40NCGE NEWS Winter 2011Book ReviewGames and Activities for Exploring Feelings with Children Giving Children the Confidence to Navigate Emotions and FriendshipsVanessa RogersGames and Activities for Exploring Feelings with Children is a book containing activities and worksheets to facilitate children to discuss and think about feelings and issues that affect them. The resource is designed for use by professionals (eg. teachers, youth workers, counsellors) working with children and teenagers aged 7-13. The author, Vanessa Rogers, recommends that it can be used with both individuals and groups. However, it is probably more suited to group work. In the Irish context, it may prove useful for SPHE teachers, in particular if wishing to deal with friendship issues or transition issues e.g. moving from primary to secondary school. Alternatively guidance counsellors could use it with small groups of vulnerable students.The book outlines a programme of games, activities and worksheets. The programme consists of five themes: . Making the Rules. Getting to Know Each Other . Expressing Yourself . Making Friends . EndingsThe chapter entitled: Making the Rules is about creating a safe, secure and respectful environment that will encourage children to explore expectations and issues safely. Topics such as: consent, group rules, confidentiality, contracts and action plans are included.Getting to Know Each Other describes a number of activities which can facilitate children to explore and discuss their relationships, the boundaries of secrecy, their personal feelings and learning to identify personal skills and abilities.The Expressing Yourself chapter aims to support children in identifying and expressing their feelings. The activities in this chapter support the development of skills such as; communication, empathy, reflective listening, assertiveness, anger management and effective problem solving.The chapter entitled Making Friends could prove valuable when dealing with student's friendship difficulties, in particular supporting students in their transition into second level or in dealing with some of the friendship issues that often occur in first or second year. Topics include: recognising important people in their lives and their influences, features of friendship, peer pressure, teamwork and jealousy.Publisher: Jessica Kingsley PublishersNo. of pages: 125Cost: 21.15

41The final chapter deals with Endings, allowing students to evaluate and reflect on the programme and to give positive feedback to peers in their group.Although the worksheets may be photocopied for use with this programme, as yet there is no facility to download a digital copy of these worksheets. Having an accompanying CD or an opportunity to download the worksheets from the author's website would be very helpful. While many professionals working with children will have built up a bank of resources, what makes this book useful is that these resources are accompanied by a clear aim and methodology for using each resource, almost akin to a lesson plan. However, for some more sensitive topics (eg. 'Jealousy bag') it would have been beneficial to see this expanded to highlight feelings, emotions or behaviours that the professional could expect to observe when using a particular resource/activity.I cannot imagine that guidance counsellors or teachers will use this book in its entirety with children but familiarity with its contents will allow teachers/counsellors to design a programme specific to the needs of the vulnerable children.Reviewed by Emma RaughterGuidance CounsellorColáiste Chraobh Abhann,Kilcoole,Co. WicklowBook ReviewGames and Activities for Exploring Feelings with Children continuedNCGE NEWS Winter 2011