I Am Great!—A Practical Toolkit for Developing Emotional Resilience in Children and Young People

How can you increase children’s confidence and self-esteem?

Would you like your children to have tools and techniques to cope constructively and "bounce back" when life is not so good?

I Am Great! is a practical toolkit that will support children and young people in developing their emotional resilience by increasing their confidence and self-esteem.

Using an evidence-based approach, it provides a fun and easy-to-use framework for children and young people, encouraging them to gather evidence to show just how great they are. Flexible, and easy to personalise, the framework can even be adapted to make use of the child or young person’s preferred communication method including Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), symbols, pictures, photographs or Makaton.

I Am Great! can be used by all children and young people but it has particular relevance for those described as ‘vulnerable’ or ‘disadvantaged’ including: children who are physically disabled, learning disabled, those with special educational needs, school phobics, looked after children, young carers, self harmers and for those going through transition. Crucially, I Am Great! does not focus on a child or young person’s ‘weaknesses’ or ‘areas for improvement’ . In their time of need, upon their own reflection, with support as necessary, this workbook provides only positive evidence-based feedback to help support genuine and meaningful emotional health and well-being.

I Am Great! can be completed independently or with the support of a parent/carer, project worker or Learning Support Assistant as appropriate. It can be delivered as part of a school session such as PSE, care package or as an intervention programme, and can be used within a wide range of services including education, health, social services, and the voluntary sector as well as for individual personal use.

Diane Hesketh is an educational consultant. She was previously the Health Social Care & Well-Being Partnership Manager for Denbighshire County Council, UK