Main Street Nashville
NASHVILLE WEATHER
physicians-mutual-dental-insurance-banners

Library programs can help kids understand emotions




Hall

Hall

Understanding and acknowledging emotions is a struggle.

With so many factors at play, supporting our mental health can sometimes feel like a full-time job, especially now when the world feels so chaotic. This balancing act seems to find some sort of happy medium as we age and understand more about how to manage these feelings, but for children, it’s uncharted territory. Everything is new, scary and wildly confusing, resulting in tears, the terrible twos and really awkward tween years. Without the ability to label and acknowledge these emotions, children can feel isolated, misunderstood and worried.

The feud with the mood is a real struggle, and librarians are acutely aware of how this struggle has been exacerbated due to current events that have impacted our lives on so many levels.

Good news, dear friends! Nashville Public Library is working to provide you and your little ones with the support you need to tackle the years ahead.

Enter your local children’s librarian, ingrained with the pretty steady belief that books can solve most woes if applied correctly. Picture books, specifically, are wonderful for unlocking your child’s understanding of emotions. If you ever need any recommended titles to help with a specific situation, such as grief, loss or transition, please reach out to your local librarian. We have tons of amazing titles to help talk to your little one to learn about feelings. Take a look at this recommended reading for some picture book suggestions on the topic of worry.

 

 

The top suggestion I have to help your kiddos understand emotions is to harness the glorious power of storytimes. When books are read aloud to a group, kids can learn from others about how to respond. These interactions not only encourage literacy, but boost social and emotional skills, preparing children for school and building relationships. Whether it be to laugh or cry, kids can easily pick up on what are normal responses to certain actions. Even babies benefit from learning from each other in groups.

NPL offers an amazing range of programming that can help children better understand their emotions. Babies and Books creates a connection between child and caregiver while also allowing infants time to play with other babies, increasing their awareness of facial expressions and body language. This program offers additional help by providing grown-ups with convenient channels to make connections and lifelong friendships.

Not only do library programs help kids understand emotions, but they can also help them acquire tools to manage them. Storytimes and puppet shows bring wonder and laughter, two tools that can help kids avoid sadness and anxiety. If they go from being on the verge of tears to giggling, make sure to point that out. Encourage them to try to find small things that boost their mood. Also, don’t forget to talk about the book. Ask questions and encourage your child to do the same.

Another outlet for expressing emotion is writing letters to our resident mouse, Buttercup. Consider her your child’s own pen pal. Have your child write letters telling about themselves and their feelings or emotions. Letter writing can be an extremely effective tool for highlighting emotions and putting things into perspective. Simply pick up a letter template at the main library’s children’s department and mail it in.

When planning STEAM programs (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), such as Homeschool Friends, librarians focus on soft skill building, such as resilience, self-awareness and interpersonal skills. While the core subjects in these programs introduce kids to fun facts, these soft skills can also help them work with their emotions.

Lastly, there’s Reading Paws. This program allows children who may be nervous about reading to practice these skills in a safe space, without judgment and in the company of a lovable pooch.

Feelings are so personal that sometimes we lose sight of the fact that we are not alone. Children and caregivers may feel isolated trying to navigate these new changes and experiences, but remember this: When you are at the library, you are never alone.

Library resources and programs can be used to help you and your kiddo adjust as they learn about themselves and the world. Shared experiences, either with parent and child or other children, can support social-emotional learning and supply them with a variety of new understandings to strengthen their own self-awareness.

We are here for you, so please reach out. Librarians are great listeners, and we care so much for our community. When you come to us for help, you also help us find ways to help others (go you!). The more you engage with your local library, the stronger we become. With your support, we build stronger communities, happier families and more capable children able to thrive in even the worst times.

Katie Hall is the main children’s department librarian-in-training (aka library associate). She began volunteering in libraries after college because she missed that sense of wonder that is ignited only by seeking out the unknown. She is also working on a Masters in Library and Information Science. She loves graphic novels, art, history and, most importantly, helping people find their own passions.

Leave a Reply