Building Emotionally Resilient Children: Why Summer Is the Perfect Time to Discover Hero Cards®

The summer holidays offer families a welcome opportunity to slow down, spend quality time together and create lasting memories. But for many children, the long break from school can also bring challenges. Changes in routine, worries about friendships, family holidays, or the thought of starting a new school year can all trigger feelings that children struggle to understand or express.

As September approaches, parents and teachers often notice children becoming anxious about returning to the classroom, meeting new teachers or navigating unfamiliar situations. Helping children develop emotional resilience before these worries become overwhelming is something Bath psychologist Dr Emmie Fulton believes should be part of every child's journey.

A New Way to Talk About Big Feelings

A psychologist, trained cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) expert and mother of three, Dr Fulton has created Hero Cards®, an innovative card-based toolkit designed to help children aged 6 to 12 build confidence, understand their emotions and develop healthy coping strategies in a way that is both engaging and accessible. The idea grew from years of working with adults and recognising how many emotional challenges could have been addressed much earlier in life with the right support.

"Emotional strength is a skill, and we can teach it," says Dr Fulton. "Hero Cards® turns evidence-based psychology into something simple, playful and accessible for every family."

The timing couldn't be more important. Recent figures show that more than one million children in England were referred for mental health support between 2024 and 2025, while one in five children is likely to experience a mental health problem during childhood. Around half of all mental health conditions begin before the age of 14, highlighting the importance of giving children emotional tools before difficulties have a chance to grow.

Making the Most of the Summer Holidays

Unlike worksheets or structured therapy sessions, Hero Cards® encourages conversations through storytelling and imaginative play. The beautifully illustrated deck includes 49 cards, divided into five colour-coded categories, guiding children through a simple emotional journey that can be completed in about 10 minutes.

Children choose a hero, follow their adventure through everyday situations such as worry, jealousy or sadness, identify the emotions their character experiences, recognise unhelpful habits and discover practical "superpowers" that help them manage difficult feelings.

The relaxed pace of the summer holidays makes it the ideal time to introduce these conversations naturally. Whether used on a rainy afternoon at home, during a family holiday, while camping or before bedtime, Hero Cards® creates opportunities for children to open up without pressure. Because the activities feel like play rather than lessons, they can encourage conversations that might otherwise never happen.

Importantly, parents don't need any background in psychology to use the cards. Grounded in CBT principles, they have been designed to be intuitive and accessible, with prompts that guide families through each activity with confidence.

A Valuable Resource for the New School Year

Every Hero Cards® pack also includes a personalised progress map, stickers, a Hero Backpack Card and access to an online Members' Portal featuring professionally narrated audio stories, guided relaxation exercises, downloadable activities and videos from Dr Fulton, helping children revisit the skills again and again.

As schools prepare for the new academic year, Hero Cards® could also become a valuable addition to classrooms. The return to school can be an anxious time for many pupils, particularly those moving into a new year group or transitioning to a different school. Resources that promote emotional literacy and resilience can help children settle more quickly and feel ready to learn.

Developed with teachers, psychologists and families, Hero Cards® has already attracted interest from schools, with a pilot programme taking place in the Bath area this autumn. School resource packs, together with Teen and SEND editions, are also in development, reflecting the growing recognition that emotional wellbeing deserves a central place in education.

Supporting Children for Life

For educators, Hero Cards® offers a practical way to support PSHE lessons, wellbeing sessions, nurture groups and pastoral care. Rather than waiting until a child is struggling, the cards encourage a preventative approach, helping children understand their emotions and develop healthy coping strategies from an early age.

For parents, they provide something equally valuable: a simple way to spend meaningful time together while equipping children with skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom.

As families across the South West enjoy the final weeks of summer and teachers prepare to welcome pupils back in September, Hero Cards® offers a timely reminder that emotional wellbeing is one of the most important foundations for a happy childhood. Giving children the confidence to recognise, understand and manage their feelings today can help shape healthier, more resilient adults tomorrow.

Hero Cards® is available now from www.loveherocards.com for £45 and includes free UK delivery and access to its digital Members' Portal. While designed as a practical emotional wellbeing resource, it is intended to complement—not replace—professional mental health support where needed.