One a Penny, Two a Penny (2025:7)
Notes, Thoughts, and Notions
Dear Everyone (paying, free, followers and friends)!
Hello and Welcome!
Great News! I have been commissioned by Nick Hern Books to write a new book called ‘Drama Games for Children with Struggles and Muddles’ – if I get my skates on it will be published at the end of next year – 2026; let’s hope we can get a pre-order agreement.
I’m reading right now a fabulous new book called ‘Inside your Brain’ by Lee Ann Unwin and Professor Caswell Barry, published in 2025 by Thames and Hudson. The sub-title is ‘10 Discoveries that Reveal how the Brain Works’ and we are taken on a detailed journey through the important discoveries about our brains. It is child friendly and accessible, beautifully and graphically illustrated by Maria Jesus Contreras. Strongly recommended for 9-years upwards, and it will stimulate growing interest in our brain function as well as giving insights into how it all works.
This is a great book to read in conjunction with ‘Wonderfully Wired Brains’ written by Louise Gooding, illustrated by Ruth Burrows, and published in 2023 by Dorling Kindersley (Penguin Random House). The illustrations really enhance the text and make the world of neurodivergence more understandable and accessible. It explains the brain science is several types of neurodivergence, as well as putting it in a historical context. It is especially helpful for people who imagine that it has all happened NOW! In fact, we learn the condition of ADHD was first observed in 1775 by a German physician and philosopher called Melchior Adam Weikard. Although some of his observations have been shown to be incorrect, nevertheless there are similarities between his work and what we know about ADHD today.
Please remember we have launched a weekday modules for our online Diploma course on Neuro-Dramatic-Play. People can sign up for weekdays, day or evening, and leave their weekends free for playing!
And… to enable us to celebrate last week’s International Day of Play, there is a 20% reduction on the NDP Diploma courses during June and July. So, we are looking forward to seeing you, wherever you reside!
And, as always, I finish with a story, which I send you with love and which, like all these stories, you can use in therapeutic settings (you’ll find my suggested activities at the end). It is a story about generosity, love, warmth and light; my thanks as always to the many cultures that allow us to share their stories.
Be kind to yourselves and keep playing!
Dr Sue
Fetching the Fire from the Underworld
A Story from the Mediterranean
Everyone was cold and miserable as they had no fire. They had to eat their food raw and huddle together to keep warm. There was nothing they could do in the evenings unless the moon happened to be shining very brightly.
One day, one of them suggested that they go and ask advice from St Anthony who lived a little way out of the village with his pet pig. He was working in his vegetable garden as they approached. ‘Saint Anthony, Sir, we need to ask your advice. Everyone in the village is very miserable because they are so cold. Can you help us get some fire?’
St Anthony thought for a moment and said, ‘Go back to the village and gather together a large pile of wood. If I am successful, I will come and see you before sundown.’ The little group went back home, excited as they thought St Anthony might just solve their difficulty.
Meanwhile, St Anthony put on his cloak, took his long staff and started on a journey to the underworld, accompanied by his pig. It was a difficult journey going down, down, into a very deep valley and then down again. At last, he reached the door to Hades and knocked on the door with his staff. A small devil opened the door a crack and then shut it, saying ‘We don’t want visitors.’ Seeing the pig, it opened the door again and welcomed them in, shouting ‘Roast pig, roast pig’ to all the other little devils. Soon there was chaos as the devils were chasing the pig, the pig was knocking everything over, and Anthony just lent on his staff, slowly turning it round in the fire. There was such mayhem that nobody noticed!
The little devils became more and more hysterical and Anthony said to his pig, ‘I think we had better go, I don’t want them to catch you!’ They both made a quick exit and started the long climb home. They reached the village and everyone was waiting. They had built the large pile of wood and Anthony thrust his staff into the centre and it immediately burst into flames. Everyone was very excited and began to dance.
‘Now,’ said St Anthony, ‘light some branches and take them to the other villages so they too can share your fire.’ This they did so gladly, and Anthony and his pig went quietly back to their house and garden. There had been quite enough excitement for one day.
Reflections and activities:
1. Imagine you are feeling cold and you huddle with others as there is no fire.
2. Create some exercises for the people in the village to cheer them up – maybe they could lead into a dance.
3. What might the door to Hades look like? Create it in paint or collage.
4. Draw a picture of a little devil dancing.
5. Create a drama of the villagers discussing the lack of fire and deciding to ask St. Antony’s help.
6. Remember the chaos caused by the little red devils chasing the pig? How would you turn that into a play and show the calm of Anthony and the chaos of the devils and the pig?
Next week’s essential ‘Whistlestop’ Webinar
Just the right thing if you are looking for extra CPD or only have time for brief encounters, wherever you are!
This webinar includes a copy of my book Managing Social Anxiety in Children and Young People - Practical Activities for Reducing Stress and Building Self-esteem, RRP £33.99
And don’t forget that if you’re one of my Substack subscribers you can attend the below webinar for FREE. See the last newsletter for your access code or email us.
NDP and Social Anxiety in Children & Young People
Monday 23 June, 1200-1400 (UK time)
Friday 27 June, 0900-1100 (UK Time)
Dr Sue presents this webinar and introduces a new approach for working with anxious children and young people to help them develop social skills and reduce stress. This 'Whistlestop' webinar will be of interest to teachers, teaching assistants, care workers, clinicians, therapists, parents, and all professionals involved in the support and development of children and young people.