Look inside!

Why Shell wrote it

I have fond memories of activity books as a child of the 80s. If it had the word ‘bumper’ on the cover and was packed full of word searches, colouring-in pages and dot-to-dots, it was enough to keep me happy for hours and days on end. Of course, life is very different now, and kids are more frequently glued to screens and spend far less time outdoors than we did, but I wanted to replicate that nostalgia in this book.
With rates of childhood anxiety soaring and generation Alpha facing a unique set of challenges in navigating a digital, increasingly distracted and nature-disconnected world, I wanted to bring a taste of my own, simple, happy childhood to the kids of today.

I didn’t want the book to be all colouring-in pages and silliness though, I was also keen to draw on topics we cover here on the blog related to wellbeing, and to provide creative activities like nature mandalas and rock painting, designed to fire imaginations and calm the nervous system.

With my daughter now grown up, it’s a bit of a gamble writing for a younger audience, but no matter how old our kids are, we never forget the things they loved when they were little, and I know that aged 8, she’d have loved a book like this that provides equal parts fun and silliness along with learning craft skills and gentle education.

I strongly believe that time outdoors helps us feel happier, and having faced my own mental health challenges, I know firsthand that reconnecting with nature is a great way to manage difficult emotions, regardless of our age. Spending time in nature is a powerful and effective way to nurture a greater sense of wellbeing, and in its own small way, that’s what this first book aims to provide.

Let The Adventure Begin

Whether you’re off on your very first tentative family camping trip, going on one of many camping holidays or just pitching a popup in the back garden for them, I hope you’ll consider purchasing the Colossal Camping Activity & Fun Book from Camping with Style!