Episode 61: Welcome to Good-Vibes-ONLY Land! ...or is it?

Zara and Leo take a trip to Good-Vibes-Only Land, but there’s something not quite right about this place... Discover why it’s okay not to be okay, and meet the mental health activist who found a way to tackle TOXIC POSITIVITY!

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In this episode, children will:

• discover why it's okay to not be okay.
• understand that different feelings come and go.
• learn about Mahmoud Khedr, who advocates against toxic positivity.

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think Leo and Zara didn't like "Good-Vibes-Only Land?"
  
  
• We all need to cry, be angry, and express ourselves when things get too much. Can you describe the last time you felt angry or wanted to cry? Who did you talk to?
  
  
• Good-Vibes-Only Land had rides called "The Tower of Terrific-ness," "The Carousel of Reckless Optimism," and "The Rollercoaster of Pure Bliss and Infinite Smiles." If you had a ride named after how you feel right now, what would it be called?
  
  

Activities

1. Try out our "Feelings Week" printable, which is included in our Emotional Intelligence Printable Kit. In this activity, your child will reflect on how they feel each day and draw their facial expressions on each silhouette outline. This will help your child learn to acknowledge their emotions instead of bottling them up.

2. Ask your child to write out their emotions. Ask "what words best describe how you feel?" As they do this, reassure them that it doesn't have to make sense, they can express whatever feelings they're experiencing or thoughts they're thinking.

3. The next time your child is experiencing an uncomfortable emotion, ask them to describe how their body feels. Give them examples such as "my shoulders often feel tight when I'm angry" or "you are clenching your hands." This encourages self-awareness and lets your child choose how they express the way they feel.

Produced by Alexandra Eidens and Big Life Journal team. Written and directed by Sarah Cyrano. Sound design and original music by Elettra Bargiacchi. Sound mixing by Mattia Marcelli. Characters played by Sean Chiplock and Ryan Bartley. Managed by Laura Maloney.