Seasons for Growth (SFG)

What does it do?

Seasons for Growth aims to strengthen the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people (aged 6-18) who are dealing with significant life changes by:

• Exploring the impact of the change and loss on everyday life

• Learning new ways to respond to these changes

Who is it for?

Anyone who is living with the effects of change and loss. Many factors can cause change such as:

• Friends can come and go

• Parents and families separate

• Bereavement

Change affects everyone differently, as does grief. It’s the impact of the change, not the evert itself that Seasons for Growth focuses on.

How does it work?

Seasons for Growth is a small group programme that combines psychology and education with peer support, within a person centered learning approach. It uses the metaphor of the seasons to explore the cyclic nature of grief, and is underpinned by William Worden’s tasks of grieving. The Children and Young People’s programme contains developmentally appropriate discussions and activities. Seasons for Growth normalises participants’ experiences and can increase protective factors (including building personal resilience and social skills) while minimising some risk factors (including isolation) that influence mental health and wellbeing. The programme also supports the development of communication, decision making and problem solving skills.

How is it delivered?

The programme is run over 8 sessions with small groups of 4-7 participants and is facilitated by trained adult ‘Companions’. The participants are provided with a safe space to learn, share and reflect and are supported by richly illustrated participant journals. Companions may be school staff or other suitable adults who have undertaken a two-day training workshop and receive subsequent accreditation from Seasons for Growth to deliver the programme.

Outcomes

Seasons for Growth provides support and space for children and young people to:

• Learn about how different people respond to change, loss and grief

• Integrate their new learning into their relationships with family, friends and others

What do Children, Young People and Parents in Argyll and Bute say?

Feedback gathered from children and parents involved in Seasons for Growth groups in 2021 and 2022:

• “I’m not the only one whose family has changed” Girl, age 8

• “It’s okay to have big feelings” Girl, age 9

• “I learned I can handle loss in my family”  Boy, age 7

• “My child has now got tools to help regulate feelings and can talk about them” Parent

• “My daughter is more confident and is talking more to people about her feelings” Parent

Seasons for Growth has been evaluated extensively over the last 15 years. The most recent research was also conducted in Scotland. Helpful reviews are:

• Newell, S., & Moss, A. (2011). Supporting children and young people through change, loss and grief: An evaluation of the Seasons for Growth program. Report prepared for Good Grief (Australia).

• Riley, A. (2012). Exploring the effects of the ‘Seasons for Growth’ intervention for pupils experiencing change and loss. Educational and Child Psychology, 29(3), 38.

• Robertson, N., McPherson, K., Murray, D., Montgomery, A., Shaver, I., and Gardner, A. (2017). ‘Improving health and wellbeing for children and young people who have experienced loss, change and bereavement’. Educational Psychology in Scotland, Vol 18 pp 2-5.

Two new Seasons toolkits have been developed which are suitable for use with all children and young people. These are free online learning resources which include discussion prompts to support children and young people to understand and manage the social and emotional impact of the covid-19 pandemic. The resources include some mindful grounding techniques to help calm big feelings.

‘Rockhoppers’ is aimed at primary age children and ‘Riding the Waves of Change’ is aimed at Primary 7 and secondary age pupils. Ann Graham, author of Seasons for Growth, partnered with the MacKillop Institute to develop these materials.

• Seasons Toolkit: Rockhoppers | The MacKillop Institute

• Seasons Toolkit: Riding the Waves of Change | The MacKillop Institute

Children and Young People Programme Companion training is delivered over two days. The training can now be delivered online and we are able to offer this training for free for staff within Argyll and Bute, please note there are costs associated with buying manuals and journals. Please discuss with your Head Teacher and contact Psychological Service if you would like to be trained as a Seasons Companion.

Seasons Toolkit: Riding the Waves of Change | MacKillop Institute

It’s a free online learning resource called “Seasons Toolkit: Riding the Waves of Change” which includes discussion prompts to support young people understand and manage the social and emotional impact of the covid-19 pandemic. It is aimed at secondary age pupils but also useful with Primary 7. Ann Graham, author of Seasons for Growth, partnered with the MacKillop Institute to develop the materials and is also currently working on a version for primary schools.

• A Guide to Self Care and Wellbeing in Times of Uncertainty

• Bereavement Support in Schools

• Children and Grief Factsheet

• Young People and Grief Factsheet