Bembala Foundation Conducted A Feelings & Emotions Workshop Featuring Rocky Books Trauma-Support Storybooks
In April, Bembala Foundation organised a workshop for the children of Vidyadhaara Foundation. This workshop focused on difficult feelings and emotions with the aim of helping children become more confident in identifying and naming their own emotions.
Special thanks to Bembala Foundation and Nandana HN for providing their report and photos from the workshop.
Reading “Tanu Learns How To Overcome Her Fears”
How Children Learn Healthy Coping Strategies
The group of children were aged from 6 years to 12 years. They read 2 Rocky Books: “How Rahul Keeps Calm When He Feels Anxious” and “Tanu Learns How To Overcome Her Fears”.
From Bembala Foundation’s report:
“The sessions were based on two storybooks from Rocky Books: Tanu Learns to Overcome Fear and Rahul Keeps Calm When He Feels Anxious. Through Tanu's story, children learned about fear and ways to overcome it, while Rahul's story helped them understand how to stay calm and manage anxious feelings.
These stories encouraged children to identify and talk about emotions such as fear, anxiety, anger, stress, and happiness. They also learned about common physical responses to fear, such as a fast heartbeat. The discussions reinforced the important message that children are never responsible for abuse or conflict between adults.
Visual emotion cards were used to help children identify different emotions through facial expressions. Many children related the stories to their own experiences, demonstrating a good understanding of the concepts discussed.”
Grounding Exercises For Children for Anxiety
Doing the “Fire Fists” grounding exercise for anxiety together.
From Bembala Foundation’s report:
Children were introduced to simple coping strategies, including the "Fire Fist" relaxation activity, where they practiced clenching and slowly releasing their fists to reduce physical tension, equal breathing exercises, and the "Buddha Tummy Rub" technique to promote calmness. These activities were well received, and several children reported feeling more relaxed afterwards.
Learn more about Rocky Books coping or grounding exercises for children here.
Learning Outcomes from the Workshop
Bembala Foundation reported that the children in this group learned how to identify difficult emotions and coping strategies. Children enjoyed the interactive session led by the Bembala Team, and participated in the activities, storytelling, and sharing their own experiences.
More learning outcomes from the book reading session using Rocky Books:
Children identified feelings like fear, anger and stress.
Children learned that parental conflict and stressful situations in the home are not their fault.
Children learned they can turn to trusted adults for help.
Children learned emergency helpline numbers from Bembala Foundation’s team and how to seek help if in danger.
Children learned that they are not alone in experiencing situations like parental conflict and difficult emotions like anxiety or fear.
