The Blue Day Book For Kids

Main Message: This Project Cornerstone book of the month shows kids that having a bad day happens to everyone, and with a little effort and creativity, we can make those days more positive. The impact of this book gives students practical tips to help them turn their blue day around, thereby building basic life coping skills.

Switch Directions and Turn Your Blue Day Around!

The Blue Day Book for Kids by Bradley Greive was selected after the 2005 countywide developmental assets survey revealed that 55% of students in the 4th and 5th grades reported being "sad or depressed in the last two weeks." Their latest survey results show that 35% of students felt this way. Young people need relationships and experiences that help them view discomfort, sadness and obstacles as temporary and fixable.

There are four goals for January's Cornerstone:

• Empower children to practice specific skills so that they influence the things that happen to them.

• View disappointment and sadness as temporary and fixable states.

• Act and switch directions so that the outcome of their day is changed.

• Notice the feelings of others and learn ways to help someone else feel better on a blue day.

Below are steps to help your child change how they feel when they want to get out of a blue mood:

1. Accept and name your feelings. For example, say to yourself, "I am sad." "I am scared."
2. ​Remind yourself that this feeling is temporary. You will feel happy again. Look to caring adults for support. Take steps to put a lid on your bucket.
3. Relax and take a time out before you act. Take slow deep breaths and count to ten, relaxing all the muscles in your body. Get ready to choose the way you respond.
4. Think about ways to help move out of your mood. Use positive self-talk to make a plan.
5. Do something to switch directions and change the way your feel. Talk to a caring adult or friend or play an active game. Think of the one thing that makes you really happy. We hope you talk with your child about The Blue Day Book for Kids

To reinforce the message at home:

• Model the behavior of positive self-talk and switching directions when you are in a blue mood
• Bust the Blues by making sure everyone in the family does the following:

• Get enough sleep

• Eat healthy food

• Exercise a little every day

• Fill each other's buckets!