A great technique which can be used by all ages; a tangible method to find some positive within the negative.

Kids often respond well to this simple exercise.

The basic principle is that anything bad or negative is balanced by positive or good. Nothing bad lasts forever

and if you look you will often find something good or something to be thankful for in most situations. It also reminds us that we have the power to look at things differently and the choice of how we react to things and what we will do about them.

If that all sounds a bit complex or 'deep' then the KISS principle is take a bad thing and do what you can to bring out the good.

This is what you need.

• Paper
• Pen
• Plant pot
• Potting mix
• Seed (one that grows easily and quickly- maybe Pumpkin or Nasturtium or Marigold)

(This can be used with the "Bad-Things Box - see link - or it can be an activity to be done anytime)

What to do

The child (or adult for that matter) writes or draws about something which is upsetting them (maybe a dream/problem/issue at school, even issues of grief and loss can be addressed this way)

The paper can be folded up and kept for a while in a closed box or it can be destroyed straight away (burning is effective as it is so quick but ripping it up in small pieces is good or soaking it in water and then tearing up. If burning it must be done in a safe manner which saves the ashes - i use an old metal pot out in the garden.)

It is important to explain that the burning is not magically making the problem go away- rather it is taking control of it and changing it.

The ashes are then mixed with potting soil and a little slow release fertiliser (like osmocote) and placed in a pot.

Plant a seed in the mix and keep it moist in a warm place.

Meaning

When the little plant appears consider it as something positive coming from the negative. The ashes will help to fertilise its growth. If the exercise was done due to grief or loss the plant  can be seen as a memorial (it can even continue season after season if its seeds are saved and replanted etc).

I have found this helpful for both young and old.