‘When I am ready, I need you to talk to me and help me understand my feelings…’
This reassuring story helps children aged 5+ with attachment issues to understand their feelings, open up to a caring adult and learn how to choose positive behaviours. Ben is made up of lots of different ‘parts’ – to name a few, he has happy, caring, angry, excited, hugging and yelling parts. Ben explains how all these parts are okay, and that a caring adult can help you to understand and manage them more easily.
This book also features activities to help children talk about their feelings, and a simple introduction to attachment theory for adults.
Suitable for – Adoptive parents and foster carers of children aged 5+; social workers, teachers, virtual schools, school counsellors, family support workers, children’s centres, child therapists.
Author Bio:
Dorothy Markham is a manager, social worker, counsellor and agency decision maker, with considerable experience in setting up and managing an individual counselling service, and a wide range of social work services for children, families and the elderly. In 2002, she set up Cairn Mhor Childcare Partnership, a therapeutic residential childcare organisation, which has four homes in central Fife, UK. She followed this up in 2004 by setting up the Muirhead Outreach Project, which endeavours to work with young people and their families to prevent the young people being taken into care. Dorothy was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2017 Queens Birthday Honours List for services to children, young people and their families in Fife.
Aileen O’Donnell is a registered nurse. She has worked in a variety of services and settings throughout her career, and was involved in the development of a national project promoting healthy living for deaf-blind people in Scotland, UK. Aileen currently works in a school, and uses her gift as an artist to engage with children, through stories and a range of therapeutic interventions.
Review:
‘Difficulties with attachment are central to the experience of many children and young people. This practical, accessible and engaging book is a great resource for starting to explore these ideas in practice, and helps children and those who care for them to develop a way of talking about and coping with complex emotions. An essential addition to any professional’s toolbox!’ – Dr. Bethan Roberts, Specialist Clinical Psychologist
‘An illustrated book which although small in size is big on information. Markham and O’Donnell have used their many years of experience to create All About Ben which shows children that an emotional reaction is normal. This book encourages them to think about how to cope when they are feeling challenged by offering them practical solutions which they can work through.’ – Dr William Marshall PhD.
‘The simple language and lively illustrations make this book child-friendly and engaging. Fun to read together, it provides a tool for a carer or other relevant adult to discuss difficult topics with a child. Together they can explore negative, and positive, actions and the feelings that led to these. Significantly, the book helps the adult to support the child in addressing attachment issues.’ – Educationalist and former HM Inspector of Education, now retired
‘A book that will interest every family and every teacher, All About Ben is a realistic and sensitive journal of the challenges Ben encounters. All children would find this book essential reading too, from youngsters who can identify themselves as Ben to other children who identify Ben as a relative, best friend or classmate. Enjoy and share with others, as every Ben we know deserves understanding, nurturing and support.’ – Lynn Dyas, Headteacher.
