Everyone loves teddies!

Bears can be nurturing little friends and, really, you can take them anywhere: home, school, hospital, the dentist, somewhere new, when you go visiting or on holiday...
The teddy in our story therapy® series of resources is a soft, safe and cuddly little companion - ten inches from toe to head. He comes with a smart white t-shirt with a special message printed on to it:

and a set of teddy match-the-emotions mini cards (36: 2 of each) in an organza drawstring bag. Just right for encouraging children to talk about emotions or feelings.

You can find our nurturing little bears here  and several of them will be setting off soon to new homes and adventures via charities and groups who work to support children's emotional well-being.

Five today!

Strawberry Jam Books is five years old today!

Stories and resources that promote friendship, kindness, inclusion and understanding ourselves and others  http://www.hilaryhawkes.co.uk/strawberryjambooks/

Print versions of the stories, The Friendship Adventure Project for primary schools and children's groups and the Story Therapy(R) series are all available on amazon sites.

About Strawberry Jam Books
I started this small project five years ago. I'd been lucky enough to have been published by several publishers but decided to venture into setting up my own not-for-profit project for children. I've always felt very passionate about helping children learn about inclusion, differences and understanding of disabilities. So I put a collection of stories together along with a project handbook (The Friendship Adventure). The games and activities in the handbook link to the stories and, through the characters (who have different issues or difficulties), children learn about themselves and others.  But the stories can also be enjoyed on their own without being part of the project.

Then I developed the Story Therapy(R) series which is proving to be the most popular part of Strawberry Jam Books, and it's this collection of interactive stories, audios/cd that help children deal with emotions and feelings that I'm now developing further.

The right stories at the right time can help children grow emotionally, understand themselves and connect with others. 

A book can be a friend. It can nurture, inspire and heal too!

Stories can be shared with groups of children in story time sessions too. These children enjoyed the relaxation/simple meditation at the end of Just Be with Bizzy Bee too! (pic courtesy Jill Cofsky and class).

Over 50 Strawberry Jam Books selected and about to journey to schools and libraries in parts of the world where children have poor access to books and education.

Strawberry Jam Books is a creative Social Enterprise - any profits from sold books goes back into creating more resources. Some titles have won modest awards, such as Mom's Choice or the Wishing Shelf Awards.

If you're looking for free stories and resources then come and check out our website or find the full versions of the books: paperbacks and some audio and cd - on amazon too.   The Story Therapy pinterest page has nearly 200 title suggestions for children's books that help with issues such as loss, behaviour, emotional health etc And Useful Resources  is a growing list of links to ideas that support children, especially those with special needs. 

Hilary Hawkes
Strawberry Jam Books

Nurturing Early Years

The preschool or early years of children's lives are the most important for their all round growth and development. All children learn and develop at their own pace and there is lots parents or carers or educators can do to nurture and inspire that development.

Children learn through play and discovery and through the times we share with them.

Little Chestnuts: nurturing early years is a new facebook

page. I hope you'll come and check it out! You can find it here

@nurturingearlyyears

If you’re looking for ideas, links and resources for

younger/preschool/foundation age children then check in 

each day. Posts include articles on learning, learning through

play, nurturing stories, educational activities and children’s 

all round emotional health too.

If you're a fellow author or you've created a 

great preschool activity that children can enjoy at home or 

preschool then like the page and post it in the visitor’s post 

section! I'll share all brilliant ideas on Strawberry Jam

Books facebook and twitter pages too.


Hilary Hawkes