Building Resilience Through Play: How Tradie Roo Aims to Inspire the Next Generation
When former child psychotherapist Lynne Jackson first imagined Tradie Roo, she wasn’t just thinking about books or toys. She was building something much bigger — a world where children can explore emotional resilience, life skills, and confidence through play. Today, that vision is becoming reality, with Tradie Roo expanding into a growing ecosystem of stories, characters, and even a forthcoming educational app.
Lynne’s path to this moment wasn’t straightforward. She grew up in Liverpool, in the north of England, raised by her mother as an only child. “We didn’t have a lot of money,” she recalls, “but I was a bit obsessed with all things animal related from an early age. I used to collect little plastic animals, and I joined things like the World Wildlife Fund, collecting their stickers and packages that came through the post.” That early fascination with animals and nature has stayed with her, and it now plays a central role in the Tradie Roo brand, which brings Australian wildlife characters to life in stories designed to both entertain and teach.
From Child Psychotherapy to Children’s Publishing
Before she became a creator and entrepreneur, Lynne spent years as a child psychotherapist, working in some of Australia’s toughest and most remote communities. That experience shaped her view of what children really need to thrive — and how resilience is built not in classrooms alone, but through small, everyday moments of connection, learning, and imaginative play.
“As I said in an upcoming Authority Magazine article, what began as a spark of an idea is quickly becoming a full literacy and SEL [social-emotional learning] ecosystem,” she explains. “I’ve bootstrapped the entire project to this point, drawing on my background in mental health, business, and storytelling to build something with global potential.”
That blend of clinical insight and entrepreneurial drive is rare, and it gives Tradie Roo a foundation rooted in both research and creativity.
What Makes Tradie Roo Different
Tradie Roo isn’t just another children’s book series. Each product — from storybooks to plush toys to the upcoming digital app — is designed to engage children in building emotional skills.
She advises aspiring entrepreneurs to test ideas carefully before launching. “Just because you and your mum like your idea doesn’t mean it will sell,” Lynne notes. “Go online and find out what the most common search questions are related to the thing you are thinking about selling. What are the pain points people have in relation to this thing that you can solve? Ideally, you need to solve a significant problem so that customers are compelled to buy.”
It’s that mix of creativity and rigor that sets Tradie Roo apart.
Building Confidence — For Kids and Adults
The Tradie Roo mission is as much about parents and caregivers as it is about children. “Translating an idea into a business takes a lot of confidence,” Lynne has said. “Firstly, you need confidence that your idea is going to translate into the type of business you want. You also need confidence in yourself, and this is one of the biggest handbrakes for a lot of people.”
Her hope is that by normalizing resilience and emotional growth through children’s stories, parents will also find tools and language to use in their own homes.
Nature, Animals, and Healing
Animals aren’t just characters in Tradie Roo — they represent a philosophy. As Lynne explained, “The physical and psychological benefits of connection with nature and animals is something that I’d like to promote through our brand. No matter what age you are, or where you live in the world, nature and animals have enormous healing power.”
That healing power is why a portion of future profits is earmarked for protecting the natural habitats of Australia’s unique wildlife — a way of giving back and grounding the brand in conservation as well as education.
How You Can Help
Tradie Roo has reached a critical stage: the stories are written, the first plush toy has been designed and built, and the first book is ready. Now, it’s about getting them into the hands of children everywhere.
“We’ve done it!” Lynne says proudly. “We’ve designed and built the world’s first Aussie Tradie Roo plush toy and storybook, and we’re ready to share them with the world. Now, we need your help to make it happen.”
Because the brand is too small for banks to back and too new to attract big investors, Lynne has turned to the global community through Kickstarter. “We’ve poured in all of our own savings, begged and borrowed to get this far, and these beautifully designed, environmentally friendly kids learning and play tools are ready. All that’s missing is your backing to take Tradie Roo to the next level.”
Here’s how supporters can get involved:
Pledge from just $1 — every single dollar pushes the project closer to launch.
Choose your reward — from the plush toy to the storybook to exclusive bundles depending on your pledge amount.
Be part of something bigger — backing Australia’s newest toy brand means creating local jobs and sharing Aussie-made stories with kids everywhere.
For Lynne, it’s about much more than toys. “This is about giving every child the Aussie values we’re proud of — courage, teamwork, and a can-do spirit — in a way that’s fun, lovable, and built to last.”
She believes this Kickstarter moment is not just about funding, but about community. “Let’s build this together,” she says. “Let’s make history. Let’s make a legend.”
Why It Matters
In a time when children face rising levels of anxiety, disconnection, and distraction, the need for tools that foster resilience couldn’t be greater. Tradie Roo’s stories, characters, and soon its app, are designed to meet children where they are — curious, playful, and imaginative — and to give them the life skills that last long after childhood ends.
“Business is really tough,” Lynne reminds us. “The road from turning an idea into a business can be long, bumpy, and stressful. You need a lot of self-confidence to keep going, as well as a team of very business-smart people around you.”
Tradie Roo embodies that lesson — and with the support of families, educators, and backers around the world, it’s ready to inspire the next generation of resilient kids.
Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1842947764/tradie-roo-a-childrens-book-and-toy-series-for-resilient-kids