Ginger’s journey began years ago when our children were just 3 and 7 in 2003 with the creation of our first story, “Be Brave”. This tale delved into the myriad emotions a young child experiences when feeling shy and afraid to try new things. Whenever other kids stayed over, their parents would often ask, “When will this become a book?”
My career took a fascinating turn from working in the film industry, where I handled makeup, hair, and costume design, closely interacting with stressed-out celebrities and politicians, to delving into the world of psychotherapy. My sensitivity to energy frequencies led me to become certified in kinesiology, hypnotherapy, and as a Reiki Master, among many other modalities including trauma recovery. Additionally, I am a mindfulness and meditation teacher, having practiced for the past forty years.
Research begins.
In 2017, Ginger secured a place in the Accelerate program at Wollongong University to continue research and expand its reach. After the bushfires, we received funding through our nonprofit to create a theatre show, traveling to many fire and flood- affected areas. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and the show was much needed. I felt that kids were taking on their parents’ anxiety leaving a lifetime imprint and needed to have a good time and be shown that ‘we see you, and hear you, and honour you in the journey to recovery’. It also showed that children, from every background can easily learn emotional resilience through fun and entertainment. See more about the show at https://gingerthefrog.com/the-show/
The six-part series received funding form Arndelle College to upgrade the pictures and involve teachers in re writing the stories, ensuring the program meets early learning criteria in schools. The Ginger the Frog Resilience Program has been well received in a local school, and now it’s time to take it further afield and continue our research.
After fifteen years of seeing clients and three years working in crisis recovery, helping our traumatised community after the Black Summer 2019/20 bushfires, I learned some crucial truths. Our beliefs and experiences form a blueprint for the rest of our lives before the age of seven affecting how we operate throughout the rest of our lives, which become very obvious in critical conditions. Eighty percent of the population, according to psychologists, are impacted by some sort of trauma in early childhood. My experience has shown that recovery from trauma, whether from a crisis or long-term challenges, is possible with tools like somatic self-care, mindfulness, positive psychology, and creative visualisations. Strong family bonding also plays a vital role along with a connected community. These tools and concepts help build emotional resilience in all of us now.
“Ginger offers a simple yet powerful framework for teaching emotional resilience. The digital stories, songs, and lesson plans make the tools easy, playful and fun for young children to understand and implement. Thank you for making teaching a breeze!”
Martin Billingham, Ph.D., (Oxford) Teacher and Psychotherapist
The impact of trauma.
After fifteen years of seeing clients and three years working in crisis recovery, helping our traumatised community after the Black Summer 2019/20 bushfires, I learned some crucial truths. Our beliefs and experiences form a blueprint for the rest of our lives before the age of seven affecting how we operate throughout the rest of our lives, which become very obvious in critical conditions. Eighty percent of the population, according to psychologists, are impacted by some sort of trauma in early childhood. My experience has shown that recovery from trauma, whether from a crisis or long-term challenges, is possible with tools like somatic self-care, mindfulness, positive psychology, and creative visualisations. Strong family bonding also plays a vital role along with a connected community. These tools and concepts help build emotional resilience in all of us now.
Ginger comes alive.
In 2016, I was asked to create a series on emotional resilience for primary school students, which evolved into a six-part series that captivated both kids and parents in a before school class.. Even energetic three-year-olds could meditate when their parents led by example.
Ginger’s program spread to festivals and institutions, praised for helping various kids feel understood giving parents a doorway to connect and talk together about their emotions.
The bedtime routine is the starting point for carers and children to embark on a journey with Ginger, becoming familiar with exercises like ginger’s games, enjoying the songs on the album, and learning evidence-based tools that help children settle at bedtime. It’s available for free here https://gingerthefrog.com/ginger-bedtime-routine-bundle/
Proven Strategies:
Insights from Real-Life Experience.
In the aftermath of the fires and the COVID-19 pandemic, I had the opportunity to observe complementary approaches that supported children. We distributed handmade dolls infused with essential oils (of their choice) to hundreds of traumatised preschool children, many of whom had lost everything in the fires and were experiencing severe psychological distress, including mutism, bedwetting, and various behavioural issues. The remarkable shift in energy, from chaos to calm, underscored the profound calming power of scent.
feel understood giving parents a doorway to connect and talk together about their emotions.
The bedtime routine is the starting point for carers and children to embark on a journey with Ginger, becoming familiar with exercises like ginger’s games, enjoying the songs on the album, and learning evidence-based tools that help children settle at bedtime. It’s available for free here https://gingerthefrog.com/ginger-bedtime-routine-bundle/
This is why smell, touch and somatic exercises to wire the brain for safety and calm, along with songs and creative visualisations for self esteem are centre stage in the bedtime routine.
Creating a community for societal change.
The bedtime routine is a starting point to welcome Ginger into your home, and then continue with the full nine-part Ginger the Frog Emotional Resilience Program. This journey is filled with evidence-based techniques crafted to enrich yet simplify your child’s emotional world while strengthening the bonds that are the heart of your family. With ongoing support, we foster a thriving community of love and resilience, building a foundation that endures a lifetime.
I’ve seen first hand how these science-backed tools can deeply shape a child’s ability to understand themselves, express their needs clearly, and navigate life with confidence. By nurturing emotional self-responsibility, empathy, and communication from the earliest years, we’re not just helping children thrive, we’re laying the foundation for a generation of emotionally self-reliant, compassionate, and courageous adults who will shape a more connected, resilient world.
With deep respect and love for the caregivers and our wonderful kids,
