Harnessing the power of positive thinking
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A diary project aimed at encouraging children to think about their physical and mental health has caught the imagination of online supporters, who helped its creators hit their £3000 Kickstarter target with days to spare.
The successful appeal will allow Finella Annand and Joy Chen to go ahead with an initial print run of 200 copies of their growth mindset diary.
Miss Annand and Miss Chen started work on the diary when the initial Covid-19 lockdown paused their coaching business, EQ Sports.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle women's team player Miss Annand said: "We have written programmes that we have used in schools and we wanted to create a resource kids could use at home. So when we weren't coaching through lockdown, that was the perfect time to start putting it together and it's something that has been needed more than ever in the past year."
Aimed at children aged between six and 12, the diary provides children with 30 growth mindset topics and 30 exercise challenges to encourage a change in daily habits that can have a lasting impact.
With childhood obesity continuing to rise, and childhood mental health issues becoming more prevalent as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, these issues raised in the diary have taken on a new topically, and perhaps explains the response to the Kickstarter appeal with all those pledging money receiving copies.
Miss Annand revealed: "Some people have donated books to those who need them most, which is amazing. Some have even donated packs of 10 to youth groups and ee are in the process of linking up with MFR's Cash for Kids to get them out to those who need it most, so it's really good that some people have done that."
Once copies have been printed by Merkinch-based charity For the Right Reasons and the Kickstarter pledges are fulfilled, copies will be available through Amazon and other outlets, including hopefully bookshops.
The authors get then start looking ahead to the next stage, such as producing a version for older children
"We have lots of ideas going forward," Miss Annand said.
"Once you get the initial idea, it sparks others, such as more specific journals for sport or even writing books to inspire young female athletes, showing the steps someone like Rachel McLauchlan, who is from here and has just signed for Rangers Women, went through to achieve that success."
For more information on My Healthy Happy Diary including how to obtain a copy, go to www.myhealthyhappydiary.co.uk
