Book week: Little girl, four, dresses up as her aunt’s assistance dog

A four-year-old girl who put aside her princess costume to dress up as an assistance dog for Book Week has warmed hearts across Australia. 

Belle Higgins, from Sydney, shared a snap of her daughter Charlotte’s costume on Facebook alongside a lengthy post detailing the reason for her outfit and the events that played out during the day.  

‘My daughter wanted to go as a princess to book week. She is four so naturally I could see why that was the best option in her little head to dress up like a princess for the day, but we challenged her to think about it and empowered her to think beyond the female stereotypes,’ Ms Higgins wrote.  

‘Instead she picked a book called Next Door’s Dog Has a Job, by Gina Dawson. It was given to her by her aunty who has an assistance dog.’

A four-year-old girl who put aside her princess costume to dress up as an assistance dog for book week has warmed hearts across Australia

Belle Higgins shared a snap of her daughter Charlotte's costume on Facebook alongside a lengthy post detailing the reason for her outfit and the events that played out during the day (pictured is Charlotte, her aunty and Thaddeus)

Belle Higgins shared a snap of her daughter Charlotte’s costume on Facebook alongside a lengthy post detailing the reason for her outfit and the events that played out during the day (pictured is Charlotte, her aunty and Thaddeus)

Before they left the house, however, Charlotte ‘cried her eyes out’ because ‘she decided she wanted to be a princess because “all the other girls would be pretty today and not her”‘.

A’fter she cried for 15 minutes and I cried for 15 minutes I called my sister and asked her if she could talk to my daughter to settle her on the phone,’ Ms Higgins continued. 

‘Without a second thought my sister jumped in the car and drove an hour to meet us at the day care with her special dog Thaddeus, which I am so grateful for as I know some days just leaving the house is hard. 

‘My sister put Thaddeus’ service vest on and took both of them into the classroom and read all the children the book.’

Pictured are Ms Higgins, Charlotte, Charlotte's aunty and her assistance dog Thaddeus 

Pictured are Ms Higgins, Charlotte, Charlotte’s aunty and her assistance dog Thaddeus 

Ms Higgins said part of the reason she thought the costume was a good idea was that it would encourage conversation about understanding the important job that some dogs have

Ms Higgins said part of the reason she thought the costume was a good idea was that it would encourage conversation about understanding the important job that some dogs have

Ms Higgins said part of the reason she thought the costume was a good idea was that it would encourage conversation about understanding the important job that some dogs have

Ms Higgins’ said the teacher innocently asked whether her sister was the White Swiss Shepherd’s ‘trainer’ as she ‘doesn’t look sick’ – but her sister quickly intervened. 

‘I had a few tears in my eyes when my sister stepped forward and proudly said “No, he is my assistance dog, he is here to help me, he goes everywhere with me and helps me everyday”,’ she recalled.

‘I can’t tell you how proud I was of her.’

Ms Higgins said part of the reason she thought the costume was a good idea was that it would encourage conversation about understanding the important job that some dogs have and how these special dogs help people suffering with issues that sometimes are not visible to the eye.

'She picked a book called Next Door's Dog Has a Job, by Gina Dawson. It was given to her by her aunty who has an assistance dog,' Ms Higgins said

‘She picked a book called Next Door’s Dog Has a Job, by Gina Dawson. It was given to her by her aunty who has an assistance dog,’ Ms Higgins said

‘These include, but are not limited to, providing assistance to those with vision, hearing and mobility impairments, epilepsy, autism and mental health conditions including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety,’ she said. 

‘Disabilities can be diverse and invisible. Assistance dogs come in many shapes and sizes. Mind dogs help people in a variety of ways and are highly trained to assist their human companions.’  

Ms Higgins concluded her post by saying that ‘sometimes, the most helpful thing we can do for ourselves is to help another person’.

‘Never give up on someone with a mental illness. I believe that when “I” is replaced by “we”, illness becomes wellness. And talking about it is the first step to remove the stigma. Courage isn’t having the strength to go on, it’s going on when you don’t have the strength.

Ms Higgins concluded her post by saying that 'sometimes, the most helpful thing we can do for ourselves is to help another person'

Ms Higgins concluded her post by saying that ‘sometimes, the most helpful thing we can do for ourselves is to help another person’

‘Did you know, four in every 16 young Aussies between 15-30 live with mental health issues every single day? One in four of those are too embarrassed to discuss the problem with anyone and nearly half are afraid of what others would think of them.

‘It’s OK not to be OK and it’s important we reach out to our friends and family and encourage each other to talk about our mental health the same way in which we talk about our physical health because I believe they go hand-in-hand.’

Ms Higgins thanked the book’s author for writing the book as it has empowered her sister and given her strength to talk about mental health and educate children.

‘Can you reach out and check in with someone today to see how they are really doing? I challenge you. I know I will be,’ she said. 

'I've had many day care teachers contact me saying they are going to encourage children not to dress up just as prince and princesses,' she said

'I've had many day care teachers contact me saying they are going to encourage children not to dress up just as prince and princesses,' she said

‘I’ve had many day care teachers contact me saying they are going to encourage children not to dress up just as prince and princesses,’ she said

Speaking to FEMAIL, Ms Higgins said she was touched by the support the post had had, but was disappointed that it had been deleted from the original group she posted it in. 

‘I was a little shocked as I had over 1,000 responses from woman commenting with a sense of relief to have light shed upon mental health. I’ve had many day care teachers contact me saying they are going to encourage children not to dress up just as prince and princesses,’ she said.

‘I’ve had people who are struggling with mental health just thank me for helping them get though the day and a lot of people asking about assistance dogs. 

‘I am in the mental health industry and I want to tear down the walls around mental health, so many people are too scared to speak out.’   

If you or anyone you know is struggling, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Headspace on 1800 650 890 or MensLine on 1300, 78 99 78.

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