Read Books About Emotions and Social Situations
Ever tried to explain 'why sharing is caring' to a toddler who just shrieked over a stolen crayon? Enter: storytime, aka, my secret weapon for getting my kid to talk about feelings without either of us melting down. If you’ve ever wished Daniel Tiger could handle your next sibling spat, or you want to sneakily teach empathy while pretending you’re just reading about a bear who lost his hat, this one’s for you.
Stories about emotions help kids build emotional literacy—basically, the mental dictionary of 'what am I feeling and why?' Plus, talking about characters’ feelings lights up those empathy circuits in the brain (mirror neurons, anyone?) and gives you both a safe way to practice tricky conversations before real life throws you a curveball.
How to do it
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Choose books featuring characters who genuinely experience emotions. Bonus points if the characters make mistakes and work to fix them.
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Read together during calm moments, rather than in the middle of a meltdown—unless you’re feeling adventurous.
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Pause occasionally to ask questions like, "How do you think she feels right now?" or "What would you do if that happened to you?" This encourages empathy and discussion.
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Share your own stories, including the embarrassing ones. Relating personal experiences helps build connection and understanding.
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Don’t force conversation. Sometimes, simply reading together is enough. Other times, you might spark a three-hour monologue about why dragons are misunderstood.
Key Tips:
- Look for books with emotionally complex characters.
- Choose calm times for reading to foster better engagement.
- Use open-ended questions to invite reflection.
- Be open and honest when sharing your own experiences.
- Let conversations develop naturally—there’s no need to push.
