The Importance of Being Yourself

In this session Jess will get kids thinking about what it means to be yourself and be a good friend, the two main concepts explored in their picture book Introducing Teddy.

Jess will help the kids understand what it means for them to be themselves (what/who makes them feel happy and comfortable? What is special and important about them?) and then encourage them to express that visually through illustration; they’ll take home a front-cover-style ‘Introducing ______’ self-portrait.

Jess will also guide discussion about diversity and the importance of showing respect and kindness to others who are being themselves. How do the characters in Introducing Teddy do this for one another, and how can we do this in our lives?

This session is also available in a longer workshop format which includes story writing.

Topics

• Being yourself / understanding ‘identity’
• Being a good friend / being kind and respectful
• Celebrating diversity and difference
• Expressing yourself visually through illustration
• The elements of a good story (workshop format only)