How books can increase emotional intelligence
Image by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Books are an invaluable tool for building emotional awareness in children as they serve as a powerful medium to help children better understand their own emotions and those of others. By simply reading stories with characters who experience a wide range of emotions, children can build their emotional vocabulary and begin to recognise how various emotions may manifest. Additionally, books can provide a safe space for children to explore complex emotions that can be difficult to discuss directly. By allowing children to observe and reflect on these emotions through stories, they can begin to understand how their own emotions may differ from those of others. They help build emotional intelligence and ultimately resilience!
Children’s books can also be a great tool for parents to open up communication with their child about emotions. By reading stories that explore different emotional experiences, parents can provide a safe space for their child to express their own emotions and strengthen the parent-child relationship. Through this process, children can become more comfortable discussing their own emotional experience and learn to trust their parent’s support. They can provide parents with valuable insight into their child’s emotional state and can help them better understand their child’s unique emotional needs.
Ultimately, children’s books can be a powerful tool for fostering emotional awareness, helping children learn to manage their feelings in healthy ways and opening communication about their emotions with others.
See some of our clinician’s favourite books below!
Samantha Pearce
Your mind is like the sky - Bronwen Ballard and Laura Carlin
An enlightening book that gently introduces mindfulness to children while developing insight and encouraging self-compassion and non-judgment.
Brodi Killen
Not Quite Narwal- Jessie Sima
A book on accepting yourself as you are and finding your tribe.
Stephanie Mace
Ish - by Peter H. Reynolds
Doing things in a way that’s just good enough - You just need to start somewhere and good things will grow! Creativity is needed in everyone’s life- and sometimes that means that something goes wrong first.
Joelle O’Neill
Hey Warrior- by Karen Young
My all time favourite and go-to for teaching kids and teens about anxiety. Kids love to create their own warriors and learn to be brave!
Bec Broadfoot
Piranhas Don’t Eat Banana’s - By Aaron Blabey
A fun, lighthearted book - the rhyming is fun! Engagement guaranteed.