Helping Children to Thrive Following Adverse Childhood Experiences: 'Maya's ACE Adventures!' Storybook and Adult Guide

This storybook and guide provide children (aged 7+) and adults with the resources to understand Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and foster healing and recovery from trauma. Maya is a young girl who lives with her mum, her mum's boyfriend, and her pet hamster, Harry. With the help of protective factors and three fantastical adventures, she is able to overcome her ACEs and express her feelings safely and confidently. The accompanying adult guide contains discussion prompts, practical communication strategies, and an examination and critique of the ACEs framework.

Format: Mixed media product
Length: 132 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This carefully crafted and visually stunning storybook and guide serves as a valuable resource for children aged 7 and above, as well as the adults who support them. Its purpose is to provide insights into Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and demonstrate how engaging in conversations with children can promote healing and recovery from trauma.

Maya, a young girl, lives with her mother, her mother's boyfriend, and her beloved pet hamster, Harry. She has a passion for exploring space, engaging in football, and creating art, but often feels anxious at home and school due to the ACEs she has encountered.

Within the story, Maya embarks on three fantastical adventures alongside Harry, which provide her with additional tools and guardians to utilize in her daily life. These adventures enable her to overcome her ACEs and thrive.

The set offers children a safe space to comprehend and express their emotions, while the accompanying adult guide equips adults with the skills to become sensitive, active listeners who can support the child's efforts to disclose and manage their fears. The adult guide includes discussion prompts, practical communication strategies, an examination of the ACEs framework, and an exploration of the developing brain.

This set is an essential tool for educators, parents, foster carers, social workers, and other professionals who are supporting children affected by ACEs and trauma. When used with a trusted adult, it empowers children to openly discuss their experiences and express themselves confidently.

Weight: 90g
Dimension: 297 x 210 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032367934