As a parent / teacher have you ever found yourself trying to explain a concept to a young child and failed miserably at it to where the child still doesn't understand or even yet the child gets more confused? Well, you are not alone! However, I may have a solution to the problem, or more simply a more developmentally appropriate way to explain the concept/ situation to the young child. How about reading a book? Children love to be read to! Book reading promotes listening, understanding, and knowledge in subject areas (Bredekamp 2014). Therefore, if a child is having a tough time understanding why their pet fish for example died, you can teach the concept of death by reading a book about it.
Here are some books I have used in my career and lifetime that have helped me support young children's understanding of certain life challenges.
One of my top favorites is Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae. This book is developmentally appropriate for Preschool to 3rd grade, ages 4 and up. It supports a child's stress of being different. Just because a child may be different from everyone else doesn't mean they can’t do something. This book positively encourages that being different is okay and acceptable. ~I totally LOVE this Book!!
Another great book I Love is The Berenstain Bears: Lose a Friend by Stan & Jan Berenstain with Mike Berestain. This book is developmentally appropriate for Preschool to 2nd grade, ages 4-8. This book supports a child's stress of death. This book encourages children that it is absolutely okay to get upset and cry and even be mad at loss but it will be okay in the end. It also provides ways that might help a child when they lose a pet: have a simple funeral, draw a picture, make a scrapbook, write about it, etc. This book provides coping strategies on how to get through the loss and to move on. This book also describes one of life’s process, death, how to deal and to move on and cope. It teaches children that death is a part of life and it will be okay. That death is a natural process and that life goes on.
A great book that supports a child's stress of diversity is Whoever You Are by Mem Fox (A Reading Rainbow Book). This book is developmentally appropriate for Preschool to 3rd grade, ages 4-8. This book teaches the concept of diversity, similarities, differences, cultures, ethnicity, and etc but when it comes down to it we are all the same. A great read for anyone having difficulty with diversity!
Another favorite of mine is The Berenstain Bears: And Too Much Junk Food by Stan & Jan Berenstain. This book is developmentally appropriate for Preschool to 2nd grade, ages 3-7. This book encourages the concept of good eating habits and fitness. This book supports a child's stress of healthy eating. This book supports the importance of nutrition and exercise in a child’s daily life. This book helps explain why junk food is not always okay and that a balance of exercise and good foods contribute to overall good health. This book explains why good food is important to sustain a healthy life. In addition is gives children explanations of what the food does for their bodies and systems. This book is important in explaining why too much junk food can make them bigger and unhealthy and how they can change that.
To find more developmentally appropriate books to help cope with child stressors or to help you with your CDA requirements, please go to Literature to Help Children Cope with Family Stressors by NAEYC!
Here are some books I have used in my career and lifetime that have helped me support young children's understanding of certain life challenges.
One of my top favorites is Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae. This book is developmentally appropriate for Preschool to 3rd grade, ages 4 and up. It supports a child's stress of being different. Just because a child may be different from everyone else doesn't mean they can’t do something. This book positively encourages that being different is okay and acceptable. ~I totally LOVE this Book!!
Another great book I Love is The Berenstain Bears: Lose a Friend by Stan & Jan Berenstain with Mike Berestain. This book is developmentally appropriate for Preschool to 2nd grade, ages 4-8. This book supports a child's stress of death. This book encourages children that it is absolutely okay to get upset and cry and even be mad at loss but it will be okay in the end. It also provides ways that might help a child when they lose a pet: have a simple funeral, draw a picture, make a scrapbook, write about it, etc. This book provides coping strategies on how to get through the loss and to move on. This book also describes one of life’s process, death, how to deal and to move on and cope. It teaches children that death is a part of life and it will be okay. That death is a natural process and that life goes on.
A great book that supports a child's stress of diversity is Whoever You Are by Mem Fox (A Reading Rainbow Book). This book is developmentally appropriate for Preschool to 3rd grade, ages 4-8. This book teaches the concept of diversity, similarities, differences, cultures, ethnicity, and etc but when it comes down to it we are all the same. A great read for anyone having difficulty with diversity!
Another favorite of mine is The Berenstain Bears: And Too Much Junk Food by Stan & Jan Berenstain. This book is developmentally appropriate for Preschool to 2nd grade, ages 3-7. This book encourages the concept of good eating habits and fitness. This book supports a child's stress of healthy eating. This book supports the importance of nutrition and exercise in a child’s daily life. This book helps explain why junk food is not always okay and that a balance of exercise and good foods contribute to overall good health. This book explains why good food is important to sustain a healthy life. In addition is gives children explanations of what the food does for their bodies and systems. This book is important in explaining why too much junk food can make them bigger and unhealthy and how they can change that.
To find more developmentally appropriate books to help cope with child stressors or to help you with your CDA requirements, please go to Literature to Help Children Cope with Family Stressors by NAEYC!
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