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Being alone and friendship worksheets: The Other Side of the Valley

We have another book for you in our series of books around wellbeing, and part of the Shelf Care Club. This month, we are featuring the gorgeous The Other Side of the Valley from Ashling Lindsay. This is a charming story all about both being alone, and also friendship and connection. It shows the importance of solitude, and yet also helps us to understand the importance of being able to choose to reach out too when we need to. It encourages children to step out of their comfort zones and try new things to seek that connection.

The image features educational materials on a wooden background promoting understanding of solitude and friendship in children, with a book, worksheets, and a yellow flower.

Sometimes we need to be alone, to recharge, and this is particularly true of some neurodivergent children and adults. However, we also want to feel connected in those moment when we are alone, and perhaps feel lonely, or even a little small.

What is The Other Side of the Valley about?

The image is a whimsical book cover titled "The Other Side of the Valley" by Ashling Lindsay, featuring a lush valley, river, and snowy mountains, with tiny flying vehicles in the sky.

In “The Other Side of the Valley,” we meet Pip, a solitary soul residing contentedly in a grand and picturesque valley. Every day, Pip enjoys a serene routine: sipping tea, tending to his plants, and checking for letters in his post box. As night falls, he finds solace in stargazing, marveling at the vast universe that sometimes makes him feel quite small.

One day, a peculiar leaf drifts through Pip’s open window. This leaf is unlike any he has seen before, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight. Intrigued, Pip realizes this extraordinary leaf couldn’t have come from any tree on his side of the valley. As curiosity takes hold, he begins to wonder what lies beyond his familiar landscape.

This tale, beautifully crafted by Ashling Lindsay, follows Pip as he contemplates the possibilities that await outside his comfort zone. It’s a heartwarming narrative about the joys of exploration and the courage needed to embrace new experiences. Perfect for young readers, the story of Pip’s journey encourages children to try new things, whether it’s a different food, a new book, or the adventure of starting at a new school. Through Pip’s enchanting adventure, readers learn the valuable lesson that stepping out into the unknown can lead to wonderful discoveries.

What are in the friendship worksheets?

We have 12 pages, plus a cover and end sheet, without our thoughtfully designed set of worksheets focusing on the themes of new things, being alone and friendship. These worksheets aim to balance the importance of personal recharge time with the joy and necessity of building connections with others, nature, and animals, as well as seeking out new experiences.

Each pair of worksheets is crafted to help individuals, especially children, understand their feelings and appreciate the different facets of solitude and companionship. Alongside the book, children can explore these experiences, as well as stepping out of their comfort zone.

Coloring pages from The Other Side of the Valley

This image is a coloring page featuring a bird on a branch with text from a book titled "The Other Side of the Valley," describing night sky observations.
A sketch-like illustration of an interior with a window, bench, and lamp. Text suggests a character named Pip is pondering about unseen leaves.
  1. Looking at the Stars: This coloring page captures a serene scene from “The Other Side of the Valley,” where Pip gazes at the stars. It encourages moments of reflection and wonder, helping children appreciate the beauty of the night sky and the peacefulness that comes with being alone.
  2. Cover Page: The cover page of the book is another coloring activity, allowing children to engage with the story’s theme visually. This exercise fosters a sense of ownership and connection to the narrative, inviting them to add their personal touch to the artwork.

Pip holding a leaf and colouring a leaf

The image is a black and white coloring page featuring a large, detailed leaf with the text "COLOUR YOUR LEAF" encouraging personal creativity.
This is a black and white coloring page featuring a single large leaf with a text prompt encouraging creative design with available materials.
  1. Colouring a Leaf: This coloring page helps you to colour your own magical leaf – perhaps you can do so with the theme – symbolizing a moment of contemplation. Colouring might encourage children to find the colours that help them to stay calm and to reflect
  2. Designing a Leaf: Following Pip’s theme, this worksheet involves designing your own magical leaf. It’s a simple activity that connects children with nature, emphasising that even the smallest elements of the environment can offer a sense of peace and connection. Why not get kids to pick things from around the house to create their own crafted, magical leaf. Ideas might be glitter, pasta, stickers, feathers, and cut mosaic pieces from magazines or coloured paper.

Connection questions and feelings about being alone

The image shows a worksheet with the title "CONNECTION" asking what helps the individual feel connected to people, animals, nature, and music.
This is an activity sheet asking introspective questions about being alone, with empty response spaces. It's a part of interactive material, possibly for children's self-reflection or discussion.
  1. Connection questions: This worksheet contains thought-provoking questions about what helps children feel connected. It could be people, pets, or nature. The questions guide them to reflect on the diverse forms of connection and recognize that companionship extends beyond human relationships.
  2. Feelings on being alone: Here, children explore their emotions regarding solitude, both chosen and imposed. This worksheet helps them articulate their feelings and understand that it’s okay to seek alone time for recharging.

Writing a story and the magic of solitude

This is a children's story-writing worksheet with prompts, lines for writing, and an illustrated book cover titled "The Other Side of the Valley."
This image is a kids' activity sheet titled "ALONE TIME - WHAT DO YOU DO?" with empty starburst speech bubbles and scattered stars for writing responses.
  1. Writing a Story: This creative writing exercise encourages children to write a magical or fun story about being alone. It highlights the positive aspects of solitude and how it can lead to self-discovery and joy.
  2. What to Do When Alone: This worksheet ask children to think of activities children they can do on their own. Ideas might include reading, drawing, or exploring nature. It supports the idea that being alone can be enjoyable and productive.

Activities with friends, the meaning of friendship and an acrostic poem

The image is a printable worksheet titled "WHAT DO YOU LIKE DOING WITH FRIENDS?" with blank speech bubbles and colored stars around them.
The image shows a title "FRIENDSHIP" in red letters with the question "What does friendship mean to you?" below it. Credits are given to Frances Lincoln Children's Books and Ashling Lindsay.
This is a worksheet for writing an acrostic poem about friendship, using the word "FRIENDS." It is for children and includes a book advertisement.
  1. What to Do with Friends: This worksheet encourages kids to think of activities to do with friends, like playing games, having a picnic, or building a fort. It underscores the value of companionship and shared experiences
  2. What Friendship Means: This reflective worksheet asks children to define friendship and what it means to them. It helps them appreciate the qualities of a good friend and the importance of maintaining these relationships.
  3. Acrostic Poem about Friendship: In this creative exercise, children write an acrostic poem using the word “FRIENDS.” This activity fosters creativity while encouraging them to think deeply about the attributes of friendship.

These worksheets are designed to provide a balanced perspective on the joys of solitude and the warmth of friendship. They encourage children to explore their feelings, engage with nature and creativity. In addition, children can appreciate the different ways in which they can connect with the world around them.

It is helpful for children to understand that it is good to try new things. Alongside this, we sometimes want to seek to be on our own, and at other times need connection and support. This book offers ways to talk about all these feelings with our kids in engaging and clear ways.

In order to download the worksheets – just click on the image or the button below:

A children's book titled "The Other Side of the Valley" and activity sheets are displayed on a wooden background alongside yellow flowers and stars.
Download The Other Side of the Valley friendship worksheets

If you would like some other articles on friendship – do check these out as well:

Other friendship and kindness resources on KiddyCharts

We have a few resources covering kindness and friendship on KiddyCharts. Why not check them out now:

World Kindness Day: Free printable kindness bookmarks #WorldKindnessDay

Kindness bookmarks for you to give to your kids to encourage reading.

Friendship mindful activity for kids: Friends who lift my spirits most

Looking at who are those around you that lift your spirits most is the way we find out who are real friends are.

How to encourage your children to be a good friend

This is a great article to help children to be the best friend they can be.

How to help your children when their friends move house

A lovely article to help kids whose friends have moved.

Here are some more ideas from other places on the internet:

Friendship ideas from the internet

There are loads of ideas for the kids here around friendship, from books to activities and advice.

Friendship Letters

Photo Credit: preschoolinspirations.com

A lovely activity for kids to write friendship letters, that helps with loads of different skills, including motor and name recognition, as well as literacy of course.

Books That Help Children Learn About Friendship

Photo Credit: imaginationsoup.net

The Friendship Maze – a guide to helping kids with their friendships

Photo Credit: family-budgeting.co.uk

Friendship is a minefield for our little ones - so here is a maze to help your kids to navigate those friendships, and to understand them a little more. Something we could all do with, even us adults, from time to time!

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Thanks as always for your support, and see you again soon,

Helen
This image features a promotional banner with bright yellow flowers, a book titled "The Other Side of the Valley," and children's activity sheets.

Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!

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