Bury Grammar School youngsters were treated to a day of mindfulness, breathing and bubbles when an author, who is also a former pupil, returned to class.
Sara Yates went back to the school to share her book, Freddy Counts To Zen, with pupils from the primary division.
The title is a "funny and empowering" picture book that helps children aged three to 10 "better manage everyday anger and frustration".
Freddy Firebreath is a dragon who gets "stuck in lots of stinky goo, gets mad, very mad and eventually spews angry flames everywhere".
But two young princes (modelled on Sara’s children) help Freddy regain his calm or “zen” by sharing their mindfulness and breathing techniques.
Sara developed Freddy Counts To Zen after struggling to find resources to help her own boys, Reuben, seven, and Harrison, four.
She said: “Like all children, my boys have struggled with anger at various times.
"But when I looked in my local library, I only found books that helped my children recognise and name their feelings.
"While an important first step, what I really wanted was a book that would give them (and me) strategies they could use when anger strikes.
"That’s why I decided to use my experience as a journalist and mental health charity chair to weave a toolkit of strategies for managing anger into a funny, rhyming tale that all children can relate to."
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Developed with oversight of a clinical child psychologist from Kings College Hospital, the strategies echo NHS best practice and support the school curriculum on self-regulation.
And the book has received rave reviews, including CAYP Psychology, headquartered in Whitefield, which called it a “fantastic book” and recommends “giving Freddy Counts To Zen a family bedtime read".
Sara visits schools across the country to share Freddy’s story and help children practice mindfulness and breathing strategies through lots of related, fun activities.
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Her recent visit to Bury Grammar School was particularly special.
She added: “Walking back into my old school brought back so many memories. I was proud to see how the school has evolved.
"The extremely warm welcome I received from everyone and the nurture and support for the pupils really shone.”
Freddy Counts To Zen is not just for children.
“Being a parent is tough,” Sara said.
“I’ve been that time-poor, exhausted parent trying to do my best, but ultimately overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice from social media sites.
"That’s why I include curated links to leading authorities such as the NHS and NSPCC in the book, as well as additional fun exercises the adult reader can do with the child too.”
The school was delighted the author returned to the school.
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Primary principal Chrissy Howard said: “It was a pleasure welcoming Sara back to Bury Grammar School.
“We are proud of our leading approach to well-being here at BGS and care and support for each other lies at the core of our school and it was great to see our pupils so enthused practising and learning new ways to manage everyday emotions with Sara.”
Freddy Counts To Zen is stocked in Waterstones in Bury and Bolton as well as numerous other bookshops and is available to order online.
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