Lizzy's Ups and Downs
What’s inside...
Lizzy tells her mother all about her up and down feelings at. school that day.
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Lizzy felt when her plans didn't go as she expected?
Can you think of a time when something didn't go your way? How did you handle it?
Lizzy had many ups and downs in the story. What is something good that happened to her?
What are some ways Lizzy could cope with her feelings when she's having a 'down' day?
Why is it important to have both ups and downs in life?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use empathetic listening to connect with your child’s feelings about the book. Acknowledge their emotions and relate them to Lizzy’s experiences.
Encourage your child to draw parallels between their experiences and Lizzy’s, fostering a deeper understanding of the story’s themes.
Discuss the importance of resilience and positive thinking, emphasizing how Lizzy navigated her challenges.
Ask open-ended questions that prompt your child to think critically about the story and how it applies to their own life.
Celebrate both the ups and downs in the story, helping your child understand that life is a mix of both happy and challenging moments.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing Change
Explanation: Lizzy faces various changes, such as a new sibling and moving to a new home. Through her experiences, she learns to adapt and accept change.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to approach changes in their own lives, such as starting a new school or adjusting to a new family dynamic, with positivity and resilience.
Example Lesson: Expressing Emotions
Explanation: Throughout the book, Lizzy expresses a range of emotions from joy to sadness and learns it's okay to express how she feels.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of verbalizing their feelings and understanding that all emotions are valid and part of life.
Example Lesson: Valuing Friendship
Explanation: Lizzy learns the importance of friendship as she navigates ups and downs with her friends.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the significance of being a good friend and how to nurture friendships even during difficult times.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: Lizzy encounters problems such as a missing toy and learns to think critically to solve these problems.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to develop and apply problem-solving skills in everyday situations, from conflicts with peers to challenges in schoolwork.
Example Lesson: Understanding Others
Explanation: As Lizzy interacts with different characters, she learns to empathize and see situations from others' perspectives.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this understanding of empathy in interacting with people in school, understanding siblings, or when dealing with conflicts.