Book debut by psychologist Danielle Sellick teaches children self care

With 20 years of psychology experience, Heidelberg’s Danielle Sellick is using her expertise to teach self-compassion to children in her debut book. Find out her tips for self care at a young age.

Kind to Me author Danielle Sellick. Picture: Hamish Blair

Heidelberg clinical psychologist Danielle Sellick has poured 20 years of knowledge into a debut children’s book, Kind to Me.

The picture book tells the story of seven year old Zac, who is learning to be kind to himself in body, heart and mind.

Sellick said self-compassion was a skill children need to be taught from a young age to maximise their emotional health and increase happiness, confidence and motivation.

“The main character I intentionally made a boy as I particularly want to encourage boys to have the courage to be emotionally vulnerable from an early age,” she said.

“Learning to process more difficult emotions such as fear and anger early will help our boys grow into stronger men (and be) able to express how they feel.”

Students at the Mithra school in Chennai, where 50 per cent of the profits from the book Kind to Me will go. Phicture: Friends of Mithra

Kind to Me draws on schema therapy and emotion regulation strategies such as mindfulness, with notes in the back for parents on modelling self-compassion and emotional resilience.

Zac uses phrases such as “I am okay as I am”, “I can learn from this” and “I am connected to others.”

Half of any profits from sales will be donated to Friends of Mithra, a charity that supports and raises money for a school in Chennai for mentally and physically handicapped students.

Friends of Mithra acting president Nick Lux said they were very grateful for the book and hoped to send a few copies to India for the students.

“It’s a fantastic book and tool, there’s a really nice synergy with the book and what Mithra does, as they both provide support for parents.” Mr Lux said.

Peri-natal Psychiatrist Dr Matthew Roberts said the book highlighted the importance of kindness and wellbeing for children and parents.

MORE: WORRY CARERS MISSING OUT ON SUPPORT SERVICES

ROSANNA RESIDENTS FIGHT TO SAVE 1900S FARMHOUSE

OUTRAGE AT TENNIS CLUB’S FEES AS COURTS UNPLAYABLE

“It might seem obvious that kindness matters but for too long a word like this has been treated by science and healthcare as too soft or folksy,” he said.

“For a well-regarded clinical psychologist to place kindness at the centre of child development and family wellbeing is a powerful statement.”

Kind to Me is available at online at Andrew’s Bookshop in Ivanhoe and online at Amazon.