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Frankie's Favourite Words

An educational children's book based on the "F-Words of Child Development"

Synopsis

Every child is unique. Just as each child is different, each child's adventures will be different too!

 

Join Frankie as she dives into a great underwater adventure! With her brother by her side, Frankie will use her favourite words to adapt to the underwater world and learn about all her new-found abilities.
 

These six favourite words, known as the "F-words" for child development, will help Frankie and you - Frankie's Friends - discover your own adventures and decide how you want to face them.

Originally designed by CanChild as a guiding approach to childhood disability, The F-words for Child Development are based on the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Framework. This book helps readers learn how they can use the F-words in their own lives to discover all of their unique abilities.

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My child loves dreaming big with Frankie and sharing with us his Favourite Words. The beautiful images and exciting story inspire him to imagine possibilities for Frankie while prompting us both to find solutions to inclusion that focus on needs and wants.

We read it again and again, each time dreaming up new ways to connect with ourselves and new ways to connect with each other and explore our world.

As a parent to child with complex health, I use the F-Words for Childhood Development to help me navigate his personal world and his connection with community. Our health team also utilizes this approach as we explore his goals and how they can help him with the things he needs and the things that he dreams. We want to share these concepts with everyone so that they can enjoy the freedom of being fully considered.

With the help of Frankie and six words — Friends, Family, Functioning, Fun, Fitness and Future — let’s celebrate connecting with others, dreaming big and being uniquely you!

Thank you, Frankie, for showing us how a shift in thinking can open a whole world of possibilities. Thank you, Nicole, Julia and Sabrina, for imaging a world for Frankie so that we can all learn, young and old, how to use Frankie’s Favourite Words to explore with the ones we love.

I can’t wait to share this story with my child’s peers, family, school and community organizations. With help from Frankie, we can all learn what to do when we feel unsure about the day.

Lynda Moore

"mother to a young child who has taught me how to find uncomplicated ways to explore his complex health journey."

Did you know...

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1. A portion of profits made from this book will be donated to CanChild Centre for Childhood-Onset Disability Research

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​CanChild is a world-leading childhood disability research and education centre based at McMaster University. Their work bridges research and real-world practice to improve the lives of children with developmental differences and their families. CanChild is the originator of the F-words of Childhood Development, a strengths-based framework that has transformed how childhood development, health, and participation are understood globally.

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2. The book was based on CanChild's research of the "F-Words" and made in collaboration with Dr. Rosenbaum & the CanChild Research Team

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​The F-words of Childhood Development provide a strengths-based framework that focuses on what matters most in children’s everyday lives. Adopted by the World Health Organization and used globally in classrooms and clinics, the F-words help shift practice from deficits to participation, relationships, and well-being.

3. Frankie's Friends helped write the book!

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In the early stages, authors Nicole and Julia met with various families including children, and siblings of children with disabilities. They provided insight as to what they hoped the book would portray, how they would want to be portrayed, and fun elements they would like to see on Frankie's Adventures!

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The team is incredibly grateful for Frankie's Friends and the "F Words" Community. 

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