Your Mind Is Like The Sky
on Goodreads (108)
What’s inside...
Your mind is like the sky. Sometimes it's clear and blue, but sometimes a raincloud thought comes along and makes everything seem dark. So, what can we do about rainclouds? This beautiful picture book, written by psychologist Bronwen Ballard and illustrated by award-winning artist Laura Carlin, shows children that worries and negative thoughts are normal and helps them develop healthy thinking habits. The story is told in pictures, captioned with helpful, poetic ways of thinking happily, in a style that is both instantly accessible and backed by real expertise. Laura Carlin's deceptively simple illustrations put abstract concepts into colorful, calming visual terms, showing how we can choose to think about how we think. Tips on mindfulness and extra resources for parents are included at the back of the book. This is the perfect book to read aloud with children or grandchildren, encouraging talking about feelings and taking action to live happily.
Age
7-10
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Child
Discussion points
What did you think when the book said our thoughts are like the weather in the sky?
Can you remember a time when your thoughts felt stormy? What helped to clear them up?
What kinds of thoughts make your mind feel sunny and bright?
How can we help our thoughts become more like the weather we enjoy?
Why do you think it's important to understand that our thoughts can change like the weather?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by sharing your own experiences with different thoughts and emotions, relating them to different weather patterns, to make the metaphor easier to understand. Listen actively and validate your child's feelings and thoughts, helping them see the natural shifts in their own mind. Encourage them to visualize their thoughts as passing weather, reinforcing the transient nature of emotions. Finally, emphasize the power they hold in influencing their mental weather through mindful practices like deep breathing or focusing on positive thoughts.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding and managing emotions
Explanation: The book uses the metaphor of the sky to describe the mind, illustrating how thoughts can pass through like various types of weather, teaching children that feelings are transient.
Real-World Application: Children learn to recognize their feelings and understand that like the weather, no emotion is permanent, helping them cope with changing emotional states.
Example Lesson: Mindfulness and mental awareness
Explanation: By comparing the mind to the sky, the narrative encourages children to observe their thoughts from a distance rather than being overwhelmed by them, promoting a calm and observational approach.
Real-World Application: This helps children practice mindfulness in everyday life, enabling them to detach from intense emotions or thoughts and handle situations with greater calmness and clarity.
Example Lesson: Resilience in facing difficulties
Explanation: The story conveys that even when the sky is gray and stormy, the blue sky is still there above, suggesting that positive mindsets and calmness are always within reach even in tough times.
Real-World Application: Children learn to maintain hope and positivity amidst challenges, enhancing their ability to resiliently navigate through life's ups and downs.
Example Lesson: The power of positive thinking
Explanation: The narrative encourages focusing on the 'blue sky' thoughts over the 'cloudy' negative thoughts, emphasizing the impact of positive thinking.
Real-World Application: Fostering an attitude of looking for silver linings can help children develop a habit of positive thinking, influencing their overall mental health and daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Acceptance and letting go
Explanation: Through the imagery of clouds passing in the sky, the book teaches that some thoughts and feelings need to be accepted and observed without judgment as they pass.
Real-World Application: This lesson aids children in understanding the importance of acceptance and can be applied to letting go of grudges or overcoming minor setbacks without harsh self-judgment.