Conker the Chameleon

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Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens was chosen as the perfect location for the trail, as woodland gardens provide a calming and restorative effect on the mind for both children and adults. Studies have shown that cortisol levels decrease when walking in nature, and outdoor activities can reduce the risk of poor mental health.

Another would be to share the story with parents. It shows how how something which might seem really annoying at first – atwo-year old’s endless attempts to grab and use keys – can lead to signifiant steps in early learning. The EEF’s Early Years Toolkit comments that the ​ ‘development of self-regulation and executive function is consistently linked with successful learning, including pre-reading skills, early mathematics and problem solving. Strategies that seek to improve learning by increasing self-regulation have an average impact of five additional months’ progress. Anumber of studies suggest that improving the self-regulation skills of children in the early years is likely to have alasting positive impact on later learning at school, and also have apositive impact on wider outcomes such as behaviour and persistence.’ Today we are looking at just how important it is to develop our children’s mental health and well-being, especially after home schooling and their worlds being turned upside down. Now more than ever children need to be able to identify, regulate those big feelings. Conker wishes to be like all his brothers. In the end he learns to accept his differences feel happy with who he is. Here are more structured play ideas you can introduce with Conker and the rainbow pebbles. When we patiently help children to follow through on something they have chosen to do, we are supporting their developing self-regulation. To use the keys successfully, Umar has to inhibit his anger and frustration, which he manages to do most of the time. He has to screen out other distractions and just focus on what he is doing with the keys. He has to plan and carry out asequence of actions.It can start at home, with a little story about a Chameleon called Conker who can’t change colour combined with simple play ideas. At Sheringham Nursery School, where Iam the SENDCO, Iwill plan this book into our core book offer. This means that we will read the book over the course of afortnight and plan arange of activities related to different themes featured in the book. We might focus on the rhyming aspect during agroup time and create nonsense rhyming strings. On another day we might discuss the emotional states featured in the book such as feeling red, what that looks like in ourselves and how we can self-regulate in such scenarios. We may use an emotional dial to help children with limited language to understand and enjoy the book. Conker the Chameleon teachers us, in such a tender way, that no matter how you may look on the outside, there may be more going on inside.

The children at Sheringham Nursery School enjoyed Cahn’s book. It gives aneat account of how ayoung child’s fascination can support their early learning, when parents, wider family, and nursery staff all work together. This made me think of acouple of possible spin-offs.

Conker and the Monkey Trap

Allowing children to concentrate on these complex issues and connecting during a story accompanied by open-ended play, will help build the foundation for self -regulation. Many valuable lessons can be learnt, self care strategies all through helping your child discover themselves, in turn you connect with them, learning how you can help them as an individual.

There is no better way than communicating with children than through stories. When researching and writing Conker the chameleon I have communicated with wonderful teachers, parents and caregivers who are leading the way in social and emotional development, however sadly this often depends on the individual early years setting. Whilst some of the aspects of the book are quite deep and complex, perhaps too lengthy for some learners, Iwould recommend that it is focused upon as a core book. The good news is that opening these conversations do not have to be a serious or even frightening scenarios, you don’t need a PHD in philosophy to gently introduce this topic to your children.This delightful book could not have come at a more apt time for us as a family. There have been so many big feelings for us to deal with as adults that I'm amazed at the resilience shown by Floss over these last couple of months. I adore rhyming books and this has such a gentle patter and flow as you read, really drawing you further into the charming world of Conker. How important talking about feelings is for parents and children’s social, emotional development also essential good mental health.