Parent and Carer Information

Connie is a Wildflower - A story about difference

Firstly, thank you for joining Connie’s garden — we’re so glad you’re here!
This page is a quiet space for you, designed to help you support the child in your care. Whether you’re a parent, guardian, grandparent, or professional, you’ll find guidance, ideas, and gentle encouragement to help children feel seen, valued, and confident as they explore the story and themselves.

The therapeutic story

Connie is a wildflower in a neat garden of tulips and roses. She’s taller, her petals are unruly, and when the wind blows, she dances while the others stay still. At first, she wishes she could be like them.

With help from her friend, a kind wasp, she learns that her differences make her strong. While the other flowers were sheltered from the wind, Connie’s roots grew deep and her petals grew wild — and beautiful.

Theme: Feeling different, discovering your strengths, and learning that everyone’s patch of the garden is unique.

Understanding difference

Feeling “different” can mean many things to a child. It might be about how they look, what they enjoy, their family, their abilities, or simply the way they move through the world.

Children often long to fit in — to be like the tulips and roses — especially if they sense that sameness feels safer or more accepted. Our role as grownups is to help them see that difference doesn’t make them “less,” it makes them them.

Just like Connie, children can learn that while their patch of land may look or feel different, they still belong in the same garden.

Emotions at Play has connection at it's very core, and reading a story together is a wonderful way of connecting with a child. You will have seen us talk about ‘the magic recipe’ here at Emotions at Play, and I would like to invite you to think about the relationship between yourself and your child as the container for this recipe. As you explore the book together, you will find plenty of ingredients to add to your pot, but the key part of the magic is you.

How do we use the book?

Top tips

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Let 'Rags' be your guide- Our trusty mascot is on hand to guide you through the story. Rags will lead you to fun games, experiments and crafty ideas to bring the story from the page and into your child’s world.

'I wonder' statements - Often used in therapeutic conversation in place of 'why'questions,

'I wonder'statements are much softer and don't force a response. Our young people do not always have the answer to 'why', but 'I wonder if..' brings about a shared curiosity and a feeling of being on the journey together. It's only a slight change of words yet it can make a real difference.

The child always leads - A really important piece in Emotions at Play is that the child leads and the adult follows. Play is a child's natural mode of expression, so if we lead, we simply take over the conversation and suppress our child. Our books are filled with activities and ideas to ignite your child's curiosity. They are offered, but never forced.

Pick the right time - Make sure that your are emotionally regulated within yourself before starting the story. If you are feeling stressed or are trying to sandwich it in between activities, you won't be able to fully focus on your child. Take time to breathe and settle so that you are in an emotional state that will support your child. Put your mobile phone on silent to allow this special time to be just between you.

How can I help my child?

Helping children feel proud of who they are — and accepting of differences in others — can be woven into daily life

There are lots of fun and playful ways that we can help prepare our children for starting nursery and school.

In your book, you will find art, craft, science, games and sensory activities guided by our mascot, Rags.

Arts - Drawing, painting, sketching; all wonderful ways for us to convert what is going on inside us to the outside.

Sciences - Science is a great way to get curious about our experiences. Experimenting with ideas and problem solving creates neural pathways to help us to understand.

Games - The opposite to a passive learning experience, games often involve movement and provide a kinesthetic way of thinking.

Sensory - Involving the five senses of sight, touch, taste, hearing, and smell, provides a multi sensory experience beyond the written word. The natural world is a great place to start.

Crafts- Crafting is a lovely way to make a thought, character or feeling into a more concrete form that we can see and interact with. The story can be lifted from the pages through a creation.

Connection - Our stories and resources are all designed to put the relationship first and connection at the starting point. Children need their adults in order to self-regulate, grow and learn about the world and their place in it.

Child led - The foundation of play therapy is that the child leads the play. This is because we know that play is how our children communicate their inner world. Through child led play, children learn that their inner world is heard and understood, and that they are valued and respected humans.

Notice and celebrate the little things — effort, kindness, curiosity. Tell your child what you love about them and praise trying, not perfection.

Give them autonomy – Let children make choices about what they wear, how they play, or how they solve problems. Giving space for them to develop their own ideas helps them grow into themselves.

Children notice how we treat ourselves. Be kind to your own quirks and imperfections — it helps them learn to do the same.

Practice what you preach – Show respect for others’ differences through your words, actions, and routines. Your behaviour sets a real-life example of empathy and inclusion.

Bring diversity into the home – Gather books, stories, and resources about different cultures, abilities, families, and experiences. Reading and talking about these openly reinforces acceptance and curiosity.

Highlight shared humanity – Talk about similarities and differences together, and how everyone has strengths and challenges.

Tell me more about the activities and the benefits of play

Rags Activity Guidance

Here are the interactive elements you’ll find in this story — and why we chose them.

This story is part of our special ‘Wildflower Range’ — a small collection of nature-based stories that invite children to explore, play, and grow through the world around them. Each activity can be taken outdoors and encourages time in nature, imagination, and movement.

Every activity has been thoughtfully designed to support your child beyond the words and pictures — helping them connect with their caregiver, feel safe, build confidence, and discover joy in being themselves.

Game – Nature Bingo
Pop along to the website to download our nature bingo sheet, or make your own together. How many will you tick off on your walk?

Science – Messy Nature Potion

Potion play helps children explore, create, and express their feelings. Mixing petals, leaves, and water sparks imagination, encourages curiosity, and lets emotions swirl safely — all while having fun outdoors!

Sensory – Garden Yoga

Craft – You Are Special
Draw a flower with six petals. Write or draw things that make your child unique — strengths, quirks, things they love.

Art – The “You” Flower
In Connie's garden, there are many different flowers. Think together what kind of flower or plant you might be if you were growing in the garden. Tall, small, spiky, soft, colourful, or wild — there’s no wrong answer!

Can you draw the garden including the 'you' flower?

Tree Pose Stand tall like a tree, feet rooted to the ground. Stretch your arms up like branches reaching for the sun. Can you sway gently like the wind?

Seed Pose (Child Pose) Curl up small like a seed tucked safely in the soil. Breathe slowly and feel cozy and protected as you grow.

Frog Pose (Squat Pose) Squat down low, hands on the ground, and pretend to hop like a frog. Don’t forget to “Ribbit!”

Leaf Pose Lie on your back, arms out wide, and imagine floating like a leaf drifting on a gentle breeze.

Flower Bloom Sit with legs crossed, arms slowly rising above your head, and imagine your petals opening to the sun.

Wind Pose Stand tall and stretch your arms out. Spin gently or sway, pretending to be a playful gust of wind rustling the garden.

Tip from Rags! Juggling kids, work and other commitments can be really difficult. If you find that your 'to do' list is buzzing around your head, try visualising popping your thoughts onto a shelf to deal with later. Your mind will be clear and you will be able to better focus on your child.

Thoughts such as 'should' and 'need to' can be very persistent so if they come back, just pop them back up on the shelf. Really stubborn ones might even need a box or lidded jar!