The Celia Connection Method
The problem: Important conversations are getting more difficult
Children are growing up in a world where communication is getting more superficial, faster and more digital. And people spend less time together. Parents and educators can see the effects in children: Many are struggling to express what they feel, explain what has happened, to understand boundaries (both their own and those of others), to build self-confidence, or to open about difficult experiences.
The problem is not that adults do not care. The problem is that many of the most important conversations with children are challenging to begin.
The insight: Visual cards open the door
The Celia Method for Connection, Identity and Engagement was born from a simple, but powerful observation: Visual cards can trigger emotions, thoughts and insight that words often cannot. They open the door for self-expression in a child-friendly approach. And they allow adults to enter the creative, playful and imaginative world of childhood.
An illustration can lower the pressure, spark recognition, invite storytelling, and to stimulate impulsive play. And to help a child express thoughts, emotions and needs before they have the verbal skills to enable them to do it.
The journey: Eight years of practical development
But the insight was not enough on its own. Over more than eight years, founder and owner Silje Bratberg ventured on a thought-provoking and engaging practical journey. Through speaking with parents, teachers, health service workers, mental health practitioners, and child-development specialists. She studied research in social learning, emotional development, play, communication, and identity. She also attended relevant conferences, and tested what actually works in triggering conversations, establishing trust and building relations in real settings with children. In addition, she has found inspiration in her MA-degree in International Development, through the concepts of “empowerment”, “participation” and “autonomy”. From the beginning, the mission was not to create an academic framework. It was to create something practical.
The Celia Method: Structured conversations through visual cues
Through this process Silje has developed the Celia Method for Connection, Identity and Engagement: a structured, repeatable way of using visual cards to help adults and children have better conversations and connection about varied topics, such as emotions, identity, belonging, relationships, resilience, boundaries, and everyday experiences.
The method combines beautifully and uniquely tailored illustrated cards with guided activities that are easy for parents, teachers, kindergartens, schools and therapists to implement.
Child-book illustrator Emelie Wiklund, based in Stockholm, Sweden, has created our design. We love it! You may view her portfolio here: Emelie Wiklund.
Why structure matters
This is what makes the Celia Method different. It is not simply asking adults to “spend more time” with children. It recognises that many conversations require intentionality, structure, and emotional safety.
The impact: Easy to use, Deep in impact
The Celia Method gives adults structure while still allowing childern to express themselves in a way according to each child’s individual needs and abilities.
The results is a practical tool informed by years of research, expert conversations, design work, illustration, and practical piloting. It is accessible, repeatable, adaptable across cultures, and suitable for use at home, in early learning, in schools, and in therapeutic settings.
The opportunity: A scalable method for child development
The Celia Method turns visual cards into a method for connection: Helping children develop language-skills, self-awareness, emotional resilience, and self-confidence, while giving adults a simple and engaging way to begin the conversations that matter the most.
A safe place for growth.
We give your child a sense of achievement through play and social interaction!
Through piloting our cards of the “Celia Method” in kindergartens in Norway (2025-26) and in groups in Uganda (2022) we have demonstrated that our cue cards give many positive results in child development:
Promoting language skills
Facilitating social and emotional growth and resilience
Helping children in building new friendships, and to get to know their own friends better
Building dialogue, contact and trust
Developing their cognitive skills, e.g. planning, interpreting, understanding context, remembering, concentration skills
The Celia Method enhances children’s social and emotional skills, and their self-awareness, helping them grow and to prepare them for life-long learning .
The Celia Method promotes participation, inclusive play and communication:
“Another girl was so happy when she saw that some of the children on the cards had dark skin just like her. This led to many good and nice conversations with the children about how not all children/adults have the same skin color, because they have different cultures and come from different countries.”
Manager in a kindergarten in Lofoten, Norway
“With the little ones (2-year-olds), you see a sense of accomplishment when they say a word, and then we confirm it by saying the word again. They light up, smile, and say the word once more, seeming very happy that it was right. You also see it in their expanding vocabulary, as they come up with more and more words.”
Manager in a kindergarten in Bodø, Norway
“I've noticed that some kids like the talking cards more than others, and ask about the cards more than others. Those who found it a bit scary and spoke very quietly and little at first seem to enjoy it more the more we've used the cards. You can see that they have more to say, speak a bit louder, and don't seem as uncomfortable.”
Manager in a kindergarten in Bodø, Norway
Silje (Celia) Bratberg
Founder and owner of Young Intro/The Celia Method
The founder and owner of Young Intro/The Celia Method, Silje Bratberg, has a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from England and a Master's in International Development from Australia. Part-time, she has studied Human rights, Multicultural understanding, and Conflict resolution at the University of South-Eastern Norway in Drammen. She has volunteered in Africa (South Africa, Botswana and Zanzibar). In 2012-13 she backpacked her way through East Africa as a single traveller, and has completed a one-year study program in outdoor life at Nord University in Bodø.
Blogg
ZIG-ZAG
ZIG-ZAG
In this video clip, we are playing “Zig-Zag” during a group activity in a local community in Jinja, Uganda. The purpose of this activity is to promote participation and inclusion, and to create group dynamics when people don’t know each other beforehand. And in addition, to create safety and trust, as well as to have fun.
«We have had fun!»
Children and youth in Jinja, Uganda
I forrige uke deltok jeg på Traumebehandlingskonferansen i regi av NKVTS i Oslo. Fokuset var på klinisk arbeid, og de fleste deltakerne var terapeuter. Det faglige innholdet av foredragsholdere og innlegg var av høy kvalitet og aktualitet. Dr. Anthony Mannarinos vektla blant annet viktigheten av lek og sosialt samspill for barn i å hjelpe dem med å bearbeid traumatiske opplevelser.