Exploring emotions

BOOK NOOK

Exploring emotions

We look at two different books – Ruby’s Worry and Brave as a Lion – focusing on the emotions children feel and experience to help them be more aware of their own

Emotions can be difficult to identify, explain and manage for adults – never mind for children, whose brains are constantly learning and making links throughout the day. But being able to do all three things (or, in other words, to regulate your emotions) is a key skill that children learn in their early years, as it helps them to emotionally nature and handle a range of different situations.

Here, we have two books that can help your setting to teach and practise emotional regulation in an age-appropriate way!

Ruby’s Worry – Tom Percival, 3-7 years

Ruby loves being Ruby. Until, one day, she finds a worry. At first, it’s not such a big worry, and that’s all right, but then it starts to grow. It gets bigger and bigger every day and it makes Ruby sad. How can Ruby get rid of it and feel like herself again?

From Tom Percival’s bestselling Big Bright Feelings series, Ruby’s Worry is a perceptive and poignant story that’s the perfect book for discussing childhood worries and anxieties, no matter how big or small they may be!

For some extra learning and inclusion, we’ve included a YouTube link to a read-aloud video of the story accompanied by British Sign Language - bit.ly/BN-Rubys-Worry - why not see if you can have a go at learning some of the signs for the feelings listed in the story at the start of the video?

Brave as a Lion – Teresa Bellón, 2-5 years (available from 18 April 2024)

Focusing on 10 different feelings – particularly those that are quiet, hidden or sometimes long-lasting such as feeling shy or tired – the different characters in Teresa Bellón’s board book visualises the different animals’ feelings to help children identify their own.

Encouraging children to imitate the animals using humour, mindfulness and breathing techniques – among other techniques – the book helps model how to turn negative emotions into more positive ones.

Five double-sided puzzle pieces can be put together to add some extra fun while also building motor skills.

So, why not pick up a book today and help to create the foundations for positive mental health through play?

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