Fostering self-care and wellbeing through the world of reading

Nicola Schofield
A teacher sat outdoors with young students looking at a book togethr
Reading time: 6 minutes

Growing up is an exciting time. Children are curious and open-minded, and every day welcomes a new thing to learn. They are constantly exploring and discovering themselves and the world around them. But children also have to face many challenging times too as they get older. It is, therefore, important that we teach our young people to be aware of their own wellbeing and self-care, what they can do to lead a balanced and healthy life, and give them the tools they need to help them in difficult times, both mentally and physically.  

Boosting children's wellbeing with reading
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What are the key factors to a child’s wellbeing?

Have a look at Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs below. It describes people’s basic needs for good mental and physical wellbeing.

Self-actualization – Children need to be aware of their own feelings and understand how to process them.

Esteem – Children need to grow in confidence, feel valued and receive praise for their achievements. Having hobbies and interests too is key.

Love/belonging – Children need to develop meaningful relationships or feel part of a community. This could be friendships, family, a class, a club or school.

Safety – Children must feel safe in their surroundings.

Physiological – Children must have a home and access to food, water, sleep and exercise.

However, do children know how to look after their wellbeing? 

Ask them to make a list and share your ideas together as a class or as a family. What do they do to look after their mental and physical health? Are there any things that they do lots of or don’t do enough of? What can they start doing or try to do more of?

Alternatively, you could also ask them to put the following items in order of importance. Ask them, ‘What makes you happy?’, ‘What is important to you?’ 

  • Food
  • Water
  • House
  • School
  • Friends
  • Family
  • Exercise
  • Sleep
  • Hobbies 

How can Disney Kids Readers help children’s wellbeing?

Let’s refer back to the hierarchy of needs and see how they can link into reading.

Self-actualization – Disney Kids Readers can help increase empathy and self-awareness through reading about other characters’ emotions and putting ourselves in their shoes. It can help us to understand and process our own emotions too. For example, in Inside Out, we see Riley struggle with her emotions when her family moves to San Francisco. Through the characters of Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust, we can see how normal it is to feel a range of emotions and not feel happy all the time.

Esteem – Disney Kids Readers also help children to develop confidence and self-esteem as they progress through the levels. By completing the wide range of activities at the end of the books, children can see that they are learning and improving their English skills as well as having fun reading a book. 

Readers can also help us navigate difficult moments in life and teach us resilience and strength in challenging times. When we read the stories, we see how the characters overcome obstacles and deal with their problems. This can teach children key lessons and help them tackle their own problems in the real world.

For example, many of the characters go through difficult times to which children can relate. In The Jungle Book, Mowgli is scared but then his friend Baloo comes to help him. In Frozen II, Elsa goes on a difficult journey to restore justice for the people of Arendelle and The Enchanted Forest. 

Love/belonging – Reading Disney Kids Readers as a class, in pairs, or as a family can really strengthen relationships and a sense of belonging, which is such an important part of children’s development. Sharing a book is something special that can allow people to develop common interests and therefore make children feel that they are part of a wider community.

Safety – Children can feel safe and more secure when a parent or a caregiver reads to them before bed. Disney Kids Readers are perfect bedtime stories and help children to fall asleep listening to their favorite Disney characters on exciting adventures. Also, in times of stress, reading can help reduce anxiety, allowing children to enjoy the present moment and escape the real world for a little while.

Physiological – Reading exercises your brain. In addition to physical exercise, reading is an excellent mental workout which is so important to children’s health. Ask the children to memorize some pages from the reader and recite it without looking or ask them to memorize the phonics rhyme on the phonics page. You could also ask them to memorize the key words from the glossary list and see how many they remember.

Explore our range of readers and get inspired

Activity ideas

Now try out some of the activities below which can be linked to the Readers which will help your children/young learners focus on their wellbeing.

1. Paint a scene

This activity is calm, relaxing and mindful for the children to complete. The world is a busy place, and this activity links in with the idea of self-actualization and esteem. Painting or drawing keeps our mind focused on one task, and reduces stress and anxiety. It can help us process difficult emotions and can cheer us up when we are feeling down.  

Encourage your young learners to paint or draw a peaceful scene that they can imagine themselves in. It could be a beach, a forest, or even outer space. This activity allows children to express their creativity and imagination while also promoting relaxation and mindfulness.

Need: Self-actualization, Esteem

2. Reading emotion diary

Self-awareness is such a useful tool for our wellbeing – through this activity, the children take a moment each day to read a few pages of a book and then look inside themselves to think about how they are feeling before and after reading. This is powerful, as over time the children will understand that reading is a good way to calm the mind and manage emotions – something that can help them improve their own wellbeing and feel safe. 

Encourage your learner to write down their feelings in a diary after reading and reflect on how the reading has affected their emotions. This activity promotes self-awareness and emotional intelligence, which are crucial for maintaining good mental health.

Need: Self-actualization, Safety

3. Reading emotions

Emotional intelligence is such an important part of life. Understanding how someone is feeling through body language, such as facial expressions, gestures and body movements, can be useful when someone is sad, angry or upset. It can help us decide what they need and can help them feel listened to, loved and valued. In this activity, the children practice this by analyzing the characters’ emotions. It will help children build confidence when dealing with difficult or sensitive topics with family and friends. 

Choose a Reader with a diverse range of characters and ask your learner to identify and describe the emotions shown by each character. This activity promotes empathy, communication skills and social-emotional learning.

Need: Love/belonging, Esteem 

4. Guess the scene meditation

This activity is a great exercise for the brain. It helps children to visualize and picture different surroundings in their minds and imagine different smells, sounds and textures, and bring them to life. As the children’s minds are focused on one thing, they begin to relax and feel calm. This activity can be a great tool to use before bedtime to help children fall asleep peacefully.

Guide your learners through a guided meditation where they imagine themselves in different peaceful scenes. You can also ask them to create their own scene and describe it in detail. This activity promotes relaxation, mindfulness and creativity.

Need: Self-actualization, Safety

5. Develop resilience

In every story there is a lesson to be learned, and through this activity children learn how to deal with difficult situations through the characters. It teaches children that although there are hard times in life, if we are patient, work together and show resilience, then we can work through our problems.  

Choose a Reader with characters facing challenges and discuss with your learners how the characters handle the situation. Encourage them to think of ways they can apply this to their own lives when facing difficulties.

Need: Belonging, Esteem 

6. Create an exercise routine

This activity is creative and fun and will get the children moving and laughing at the same time. Physical exercise is so important to our wellbeing, so what is better than doing a workout with your favorite Disney character? The children can do these workouts in small groups, with family or as a class. This activity promotes physical health and social bonding.

Choose a few Disney characters and create simple exercises for each one. You can also use props or make it into a game by having the children take turns being different characters.

Need: Physiological

Read our blog post 'Choosing the right graded readers for young learners'.

Explore our range of readers and get inspired

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    Mindfulness in the classroom: Autopilot and paying attention
    By Amy Malloy
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    In today's digital world, students face constant distractions that can make it difficult to stay focused during lessons. From social media notifications to endless online content, maintaining attention has become one of the biggest challenges in modern education.

    This is where mindfulness in the classroom can make a significant difference. By helping students become more aware of the present moment, mindfulness can strengthen concentration, improve learning outcomes, and support overall wellbeing.

    What is "Autopilot" thinking?

    Have you ever reached the end of a page in a book and realized you can't remember what you just read?

    This experience occurs when the brain slips into a semi-conscious state, often referred to as "autopilot" mode. During autopilot, we continue carrying out tasks while our thoughts drift elsewhere, planning future events, worrying about problems or replaying past experiences.

    While this automatic mode helps us complete routine tasks efficiently, it can also reduce our awareness of what's happening right now. As a result, students may appear present in class while their attention is elsewhere.

    For educators, understanding this tendency is essential because sustained attention is critical for learning, memory formation and academic success.

    Why mindfulness matters in education

    According to mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness means:

    "Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally."

    The key phrase is "on purpose".

    Mindfulness trains students to deliberately focus their attention rather than allowing their minds to wander automatically. Like any skill, attention becomes stronger with practice. Repeated mindfulness exercises help create neural pathways that support concentration and self-awareness.

    For younger children, this is especially important because the brain develops rapidly during the primary school years. Building healthy attention habits early can have lasting benefits throughout education and beyond.

    Benefits of mindfulness in the classroom

    Implementing mindfulness activities in schools can offer several advantages:

    Improved attention span

    Regular mindfulness practice helps students sustain focus for longer periods, making it easier to engage with lessons, reading tasks and independent study.

    Better learning outcomes

    When students pay closer attention, they absorb and retain information more effectively, leading to stronger academic performance.

    Reduced stress and anxiety

    Mindfulness techniques can help students manage exam pressure, classroom stress and emotional challenges by encouraging calm, focused awareness.

    Stronger emotional regulation

    Students become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, helping them respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.

    Enhanced digital wellbeing

    Mindfulness can help counteract the constant distractions created by smartphones, social media and digital devices.

    Why attention skills are more important than ever

    Many educators are concerned about the impact of technology on student concentration. While researchers continue to debate whether overall attention spans are shrinking, there is broad agreement that attention is shaped by habit.

    The brain becomes better at whatever it repeatedly practices.

    If students frequently switch between apps, notifications and multiple streams of information, sustained focus can become more difficult. Conversely, practicing mindful attention strengthens the brain's ability to concentrate on a single task.

    This is particularly important for teenagers. During adolescence, the brain undergoes significant restructuring, strengthening frequently used neural pathways while reducing those that are rarely activated.

    The message is simple: attention is a skill that improves through use.

    Three mindfulness activities for students

    Teachers can introduce mindfulness through simple exercises that fit naturally into the school day.

    1. Mindful technology use

    Help students develop awareness around screen time by encouraging intentional device use.

    Steps:

    1. Pause before using a device.
    2. Notice how you feel.
    3. Decide on a single task to complete.
    4. Visualize the steps required.
    5. Complete the task without distractions.
    6. Put the device away once finished.
    7. Reflect on any urge to continue scrolling.

    2. Mindful eating exercise

    This activity encourages students to engage all their senses and become fully present.

    Ask students to:

    • Observe five things they can see about their snack.
    • Notice five things they can feel.
    • Identify five scents.
    • Slowly taste the food and recognize subtle flavors.
    • Reflect on the experience.

    This exercise develops sensory awareness and helps students practice sustained attention.

    3. Breath counting for focus

    One of the simplest and most effective mindfulness exercises for students.

    Instructions:

    1. Sit comfortably.
    2. Close your eyes or soften your gaze.
    3. Focus on your breathing.
    4. Count each breath from one to ten.
    5. If your mind wanders, gently return attention to the breath.
    6. Repeat as needed.

    Over time, students often find it easier to maintain concentration and remain present.

    How teachers can introduce mindfulness successfully

    Teachers do not need extensive training to begin incorporating mindfulness into lessons. Small, consistent practices often produce the greatest benefits.

    Consider:

    • Starting lessons with a one-minute breathing exercise.
    • Using mindfulness before tests or presentations.
    • Encouraging reflection at the end of lessons.
    • Incorporating mindful listening activities during discussions.
    • Promoting conscious technology use in digital learning environments.

    Consistency is more important than duration. Even a few minutes each day can help students develop stronger focus and self-awareness.

    By helping students move away from autopilot thinking and engage more fully with the present moment, mindfulness supports both academic success and emotional well-being.

    Whether through mindful breathing, mindful eating or conscious technology use, small daily practices can have a lasting impact on how students learn, focus and thrive.

  • A woman studying in a library writing in a book
    Setting boundaries and avoiding burnout as a language learner
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Learning a new language can be exciting. It can also be challenging. Many language learners feel pressure to study every day, learn quickly and reach fluency as soon as possible.

    This pressure can lead to burnout: a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. When you are burned out, studying becomes difficult, stressful and less enjoyable. The good news is that setting healthy boundaries can help you continue learning while protecting your wellbeing.

    What are boundaries?

    Boundaries are limits that help you take care of yourself. They help you decide how much time, energy and attention you can give to something.

    For example, a boundary might be:

    • Studying for only 20 minutes at a time
    • Taking breaks when you feel overwhelmed
    • Saying no to extra language activities when you are tired
    • Not comparing your progress to other learners

    Boundaries are not signs of weakness. They are tools that help you learn in a sustainable way.

    Understand your energy levels

    Many people experience changes in energy and focus throughout the day. Some days you may feel highly motivated. On other days, even a simple lesson may feel difficult.

    Instead of forcing yourself to follow the same schedule every day, try paying attention to your energy levels.

    Ask yourself:

    • When do I focus best?
    • How long can I study before I feel tired?
    • What activities give me energy?
    • What activities drain my energy?

    You may discover that listening to a podcast feels easy, while studying grammar for an hour feels exhausting. This information can help you create a learning routine that works for you.

  • Children sat around a teacher holding a book
    8 children's book ideas for language teachers
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Every year, events like Children's Book Week, World Book Day and others offer excellent opportunities to celebrate reading, imagination and learning. Books enable children to explore new ideas, expand their vocabulary and develop a love for language. For teachers and educators, they offer an opportunity to make reading both fun and memorable.

    Whether you teach young learners, English language learners or multilingual students, you can bring your classroom together through stories. Here are some simple activities to try.

    1. Story reading circle

    Choose a children's book that matches your students' language level. Read the story aloud and encourage students to listen carefully. Use pictures to support understanding and ask simple questions during the reading.

    For example:

    • What do you think will happen next?
    • Who is your favorite character?
    • How is the character feeling?

    This activity helps students practice listening skills and learn new vocabulary in context.

    2. Character drawing and description

    After reading a story, ask students to draw their favorite character. Then have them write a few sentences describing the character.

    Younger learners can use sentence starters such as:

    • My character is...
    • They have...
    • They like...

    This activity combines creativity with reading and writing practice.

    3. Create a new ending

    Invite students to imagine a different ending for the story. They can write a short paragraph, create a comic strip or discuss their ideas in pairs.

    This promotes creative thinking and allows students to meaningfully engage with language.

    4. Book-themed vocabulary hunt

    Choose 10 to 15 key words from the book and create a vocabulary hunt. Students can search for the words in the story and match them with pictures, definitions or translations.

    You can also ask students to use the new words in their own sentences.

    Vocabulary activities help learners remember language more effectively by connecting words to a story they have enjoyed.

    5. Storytelling with pictures

    Select several pictures from the book and display them in a random order. Students work individually or in groups to put the pictures in the correct sequence and retell the story.

    This activity develops speaking skills, sequencing skills and confidence in using language.

    6. Dress as a book character

    If possible, organize a simple book character day. Students can dress as their favorite character or create a paper mask.

    Ask each student to introduce their character to the class by answering questions such as:

    • Who are you?
    • What do you do in the story?
    • Why are you important?

    This is a fun way to practice speaking and presentation skills.

    7. Create a classroom book

    Work together to create a class story. Each student contributes one page with a sentence and an illustration. When all the pages are finished, combine them into a classroom book.

    Students are often proud to see their work become part of a real book. It also helps them understand how stories are created.

    8. Book recommendations wall

    Encourage students to share books they enjoy. They can write a short recommendation and add it to a classroom display.

    Here's a simple template with questions for pupils to complete:

    • What's the book title?
    • Who's your favorite character?
    • Why do you recommend this book?

    This activity promotes reading while giving students a purpose for writing.

    Celebrate the joy of reading

    Book-related events go beyond just celebrating books. They are a means of curiosity, creativity and language learning. Simple activities can motivate students to read more, discover new ideas and gain confidence in their language skills. By nurturing positive reading experiences, teachers help students develop lifelong habits that support their learning journey. Regardless of learners' age or language proficiency, a good story can unlock a world of opportunities.