School journal selling well
A children’s journal produced by five innovative women in Southland is to be marketed nationally and possibly overseas.
The five – Kim Hill, Helen Tufui, Tara McIntosh, Michal Gray and Susan Brookland – have children at Myross Bush School and are on the friends of the school committee.
Noticing an increase in anxiety in children nationally prompted the women to produce a journal on ways to enhance the wellbeing and creativity of children at primary and intermediate school age. High profile Kiwis contributed to the journal, This Is Me, Journal for Kids, with motivational comments and stating what inspired them.
Among the contributors were Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, rugby great Richie McCaw, boxer Joseph Parker, movie maker Peter Jackson and athlete Eliza McCartney. ‘‘They’ve been amazing with what they have contributed,’’ Hill said.
During Ardern’s visit to Invercargill last week, she met some of the women and was given a copy of the journal.
A variety of topics are covered in the journal including questionnaires on what your favourite food and TV programmes are, instructions on learning sign language, cake decorating advice, listing what you are good at, how to create a time capsule, list hobbies, colouring in pages, design a tree house, acts of kindness and recipes.
‘‘[The journal] is to make children feel good about themselves,’’ Hill said.
‘‘It’s a tool, to sit down and think about themselves and how to help others.’’
The women held many meetings this year to discuss content for the journal before a draft was given to their children for feedback. The first batch of books arrived in November, with many of them pre-sold.
Nearly half of the 4000 copies printed have been sold and money from sales will be put towards the construction of a building to house a science laboratory and kitchen for cooking lessons.