There’s a sea in my bedroom

David was frightened of the sea. One day, when collecting shells at the beach, he found a conch shell. His father told him he could hear the sea inside and when David listened, he could hear it, soft and growly, and he wasn’t afraid. He took the shell home and felt sorry for the sea, stuck inside the shell so he told it to come out. Then, there was a sea in his bedroom and he had lots of fun playing in it but when his parents entered the room, the sea was gone and David was dry. He was no longer afraid of the sea.

Talk about the colours and shapes of the sea shells with the children. Have they ever collected shells? What did they look like? Where do shells come from? Have they ever held their ear to a conch shell? It would be great if you could organise one for them to try this out. Can we hear something if he hold other things to our ears? What can we hear?

David is afraid of the sea. Do you think it might be good to be afraid in some situations? When is fear good for us and when is it bad? How can we overcome our fears? What are you afraid of? Is there anything you used to be afraid of but you no longer are? Why not?