ay

30 D l
o u r na
J

Parenting Journal

GOING BACK
TO SCHOOL
HOW ARE YOU FEELING AFTER LOCKDOWN?

Compiled by Dr Serahni Symington (PhD Psychology,

Mdiac Play Therapy)
This is a 30-day activity book for parents
and children. The aim is for parents to
use this as a tool to question their
children with regard to their emotions
and to help prepare them for the return
to school.
Activities were mostly designed for
grade 1 to grade 4 learners. This is not
an assessment tool, but a connecting
tool for parents and children - to assist
with conversations around worries when
returning to school.
DR SERAHNI SYMINGTON
Look at these pictures and show your parent(s) which activities
you like and don't like. What about your parent(s), What do they
like or don't like?
Make a tick next to the 'likes' and a cross next to the pictures
you don't like.
WHEN YOU ARE
UPSET CHOOSE A
NUMBER THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO DO,
TO FEEL BETTER:

GET A STUFFED TOY AND

1. SQUEEZE IT / OR GIVE
HUGS.
TAKE OUT SOME CLAY AND
2. SQUISH IT WITH ALL
YOUR MIGHT!
DO SOMETHING CREATIVE -
3. DRAW, PAINT OR CUT AND
PASTE A PICTURE COLLAGE.

GO FOR A QUICK RUN AROUND

4. THE HOUSE/YARD/BLOCK ETC.

PUT ON YOUR FAVOURITE

5. SONG AND DANCE IT OUT.

KICK A BALL OR PUNCH YOUR

6. PILLOW UNTIL YOU ARE TIRED.

LOOK FOR A QUIET SPOT AND

7. TRY TO BLOW OUT YOUR
'UPSET'.
 Self-care
Competition
tell someone COMPLIMENT
15Star jumps Read a page from a
3 push ups what makes you
book
happy today
MYSELF

someone AKEa
ll

M
Te

15sit ups
Spent time how you are play with
cucumber
outside feeling about my pet/toy
eye mask
school/ work

e n gesomeone and see who can

l l
Cha do the most blocks in one day .
 I am ...
WRITE YOUR NAME:

1
.
Write one word that you

like to say a lot

2 .
Write one word that you

don't like at all

3
What is the coooooolest

thing about you - if you

struggle ask some family

.
members to help you

think of this
What's Artists often paint how they feel. They use bright colours
when they feel happy or excited. Some use thick, heavy lines

Your
or dark colours when they're sad or angry.
Colour this page with the colours you think shows how you
feel when you think about going back to school.

Mood?
 WHAT IS YOUR
FAVOURITE GAME TO
PLAY AT SCHOOL
SHOW YOUR PARENT HOW TO PLAY YOUR FAVOURITE
BREAK-TIME GAME.
PRETEND ITS BREAK AND
PACK A LUNCH BOX AND
PLAY THIS GAME WITH THEM FOR 20 MINUTES.
 SHARING STORIES
TELL STORIES - OR MAKE A COMIC BOOK
TOGETHER - YOU HAVE TO USE THESE
PICTURES
MASK ART
 ALL ABOUT
MY BEST FRIEND AT
SCHOOL
DRAW OR WRITE ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE PERSON AT
SCHOOL.
 Write down and listen to

s o ng s
songs that make you feel

feel-go o d
good .

5
 Coronavirus &
Lockdown Talk

What happens Are there any

What is Corona
when you think good things
Virus?
about Corona?. about
lockdown?

What was your

Are there any How do you feel
favourite
bad things about going
memory of
about back to school?.
lockdown?
lockdown?
What is the most

fun thing to do??

1. What is your favourite

game/toy/HAPPY time?

2. Who is your favourite person to

play with?

3. Who do you miss playing

with at school?
 PLAN A FAMILY NIGHT

Family NIGHT
Choose your favourite meal that your parents can make.
Choose your favourite activity to do as a family.
Make invites and invite all your family members to participate!
Enjoy special time!
DO GOOD, FEEL GOOD
L member/ the community)
et' s ser v e each other (brother, friend, family
.

Do one thing for someone else today that makes them feel
happy. Write or draw what you did!
Ask mom or dad to help you write
a poem about school.
Try to use a word that describes
how you feel about school, your
teachers or even your friends.
 Choose 3 colours
EVERY COLOUR SHOULD REPRESENT AN
EMOTION (E.G. YELLOW - HAPPY).
USE YOUR COLOURS TO COLOUR IN THIS
M A N.
SHOW WITH YOUR COLOURS HOW HE IS
FEELING.
The bubble-
game
WHEN WE GO BACK TO SCHOOL - WE CANNOT TOUCH
EACH OTHER.
TO MAKE THIS EASIER - LET'S PLAY A GAME:
1) THINK OF IT AS A BUBBLE GAME
2) YOU HAVE A VERY BIG INVISIBLE BUBBLE AROUND
YOU
3) BE QUICK ON YOUR FEET AND MOVE FAST
4) NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO TOUCH YOUR BUBBLE OR
IT WIL POP!!!
HAVE FUN WITH A PARENT AND PLAY - 'DON'T POP
MY BUBBLE' !!!
 No

TOUCH
HANDSHAKE

We are not allowed to give hugs

or shake hands - be creative
and create a cool "no touch"
handshake-greeting.
Practice with your parent!
Show your friends when you
get to school.
 Scared is red

ou
t y
h a g 
r w lin ch
u e e u
lo f m
C are ow ch
o
h ea
nd f
a o

Happy is green
 These children are playing at school.
Where or who are you on this picture?
Talk to your parent about break and what you like
or don't like to do.
When you think about going back
to school - what does your emoji
look like?
 p y
a p
H
A a y
D A
Y
D
U
RI
N
G

D
T
S
BE W
N
R O
U
O KD
Y C
W LO
RA
D
 YOU ARE PRINCIPAL FOR
TODAY- WRITE YOUR
NAME BELOW:

PRINCIPAL
_____________
What would you change if you
were the principal - create a list
of changes you would make to
your school:
 Colour the blocks

'50' MEANS YOU REALLY LIKE SOMETHING. 

'0' SHOWS YOU DO NOT LIKE IT AT ALL. 

COLOUR THE BLOCKS FOR EACH WORD TO SHOW HOW

MUCH YOU LIKE OR DON'T LIKE THESE ACTIVITIES

50

40

30

20

10

0
o
nd

g in

ho
ay

e gy
ie

ho ing

Sc
Pl

tim lo
Fr

Be

e
s

no
l
m

ch
Te
 This is a worry frog.
He can only eat worries and he
is VERY hungry.
Which of your worries would
you feed to him?
Draw, or create a
funny joke.
SHOW OR TELL YOUR FAMILY AND SEE
WHO LAUGHED THE LOUDEST.
MEASURE THEIR LAUGH ON THE LAUGH-
O-METER:

PERSON 1: ___________________________

PERSON 2: ___________________________

PERSON 3: ___________________________
What do you need
help with before
school starts?
Your teacher and friends miss you because you
have some unique qualities!
Can you name or draw the things that you like
about yourself?
SHOW YOUR PARENTS
 My calm-down, super-ready for school plan!

IF YOU GO TO SCHOOL AND FEEL UNEASY OR

MAYBE WORRIED ...
WHAT CAN YOU DO AT SCHOOL TO HELP YOU
FEEL GOOD?
Keep a paperclip in
your pocket - rub all
your worries into the
paperclip.

Draw.

Look for pretty

leaves outside.
Sit with friends.

Talk to your
teacher.
Drink some water or
eat some food.
Write one wish on every star for
the week that is to come:
 Now you and your parents are
super-ready for school.

This book was compiled by

Dr Serahni Symington (PhD Psychology;
MDiac Play Therapy).
Protea Family Practice
Durbanville
admin@proteafamily.co.za