Tips for Supporting Emotional Learning with Books

• Acknowledge that all feelings are OKAY!

• Read stories focusing on emotions in order to learn about and label different feelings. 

Ask:

• • • • • What is he/she feeling?

        • Have you ever felt _______? 

• Read stories in which characters are experiencing big emotions. This can be helpful in exploring situations in which big emotions do arise, as well as offering tools or strategies to manage them.

     Ask:

• • • • • Do you think what he/she did was a good idea? 

        • Have you ever had something happen that made you feel the same?  What did you do?  How would you help? 

        • What does disappointed feel like? (or sad, happy, frustrated, excited)

• Pause frequently to discuss different parts of the story. If your child stops to share something, follow your child's lead.  Provide wait time for your child to fully share their idea or observations.

• Ask open ended  questions to encourage your child to offer their own ideas and or solutions.

• Read stories targeting social emotional learning only when you and your child are both feeling calm and regulated.  

• Enjoy the story together and do not rush through it.