Why Does Koko Feel Nervous?

🕐 3 min 51 sec 👦 Ages 4–5 🌍 English
Join Koko as Owlo helps her understand nervousness before her first swimming lesson, turning fear into excitement!
Identify feelings of nervousness Understand the body's response to new situations Learn coping strategies for anxiety
📖 Story Script
                    Owlo:
                    Good morning, Koko! You are very quiet today. That is not like you at all.
                
                    Koko:
                    Hi, Owlo. I have my first swimming lesson today, and my tummy feels all wobbly.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Ah, that wobbly feeling in your tummy. I think I know exactly what that is.
                
                    Koko:
                    What is it? Is something wrong with me?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Nothing is wrong with you at all, Koko. That feeling has a name. It is called being nervous.
                
                    Koko:
                    Nervous? What does nervous mean?
                
                    Owlo:
                    Nervous means your body is getting ready for something new or something that feels a little scary.
                
                    Koko:
                    But why does my tummy feel wobbly when I am nervous?
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is such a smart question. Let me show you something in the science room. Come with me.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Here we go. Look at this picture of a body on the board. See this part? That is the brain.
                
                    Koko:
                    Oh, I know the brain! It is the thinking part inside our head.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Exactly right. When your brain notices something new is coming, it sends a little message all through your body.
                
                    Koko:
                    A message? Like a letter?
                
                    Owlo:
                    A little bit like that, yes. The message says, hey, something new is happening, let us get ready.
                
                    Koko:
                    And that makes my tummy feel wobbly?
                
                    Owlo:
                    It does. Your tummy, your heart, and even your hands can all feel that message. It is your body helping you.
                
                    Koko:
                    My body is trying to help me? That is a little surprising.
                
                    Owlo:
                    It really is helpful, even when it does not feel that way. Being nervous means you care about doing well.
                
                    Koko:
                    I do really want to swim. I just do not want to fall in the water by accident.
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is a very honest thing to say, Koko. Everyone feels nervous about new things sometimes. Even me.
                
                    Koko:
                    You get nervous too, Owlo? But you know everything.
                
                    Owlo:
                    I do not know everything, and yes, I still get nervous sometimes. The first time I taught a class, my wings were shaking.
                
                    Koko:
                    Your wings were shaking? That makes me feel a little better actually.
                
                    Owlo:
                    Good. Now, I want to teach you a little trick that helps when you feel nervous.
                
                    Koko:
                    A trick? I love tricks. What is it?
                
                    Owlo:
                    It is called slow breathing. You breathe in slowly, hold it for just a moment, then breathe out slowly.
                
                    Koko:
                    Like this? In... and out...
                
                    Owlo:
                    Just like that. Slow breathing sends a calm message back to your brain. It tells your brain, everything is okay.
                
                    Koko:
                    Oh, that actually does feel a little better. My tummy is less wobbly now.
                
                    Owlo:
                    I am glad. And here is one more thing to remember. After you try the new thing, the nervous feeling usually gets smaller.
                
                    Koko:
                    So I just have to be brave enough to start?
                
                    Owlo:
                    That is exactly it, Koko. Bravery is not about having no nervous feelings. It is about going ahead even when you do.
                
                    Koko:
                    Wow. Okay, I think I can do this. I am going to try the swimming lesson.
                
                    Owlo:
                    I am so proud of you. Now, before you go, can you tell me what you learned today?
                
                    Koko:
                    Okay! So, feeling nervous is normal, and it means your body is getting ready for something new. Everyone feels it, even Owlo with his shaky wings. And when you feel nervous, you can try slow breathing to feel calmer. Then you just have to be brave and start, because after you try, the wobbly feeling gets smaller. Next time I want to find out why we sometimes get nervous even about fun things, like birthday parties.