Pillow Chat Diary

This is another extension of our support around mental health. It is a resource which is specifically designed to support children’s emotional wellbeing.

The Pillow Chat Diary is a little book which offers children the chance to share worries and fears without the need to talk face to face. Children simply write in the diary and slip it under their pillow where their trusted adult can then find it and respond.

It comes from the experience of supporting teenage children living with a parent with incurable cancer, but will have relevance to any child living with uncertainty, fear and anxiety – regardless of the cause. It allows children to explain how they are feeling and ask questions they just can’t ask face to face as this often too intimidating.

It may well be that the child’s trusted adult is someone in a different setting such as school so it has the potential for uses across different spectrums. The Pillow Chat Diary can offer invaluable support for a child and also a reassuring communication channel for the trusted adult in their life.

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Families Together Service, part of Hull Churches' Home from Hospital Service

"Benna Skelton & Laura Gell support and care for local families undergoing treatment for cancer. They are always looking at ways to develop and improve their resources to help the children they work with to express themselves at a difficult time in their childhood. They describe this as an invaluable resource to the Families Together service."

Geoff McDonald, global consultant, advocate and campaigner – mental health, and co-founder of Minds at Work (www.mindsatworkmovement.com)

"I often reflect and wish that while growing up I had the opportunity to talk more about my feelings, but also recognise and understand them. In some ways it could have been my emotional and mental “hygiene". I was taught dental hygiene, but nobody ever taught me emotional and mental hygiene. The Pillow Chat Diary is a wonderful and very pragmatic approach to helping children learn and talk about their emotions, which becomes so important when feeling the stresses and strains of everyday life. Being able to talk and understand our feelings is essential in maintaining good mental and emotional health. I also just love the simplicity of the diary and the love and care it feels like it is “wrapped” in."

Rebekah Palmer, CBT Therapist at Hull and East Yorkshire Mind (www.heymind.org.uk)

"The Pillow Chat Diary is a fantastic idea, and one that I am sure will be useful for many families. Children and young people often find it difficult to talk about their feelings with their family, and this is a great way to make it easier to talk. I will certainly be suggesting this to families that I work with."

Katy Cowell – Abbie’s Fund www.abbiesfund.co.uk

"Abbie’s Fund are so grateful to be able to use the Pillow Chat Diaries in the memory boxes we provide for older children who have lost a sibling or a parent. We feel they will be an invaluable tool to help children to express their worries and fears in a safe way and seek comfort and support from someone close at a very sad, confusing and emotional time. Thank you so much Sam and team!!"

The diary is available from the Fitmums and Friends shop (fitmums.org.uk/shop) but if you know any child in need who might not be able to access this then please let us know info@fitmums.org.uk