Joanna’s new, interactive devotional journal What’s Up (which includes contributions from Strictly and CBBC star Rhys Stephenson and is endorsed by CBeebies presenter Yolanda Brown) helps children age 7-11, who are part of ‘Generation Alpha’, manage their mental health, discover their identities in a social media saturated world, and explore faith in a culture that often neglects spiritual health.
Joanna, who has British and Jamaican heritage, can speak strongly into what parents can do to help their Generation Alpha kids develop a healthy sense of self and innate sense of purpose, while living in a society bombarding them with a million competing messages about who to be and what to do.
Drawing on her own spirituality and faith, as well as her own parenting experiences and knowledge gained through communicating with thousands of children through her CBeebies role, Joanna shares life-transforming guidelines on how kids can appreciate who they are and learn to care for each other in a culture which is fixated on the development and curation of digital self-image.
“We still know very little about the impact of immersing our children – almost from conception – in a highly digital culture, where people communicate and curate versions of their personal identities through screens”, says Joanna.
“But we do know that all children need guidance and emotional support when it comes to developing who they are, especially in a world where comparison, pressure and perfectionism are heightened through greater exposure to our peers’ lives online. It it really important that children feel connected to their spiritual lives as well, and that they see faith as something positive, from which they can draw certainty and strength in a confused world”
From dealing with worry and distractions, and honing focus in a digital world, to navigating friendships, the feeling of being left out and difficulties with confidence, What’s Up allows children to process their deepest emotions in a safe space. What’s Up also helps children explore spiritual identity and faith in a society which often neglects spiritual health and the importance of feeling part of something bigger.
Joanna has selected 30 encouragements from speaking to children and their parents, reassuring children when making mistakes, lacking confidence , tricky friendships, feeling left out, overwhelmed, who am I?, discouraged, feeling heard, being brave, being honest, tackling change and loss, comparing self with others, feeling anxious, uncertain on choices to make, fears, independence, and feeling loved.
As a CBeebies star, your career revolves around communicating with children – what are the most challenging aspects of your work?
Being a CBeebies presenter is probably one of the most joyful jobs you could have. Sometimes I have to pinch myself- I get paid to dress up as a lobster, make finger puppets and rap about the number five! It’s hard to think about any part of the job being challenging. Although, the challenging moments for me have been found when entering the studio floor on days when I’ve been grieving; like the week leading up to my Grandad’s funeral, and still needing to find the joy and sparkle for the camera. It’s difficult to imagine how joy and sadness can co-exist but somehow, they do.
And what are the most fulfilling aspects?
It’s got to be seeing the impact the channel has on our audience. For some people it’s more than just a nice TV channel. We’ve met families, who perhaps have a child with additional needs and CBeebies has felt like a life line for them, those who’ve learnt to count whilst watching Numberblocks, and others who’ve been impacted or inspired by personal stories seen on the channel. It’s moments like that when we think ‘this is why we do what we do!’
How have your own childhood experiences influenced the way you interact with children in your career?
I spent a lot of time as a child trying to fit in with other people, trying to gain acceptance and please those around me. The one thing I think I do now for children is try to make them feel that they are accepted and loved just the way they are. We meet children from all kinds of backgrounds, and it’s trying to create an environment that says, no matter where you’re from or what challenges you have, we accept you.
Who were your childhood icons and inspirations?
I used to love watching people on TV like Andy peters and Dave Benson Philips, in Get Your Own Back! (I actually had the joy of working with Dave in panto last Christmas, where he played my dad in Beauty and the Beast). I realised that seeing Black presenters on TV as a kid had a real impact on me and inspired and empowered me to choose a career as a TV presenter later in life.
How does the way in which we now approach racism and mental health differ from your experience growing up?
Everything is more open now. We can freely talk about racism and mental health issues without anyone raising an eyebrow – which is brilliant.
When I was growing up, there was almost a sense of ‘we don’t quite know how to deal with this stuff, so we’re just not going to talk about it’. Whereas now I think even we don’t quite have all the answers we are willing to talk through things and work out a way forward. We’ve come a long way, and I love that our society is more open! I think there’s still a road ahead!
What are the biggest challenges facing Generation Alpha while growing up in today’s world?
Probably mobile phones. Even as adults we are glued to them; we have to learn to regulate how much we use them and decide what’s healthy for us. When I received my first mobile phone at 16 (my kids laugh when I tell them this!), I could send text messages with limited characters, play Snakes (hands up if you remember that) and make phone calls. That was about it! Now we, and our kids have to navigate having access to pretty much everything on our mobile devices! That’s a lot to deal with – I don’t think I would’ve had the maturity to handle that as a 10 year old!
Spiritual health is something that’s important to you – as shown in the launch of your interactive devotional journal, What’s Up? – what does it mean to have good spiritual well-being?
This might look different for people depending on their beliefs but for me first and foremost I needed to acknowledge that I have a spiritual side of me. And in the same way as I’d take care of my emotional and physical well-being being, I take care of my spiritual well-being.
For me, as a Christian, good spiritual well-being means nurturing my relationship with God. Just as I would nurture any relationship (we spend time with the people we love, we seek to learn more about them and understand how they feel about us)! The What’s Up book is full of recounts of moments from my life and how I’ve navigated those moments with my faith; trusting God through the highs and lows of life. We don’t have to have it all together to have good spiritual health, instead I think it’s important to be able to be content with who you were created to be and walk through life with the confidence of knowing you were designed uniquely, without fault and that you have a purpose!
How can parents help children improve their spiritual well-being?
The way I’ve helped my children to improve their spiritual well-being, is to nurture mine. Children are constantly watching we do and sometimes there’s nothing more impactful than our own behaviour. I’m not perfect, but I let them see how I navigate my mistakes and try to stay balanced and grounded.
I think another thing that’s important is to try your create space in our day for reflection. Often I’ll just ask my kids to think of two things that they are grateful for, and then just sit and reflect on that together.
As a millennial, you’ve experienced life both with and without smartphones, Google and social media. How do you think it would have affected your childhood to have access to that technology and information when you were younger?
Can’t imagine a life where I had access to so much technology! I spent a lot of time in dance classes growing up – I don’t think I’d have the time and space for social media!
Some might say the digital world isn’t all bad – are there any Instagram profiles that you look to for inspiration and positive messages?
There’s loads of positive aspects of the digital world. The amount of information at our finger tips is incredible.
Social media can be used really positively too. I follow some beautifully inspirational people, one that springs to mind is Shanda Sumpter; every time one of her posts pops up on my feed I leave feeling encouraged and inspired!! The great thing about social media is that one you start following positive and inspirational profiles, you get shown similar profiles, and it’s not long before your feed becomes flooded with positivity!!
