The Jelly Baby Tree

When to use:

• The Jelly Baby Tree is a public domain image depicting multiple "jelly babies" in various positions and poses on a tree. It can be used in various contexts and address many areas.

Examples of use:

• conflict management / resolution
• going through change
• facing a challenge

By using this tool, we unleash creativity and allow a person to view a given situation with clarity and transparency.

Props

• Prepared copy of Jelly Baby Tree
• Colored highlighters

Instructions – Option 1

Stage 1

Identify the area that is the subject of your work.

Stage 2

Ask the person you're working with to look carefully at the picture and circle the figure in one color that represents the place where they see themselves now.

If working remotely, ask them to describe the figure.

Stage 3

Ask further questions and ask for a justification for why they chose this particular character. How do they interpret it? Try not to offer your own opinions or comments. Simply listen without judging their thoughts.

Stage 4

What reflections can be drawn from this? What conclusions? What lessons can be learned?
The final conclusions can be a starting point for setting goals and planning further actions.

Instructions - Option 2

Stage 1

Identify the area that is the subject of your work.

Stage 2

Ask the person you're working with to look carefully at the picture and circle the character in one color that represents the place they see themselves in right now. If they're working remotely, ask them to describe this character.

In the next step, ask them to circle (describe) the character they're in and the character in a different color that represents the place they'd like to be (depending on the context: at a given time, in a given situation, in a given structure, etc.).

Stage 3

Ask further questions and ask for a justification for choosing these characters. How do they interpret this? How do they interpret each of the photos of the selected characters? Try not to offer your own opinions or comments. Simply listen to their thoughts without judging.

Stage 4

Ask what a person would have to (or would like to) do to achieve the position indicated by the chosen "jelly" character.

What reflections can be drawn from this? What conclusions? What lessons can be learned?

The final conclusions can be a starting point for setting goals and planning further actions.

When working with the Jelly Baby Tree, you can also use other characters. Ask questions about who the other characters represent. Who is close to you, who is farther away. Who can be supportive, and who can be a hindrance. This is a tool with many possibilities and variations of use.

Source: Own work.