New CBBC documentary and poster campaign: what are your reactions?

Surprised by your own reactions - here are some helpful ideas:

It may be that when you see the posters or the documentary of children with visible differences you may have a variety of reactions. You may go, “wow, that was good” or you may, even if you have a visible difference, may find yourself shocked or surprised by someone else who looks different to you.

This is normal! Don’t worry. Whatever you initially feel is, it is ok. It can be good to think about why you feel this way. Sometimes it can be strange to look at someone who looks different, especially if you haven’t seen anyone that looks like that before. Here are some of the things you may think, feel or do:

You may feel happy to see them on a poster/TV

You may want to look away

You may want to look for a long time

You may think they look like you

You may think they look like someone you know

You may think ‘wow, what a cool kid’

You may feel shocked or surprised

You may think your reaction is ‘wrong’

What you think or feel is not wrong but it is good to understand it.  The most important thing is to know what reaction we have:

How do you feel when you look at the pictures?

What thoughts come into your head?

When we know how we think and feel we can understand the situation and as a result make better decisions.

You may think ‘wow, I feel really shocked when I see his face, well that’s ok, it doesn’t mean I have to stare or turn away, it’s normal to feel surprised when I haven’t seen anyone with scars or a birthmark before but he is just like me, maybe I will smile or say hello’

It can help to focus on something other than the difference and to think more about the person. It can be helpful to try to imagine what they are like.

Do you think they have a good sense of humour?

What’s their favourite subject at school?

What are their hobbies, what do you think you might have in common?

You can find out more about the children in the campaign and documentary by watching the BBC documentary on iplayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00rfmyc/My_Life_Billboard_Kids/

You can also take a look at interviews with them  www.changingfaces.org.uk/Face-Equality

If you don’t feel confident about your appearance

The children in these posters will now get more attention from the public. We know that having attention for looking different can be very difficult for some children and young people. 

We know that many children and young people with visible differences may find attention from strangers difficult and also can experience bullying at school and in other places because of looking different. If you don’t yet feel confident about your appearance that’s ok and also very normal. When TV, magazines and so many people around us tell us that looking ‘perfect’ is so important it can be difficult to feel happy with who we are.

Changing Faces has many ideas for helping with this so get in touch if you want to chat!

Call us on 0845 4500 275

OR click on talk to an online advisor on this website on Mondays and Wednesdays before 5pm

OR email us at: info@changingfaces.org.uk