Learning how to recognise and manage personal emotions is an important part of growing up. Sharing the right picture book can provide a vehicle through which young children can work out how to manage their emotions, because a book provides focal settings beyond that of their daily life. Relevant picture books also provide carers with a casual opportunity to talk around specific emotions from a neutral referral point.
Picture books can provide opportunities for children to:
* explore emotions and acquire language needed to express feelings
* share sad and happy emotions in a caring environment
* feel potential emotions through story characters
* come to terms with personal emotions
* find out about fear without it being a threat - a scary character can be shut in a book!
Language
The use of language is important in mediating about emotions. The mediator has to feel confident that the child has understood, especially in the first few readings, when there should be plenty of repetition.
Transferring the book language to situations in the child's day can help them to pick up language for emotions.
Book browsing
Browsing is a form of play. Through revisiting a picture book in their own time, turning the pages both back and forth helps children deepen their understanding of a book. Books about emotions, however, need to be introduced and shared many times before many young children are ready for browsing.
Emotional literacy
Keeping a stock of suitable emotions' books is important. Plan ahead when buying books for situations likely to arise in a child's first three years so they can be introduced when needed. This selection should include books for both sexes, as boys' needs differ from girls' even at this early stage.
Through developing emotional literacy, young children learn how to recognise and manage their own emotions and other people's. Sharing picture books can contribute greatly to helping young children recognise and define who they are and what they feel, and learn how to get on with their peers.
