Rainbows: Symbols of Hope, Thanks and Support

One year later, they’re still around! These colourful little messages of gratitude for all NHS workers and expressions of longing for better times ahead. Painted rainbow rocks are still appearing in unexpected places in my home town. They can be found nestled in amongst twisty roots on tree-lined paths through the park, balanced carefully on mossy walls or propped up against doorsteps. Children’s painted paper rainbows are still in evidence in the windows on my street, and one or two of the more creative residents have crocheted versions hanging down from strings.

It is thought that this Covid-era tradition began in Italy during the lockdown of March 2020, and it quickly spread around the globe. Doubling up as a distracting art project for anxious or bored children and a ‘Spot the Rainbow’ activity to encourage walks during permitted outside time, you were soon never more than two metres away from someone’s handmade, wonky, multi-coloured arch.

But will we still want or need these rainbows post Covid? Or will they end up just being a sad reminder of some seriously tough times?

Do you know what? I think that we should definitely keep them around. Aside from their resolute and relentless cheerfulness, there are very few people who do not have cause for gratitude to the NHS, and I doubt that is ever going to change.

And hopefully for our children, continuing their rainbow art projects and playing ‘Spot the Rainbows’ should help to reinforce more positive emotions than dwelling on any memories of lockdown worries and frustrations.

As you welcome your pupils back to school, you can find three uplifting stories with a rainbow theme in LbQ’s Guided Reads. Ready to use in your English or PSHE lessons, these stories and comprehension questions were written to help pupils understand the range of emotions that they may have gone through during this difficult year.

For Year 2/3/4 Riley’s Rainbows

For Year 2/3/4 School Feels Strange for Riley

For Year 5/6 No Show for Ruben