*Scroll down for English*
Stori syml sy'n esbonio'r firws i blant ifanc!
Social story that explains coronavirus to children!
Free bilingual e-book.
Genre: Social story / stori gymdeithasol
Gwerth addysgiadol/educational value: ◉◉◉◉◎
Negeseuon positif/positive messages: ◉◉◉◉◎
Themau trist,anodd/upsetting, tough themes: ◉◉◎◎◎
Trais, ofn/violence, scary: ◉◎◎◎◎
Iaith gref/language: ◎◎◎◎◎
Rhyw/sex: ◎◎◎◎◎
Hiwmor/humour: ◎◎◎◎◎
Her darllen/reading difficulty:: ◉◉◎◎◎
Pwy sydd wedi cael cwestiynau anodd gan eu plant yn ddiweddar? “Mami
pryd gawni fynd allan i’r parc eto?” “Pa bryd mae Nain a Taid yn dod rownd eto?” “Pryd dwi’n mynd nôl i’r ysgol?” Ia, cwestiynau da iawn - ond rhai sy’n andros o anodd ei hateb! Mewn gwirionedd, ‘da ni ddim wedi gweld cyfyngiadau ar ein rhyddid fel hyn ers Yr Ail Ryfel Byd - a hyd yn oed bryd hynny, dwi ddim yn cofio sôn am bobl yn gaeth i’w tai bob dydd. Gall hwn fod yn gyfnod ansicr, pryderus a dryslyd iawn i blant bach a phobl ifanc gan eu bod nhw’n hiraethu am eu ffrindiau a’u teulu ac yn crefu am jest gael “routine” bywyd arferol yn ôl.
Mi gafodd un Fam, Lauren Cooper, gwestiynau gan ei mab am y coronavirus, a doedd hi ddim yn siŵr iawn sut i’w hateb. Gan ei fod o’n caru llyfrau, a doedd dim byd ar gael ar y farchnad, fe benderfynodd hi esbonio pethau’n gliriach drwy ‘sgwennu stori a chyhoeddi llyfr ei hun!
Mae ‘Social stories’ wedi cael eu defnyddio mewn cyd-destun addysg arbennig ers blynyddoedd lawer, yn aml i helpu esbonio teimladau ac ati i blant ar y sbectrwm awtistiaeth. Wedi dweud hyn, dwi’n meddwl fod straeon a llyfrau yn ffordd arbennig o esbonio cysyniadau i blant ifanc ar unrhyw adeg! Yn enwedig pan mae’r pwnc dan sylw mor gymhleth a sensitif a’r firws felltith ‘ma. Mae esbonio rhywbeth mor frawychus, ond mewn ffordd sy’n ddealladwy ac addas i blant yn gamp yn ei hun.
Mae Lauren wedi bod yn gweithio’n galed i sgwennu a dylunio’r stori ei hun, ac mae’n edrych yn broffesiynol iawn rhaid i mi ddweud. Blynyddoedd yn ôl, mi fasa hyn wedi bod yn amhosib, erbyn heddiw, yr unig beth sydd ei angen arnoch ydi laptop, Canva a dipyn bach o ddychymyg! ( a mymryn o sgil TGCH ac amynedd yn amlwg!)
Dwi wrth fy modd gyda’r teitl! Y Firws Drewllyd. Dyma’n union sut dwi’n teimlo am y peth! Mae’r stori yn dilyn hanes y firws, ac yn ei bortreadu fel cymeriad yn ei hun. Mae ‘na drafodaeth am rai o oblygiadau cymdeithasol y firws ac mae esboniad syml o pam fod hyn i gyd yn digwydd. Dwi’n hoff iawn o’r ffaith fod hi wedi dewis gorffen y stori ar nodyn positif, gyda’r firws yn mynd i ffwrdd! HWRE! Er bod yr adeg yna’n teimlo’n bell i ffwrdd ar hyn o bryd, dwi’n meddwl fod hi’n bwysig iawn i ni gael ‘chydig o obaith y bydd hyn YN dod i ben yn y pen draw.
Oes, mae 'na naws ‘homemade’ i’r peth, a tydi’r gramadeg ddim yn berffaith, ond s’dim ots! Mae’r lluniau lliwgar a’r stori syml yn gwneud hwn yn berffaith fel stori cyn mynd i’r gwely. Mae’n rhoi ‘ffordd i mewn’ er mwyn cychwyn trafodaeth gyda’ch plentyn am yr holl sefyllfa. Byddai’n ddiddorol gweld hyn drwy lygaid plentyn!
Fersiwn PDF Cymraeg a Saesneg ar gael i’w lawrlwytho isod!
Tybed os bydd gan wasg ddiddordeb mewn cyhoeddi llyfr Lauren yn iawn?!
Who’s had some difficult corona-related questions from their children recently? "Mami, when can we go out to the park again?" "When are Nain and Taid coming round again?" "When do I go back to school?" Yes, very valid questions -but ones that are difficult to answer! In fact, we have not seen restrictions on our freedom in this manner since the Second World War- and even then, I don't remember people being confined to their houses day after day. This can be a very worrying and confusing time for children and young people because they long for their friends and family and yearn to have life’s little ‘routines’ back.
One Mum, Lauren Cooper, had questions from her son about the coronavirus, and she wasn't very sure how to answer them. Because he loves books, and there was nothing available on the market, she decided to explain things more clearly by writing a story of her own!
'Social Stories ' have been used in a special education context for many years, often to help explain feelings and so on for children on the autistic spectrum. Having said this, I think stories and books are a brilliant way of explaining concepts to young children at any time! Especially when the subject matter is as complex and sensitive as this virus pandemic. To explain something as frightening, but in a way that’s understandable and child-friendly, is an achievement in itself.
Lauren has been busy writing and designing the story itself, and it looks very professional I must say. Years ago, this would have proved impossible, but nowadays, the only thing you need is a laptop, Canva and a little bit of imagination! (of and some ICT skills and patience of course!)
I love the title! The Stinky Sticky Virus. This is exactly how I feel about it! The story follows recent events regarding the virus, and portrays it as a character in itself. There’s discussion about some of the social implications of the virus and there’s a simple explanation of why this is all happening. I love the fact that she chose to finish the story on a positive note, with the virus going away! WOHOOO! Even though this feels very far away at the moment, I think it's very important for us to have a little ‘hope’ and knowing that this WILL end eventually!
Yes, there's a 'homemade' feel to it, and the Welsh grammar isn't perfect, but who cares really! The colourful pictures and the simple story make this the perfect story to share at bedtime. It gives parents ‘a way in’ to start a discussion with your child about the whole situation. It would be very interesting to see this whole thing through a child's eyes!
English and Welsh PDF versions available to download below!
I wonder if a publishing company may be interested in Lauren's book?!