For Carers
Listening Beneath the Waves
Why This Matters
Children and adolescents often feel things deeply but don’t yet have all the words to describe them. These cards, inspired by Children of the Atolls / Atholhuge Dharin, help young people explore their feelings through reflection, drawing, and gentle conversation.
As a carer, you don’t have to fix everything. Your role is to listen, notice, and remind them that feelings, even the hard ones, come and go like tides.
How You Can Use This Pack
- Share one card after a long day or before bedtime; talk or draw together.
- Let your child choose which card to start with. They’ll know what they need.
- Keep it short (5–10 minutes). What matters is connection, not perfection.
- Ask curious questions instead of giving advice:
- “What made you think of that?”
- “Where do you feel that in your body?”
- “What helped last time?”
- Use local stories or island moments, like the sea at low tide, a calm morning walk, or planting coral, to help them see emotions as natural and changeable. Imaginary ones or superpowers work too. Choose what your child identifies with.
- Model reflection yourself. You can say: “I had a hard day too. When I took a deep breath and went for a walk, it helped me feel calmer.”
If Your Child Is Struggling
If your child or teenager shows signs of withdrawal, hopelessness, or self-destructive behaviour
- Let them know they’re not alone, and help is available.
- Stay close, listen without judgment, and keep communication open.
Reach out to trusted professionals or services
- National Mental Health Department (NMHD): 1425, a 24-hour helpline
- School counsellor or health worker
- Local atoll hospital or island health centre
- National Centre for Mental Health, IGMH
Small Things That Help
- Regular sleep, meals, hydration, movement, and time outdoors
- Encouraging routines
- Encouraging creative outlets: art, writing, music, crafts
- Encouraging physical activities and sports
- Family rituals: cooking together, shared chores, quiet time, prayers
- Remember: when caregivers model calm, children learn it’s possible to find it too.
You are your child’s first safe shore, and every time you pause, listen, or stay steady beside them, you help them build their own toolbox for life.
It is a process with lots of trial and error. The important thing is to keep trying. Even in small ways, you are part of the tide that steadies them.
