AustLit

'Hi I'm Alfie! I'm a little ant whose antennae are wired! I'm a fun guy with boundless energy. I'm always on the go. I often fidget and have difficulty staying seated. I find it difficult to wait my turn. When this happens, I might interrupt others' conversations and games. I don't always think about the consequences of my actions, I just act! This gets me into a spot of trouble. My actions can annoy or frustrate others. Controlling energy for learning and play can be difficult for some children. The story, Stay in Line, can help children learn about energy control, focused listening, and the importance of 'self-talk' to guide behaviours.' (Publication summary)

'Hi I'm Iris! I'm a little ant with floppy antennae! I guess you could say that I'm a bit of a daydreamer. I can't keep my mind on the job! I often get distracted and tire easily when doing hard or uninteresting work. Organising my thinking is tricky for me. When this happens, I might not know where or how to start a task. I may make mistakes and leave work unfinished. Others might get cross with me and think that I lack motivation. It's not that I'm lazy; it's just that I don't know how to pay attention and stay focused. This is really challenging for me. Control of attention for learning can be an effort for some children. The story, Mind on the Job, can help children learn how to control attention and tune in to focus.' (Publication summary)

'Hi I'm Hugo! I'm a little ant who gets his antennae in a twist! I am a great guy with good intentions, but sometimes I just get it 'wrong'. I find it difficult to read others. My view of the social world is not always clear, as I do not always focus my attention to the most important social information. This means that I may not be aware of others' thought and feelings. It can be difficult for me to understand situations, know what to expect, and know why others react the way they do. I may not get the social subtleties. Without even meaning to, I can annoy someone, hurt others' feelings or just cause confusion. The social world can be a confusing and frustrating place for some children. The story, Pick Your Moment, can help children learn how to tune in to others.' (Publication summary)

'Hi I'm Me-me! I'm a little ant whose antennae point inwards! I guess you could say that I can be 'all about me'! I often focus on my own wants and likes and find it hard to understand the perspective of others. I like things to go my way! I can become annoyed and frustrated when they don't. I may try to control the games I play with my friends, become focused on winning or have difficulty taking turns. Sometimes I don't recognise or understand others' feelings, thoughts and wants. When this happens, my friends may feel left out and annoyed. Sometimes my thinking can get 'stuck on my own agenda' and when this happens I can become emotional. Difficulty taking others' perspectives makes it tricky for some children to have positive and meaningful interactions with peers. The story, Name of the Game, can help children learn how to tune in socially.' (Publication summary)

'Hi I'm Felix! I'm a little ant whose antennae fire up! I am a great guy but I guess you could say that I am 'quick to anger'. I really enjoy spending time with my friends and I usually get along with others. I don't want to lose my temper; it's just that I have trouble controlling myself when I get mad. When I am teased, when I lose a game, or when I am asked to stop doing something I like doing, I fire up! When this happens I might hurt others with my words or actions. I don't always stop to think about the consequences or how my actions affect others, I just act! Because of my quick explosive reactions, others might avoid me or 'push my buttons'. The social world can be a difficult place for some children as their fiery reactions often attract negative attention. The story, Seeing Red, can help children learn how to take control of anger and feel good again.' (Publication summary)

'Hi I'm Felix! I'm a little ant whose antennae fire up! I am a great guy but I guess you could say that I am 'quick to anger'. I really enjoy spending time with my friends and I usually get along with others. I don't want to lose my temper; it's just that I have trouble controlling myself when I get mad. When I am teased, when I lose a game, or when I am asked to stop doing something I like doing, I fire up! When this happens I might hurt others with my words or actions. I don't always stop to think about the consequences or how my actions affect others, I just act! Because of my quick explosive reactions, others might avoid me or 'push my buttons'. The social world can be a difficult place for some children as their fiery reactions often attract negative attention. The story, Seeing Red, can help children learn how to take control of anger and feel good again.' (Publication summary)