If you want to build resilience in kids, there’s one simple, yet powerful thing you can tell them. Its impact will be long lasting and far reaching. Tell them, "You’re important to me and the world." ‘You’re important’, tells children they are not only valued, but they have a role to play in the bigger … Continue reading Want resilient kids? Tell them this.
When I was 10, I was given a dictionary for my birthday. It wasn’t any normal dictionary like the Macquarie or Oxford, it was the Misspellers Dictionary – perfect for kids like me, who couldn’t spell to save themselves. You looked up how you thought a word was spelled, and then the Misspellers Dictionary would … Continue reading The Boy Who Couldn't Spell
A few years ago, I decided to ditch my award winning radio advertising job, and shortly afterwards starting taking the message of my children's book, 'Being You is Enough’ to primary school kids across Western Australia. So instead of boardroom niceties, I’ve now get called fat, told I'm old and a liar and I get … Continue reading From the boardroom to the playground, The unconventional life of a children’s author on tour.
As part of WA Mental Health week, I've plucked up the courage to share my personal story. If reading it triggers anything in you, please reach out and talk to someone. Contact numbers are at the end of the article. A life not worth living When I was 15, I tried to take my own … Continue reading The suicide attempt I didn’t tell anyone about
I’d never heard of Generalised Anxiety Disorder until recently. I’d heard of all the other ones; social anxiety, separation anxiety, panic disorders and of course phobias, but generalised anxiety no… it just seemed a little too generalised! I didn’t have panic attacks and run out of shopping centres (Ok in hindsight maybe there was that … Continue reading Getting diagnosed with GAD and how it’s changing my life.
Have you ever got angry? What about cried over losing a good friend? And I’m sure you’ve been scared once or twice in your life too? Well, guess what, your kids have the exact same emotions and feelings as you do and will go on to keep having them. However they’re less likely to be … Continue reading A simple way to help your kids understand their emotions
Ever wondered what a book on resilience looks like, when it's written by someone who has no background in education, no psychology degree, or by someone who doesn't even have kids? Well Magnificent Mistakes and Fantastic Failures; Finding the good when things go bad is a refreshingly different book on resilience that I hope will inspire … Continue reading Cover reveal for new kid’s book on resilience
This is the chair I sit in and stare off into space. I put on some ambient chill music, sit back and let my mind shift down a gear and meander slowly, taking the scenic route through my imagination. I could be ‘out’ for 5 minutes or thirty minutes. I get an instinctual urge to … Continue reading Why staring out the window is good for mental health and productivity
Review Blog Nov 29 2017 It's OK to feel the way you do by Josh Langley Big Sky Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925520965 (Age: 4+) Highly recommended. It's OK to feel the way you do is all about expressing emotions and feelings. It is a beautifully illustrated picture book, covering feelings such as anger, sadness and happiness. Each … Continue reading Readplus Review of OK to Feel The Way You Do
The rate of suicide and depression in this country is staggering and I hope can help in some small way to address the issue. I'm not an expert in the field, but I know from personal experience that every little bit of self understanding helps and being able to talk openly about what's going on … Continue reading Suicide and depression
