommy was walking to school one day and he heard someone call out his name. Twas the mean girl from in his class, he remembered her name was Jane.

“What a loser Tommy! Look at you all alone. No one wants to be your friend - why don’t you just go home!”

Tommy felt his heart drop, felt tears tickle the corner of his eyes.

Tommy didn’t retaliate, instead thought he would try to be nice.

“Are you ok Jane?” Tommy said “Because you always seem mad.”

Jane stared at Tommy for just a sec, instantly feeling really bad.

“You’re the first person to actually ask, but no Tommy, I’m not ok. Last month mum and dad decided, that dad would be living away.”

As they walked slowly to school, Jane told Tommy about her life at home.

Tommy soon realised, Jane just needed a friend to make sure she didn’t feel alone.

As they got to the school gate, Jane turned to Tommy and said...

It was then that Tommy realised, sometimes people’s buckets feel empty, but being kind to one another is the best way to fill it up plenty!

Tommy has a message, one he wants YOU to know, he says you’ve got a backpack, and in it the tools to grow!

Life isn’t always about winning, or even coming second, third or last place, life’s about the journey, and completing it at your own pace.

So remember when life gets hard, or even just slightly confusing, that the control is in your hands, and how you deal with life is of your choosing.

So put on your resilience backpack, and pull the straps down tight.

The world needs each and every one of you so continue to sparkle bright!

The Resilience Backpack Original story by Kate Walker

Thank you for choosing my book, The Resilience Backpack!

I have had the honor of teaching many children in my years of being a teacher, and through this, my passion for helping children build their resilience has grown! Through completing my Masters of Education with a focus on mental health and well-being in children, I learnt how important it is to support our children build and develop skills when faced with every day life challenges. This book was developed through years of working with children, discussions with other educators and families, and more importantly, chatting with children about what challenges they face and how they can learn from it in the process.

This book is a great resource for any classroom or home and can be read time and time again. It was written to remind children (and adults!) that they have the tools inside them to overcome whatever challenge life throws them.

Please check out my website www.edukatewellness.com and follow me on Facebook: @edukatewellnessforchildren

Email me on: edukator@edukatewellness.com

Here you will find resources to help at home and in the classroom.

Want to implement a well-being program into your classroom?

Purchase my 'The Resilience Backpack - Teachers manual' that works alongside this book with a daily program, printables, worksheets, activities and more.

Thank you!

EduKate

The Resilience Backpack Original story by Kate Walker

First published April 2020 Wellington, New Zealand.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information or retrieval without explicit permission in writing from the creator, Kate Walker.

The Resilience Backpack

By Kate Walker Tommy is a school kid, a young one just like you, sometimes Tommy has problems and doesn't always know what to do!

Tommy has a backpack, a very special one... a resilience backpack! In his resilience backpack he has tools that help him when times get tricky.

Follow along with Tommy as he faces everyday problems like what you might face at school and you too can add to your very own resilience backpack.

Keep an eye out on www.edukatewellness.com for other editions of The Resilience Backpack

The Resilience Backpack Original story by Kate Walker

First published April 2020 Wellington, New Zealand.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information or retrieval without explicit permission in writing from the creator, Kate Walker.