GTMS Life > Blog February 2, 2024

Monarch Community: Bibliotherapy (January 2024)

Bibliotherapy Bibliotherapy, in short, is the practice of using books to help guide children. In the classroom we use books to introduce and define emotions. Toddlers feel a variety of emotions and may not understand them; oftentimes, big emotions lead them feeling scared or shameful. Books that showcase emotions normalize feelings and help children to […]

Bibliotherapy

Bibliotherapy, in short, is the practice of using books to help guide children. In the classroom we use books to introduce and define emotions. Toddlers feel a variety of emotions and may not understand them; oftentimes, big emotions lead them feeling scared or shameful. Books that showcase emotions normalize feelings and help children to understand that all feelings are ok. They provide illustrations that help visualize what happy, sad, angry, jealous, bored, frustrated, etc. might look like. They also provide scenarios for why a child may feel that way, along with tools for how to express or react to those feelings.

Through bibliotherapy and reinforcing emotional vocabulary, the children become more aware of how they are feeling and begin to express it. When they are upset, they might walk over to the pillow area and plop down for a cry, eventually sitting with a book. When they are angry, they might say, “I’m so frustrated,” and then take deep breaths. Soon, they are able to recognize how others are feeling and begin to use communication to solve conflicts with each other. For now, it is our responsibility to help be their emotional guide and books are a great resource!

Feelings & Behaviors

Toileting

David Shannon Books

The children LOVE David Shannon’s books about his character, David. I think it is because he makes a lot of mistakes, and they can relate to him. We love these books, too. When we “read” them at Circle, we avoid reading the book’s title and the words and instead discuss what is happening on the page. The children remind David of what he can do. During the Coffee, I gave an example of this. Check out the video to see how I did it. Using this way of engaging with stories, you can use any book and turn it into a learning experience.