Breezy the Brave Mermaid - Your Guide to Getting the Most Out of Letter Five of The Mermaid Mail Series

The fifth letter in the Mermaid Mail series introduces an important skill that can help children manage big feelings and worries - deep breathing! In this letter, a mermaid encounters a group of sharks and learns how to use 'shark breaths' to stay calm and steady in the face of fear.

This letter is not just about being brave but also about understanding our feelings and learning that it's okay to have big emotions - we just need the right tools to ride the waves!

 

Big Feelings & the Power of Shark Breaths

In the story, the mermaid freezes with fear upon encountering a group of sharks. While the sharks turn out to be friendly and playful, the experience teaches an important lesson:

Sometimes, when our emotions feel too big, our bodies react before we even think.

This letter is a great way to start a conversation about what happens in our bodies when we feel overwhelmed or worried.

Talk to your child about their own experiences:

• “Have you ever felt like the Breezy the Brave mermaid - like you wanted to stop and hide?”
• “What happens in your body when you feel scared, worried, or nervous?”
• “What do you think could help you feel steady again when those feelings come?”

The 'shark breaths' exercise in this letter is a fun and simple way for kids to calm their minds and bodies. Practicing deep breathing through storytelling and play helps children build a lifelong tool for emotional regulation.

 

Understanding Diabetes - looking at the Illustrations

If you look closely at the illustrations on this letter, you’ll notice that the mermaids are wearing continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps which are used to support people with diabetes.

This is an opportunity to introduce children to the idea that some people wear devices to help their bodies stay healthy - just like glasses help people see better or hearing aids help people hear.

If your child is curious, here are some simple ways to explain diabetes monitors and insulin pumps:

Some people have diabetes, which means their bodies need help keeping their blood sugar just right.

• A Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is a tiny helper that checks their sugar levels all day and night. It doesn’t give medicine, but it helps them know if they need food or insulin.
• Sometimes they may need some medicine called insulin. Imagine insulin is like a key that opens a treasure chest full of energy! Without the key, the treasure (energy) stays locked away, so people with diabetes use insulin to help unlock it.
• An Insulin Pump is like a tiny backpack for that medicine that gives them insulin when their body needs it.

This can be a great moment to normalise medical devices and understand the different ways people take care of themselves.

 

Practicing Shark Breaths Together

Shark breaths are a fun and effective way to practice mindfulness. Encourage your child to try them when they’re feeling frustrated, nervous, or overwhelmed.

How to do Shark Breaths:

1. Imagine you’re a shark swimming gracefully through the waves.
2. Take a deep breath in through your nose, like you're smelling the salty ocean water.
3. Slowly blow it out through your mouth, like you're making gentle bubbles rise to the surface.
4. Repeat three times, and notice how your body starts to feel calmer.

This exercise helps regulate emotions, slow down racing thoughts, and bring a sense of control when feelings feel overwhelming.

 

Inside the Envelope: Sticker & Colouring-in Fun!

This letter includes a special shark sticker, designed to remind your child of their shark breaths whenever they need them. Encourage them to place it somewhere special, like on a water bottle, bedroom wall, or school notebook!

Also included is a colouring-in sheet, where your child can decorate their own underwater scene.

 

Share Your Child’s Breezy the Brave Mermaid Moments!

We love hearing about how mer-kids use their new skills in real life. We would love if you could send us a photo at:

📧 hello@happyenvelopeclub.com
📱 @happyenvelopeclub

As a thank you, we’ll send you a special discount code for future subscriptions and products!