It's OK to Be Sad / Lucky Duck Books (PDF)

'An ideal resource to use when a child or children in a class are experiencing loss and grief. This area of work makes a vital contribution to bringing one of the most essential learning tasks of life into schools, helping children to recognise the universality of loss and encourage them to feel confident about their own and other people's feelings. If this book was used routinely across the country it would contribute to a significant shift in the environment in which children, and ultimately adults, are able to understand and deal with feelings. If you are a teacher please try and get hold of a copy' - Bereavement Care

`Using stories about life events, Margaret Collins focuses on the needs of 4-9 year olds, and the ways in which they can express concerns, anxieties and grief. She also provides helpful advice for children and adults about how to help others when they are experiencing such difficulties' - SENCO Update

When a child faces a problem with health or disability we are quick to offer support or change our expectations. Sadness, distress, anxiety, whether transient or long-term, can have significant effects on every child but they are invisible and the support or adjustments might not be in place.

In this great resource Margaret uses stories about 20 different life events to:

- illustrate the range of feelings

- give permission for the expression of feelings

- encourage empathy towards others

- demonstrate that loss is a common experience for us all.

The work balances an acknowledgement of the need to express sorrow and sadness with an opportunity to consider how to do something that is positive for oneself or helpful to others.

Margaret Collins is a former headteacher of infant and first schools. She is now Senior Visiting Fellow in the School of Education at the University of Southampton. She researches children's perceptions of health education topics, writes teaching materials for children, books and articles on PSHE.