- Behavior
- Education
Reading can help your child understand emotions
In this article, you’ll find answers to questions like:
1. How can reading improve self-esteem?
2. What if I don’t read that well or that often?
1. HOW CAN READING IMPROVE SELF-ESTEEM?
Reading can help your child understand the emotions of characters who have feelings of confidence and courage – or don't. This can help parents jump-start a conversation with their children about self-esteem. Questions could include, “When have you felt bold?” For courage, parents can ask, “What makes you feel brave?”
“I think story books are the best ways to help children deal with hard emotions,” says Megan Richards Bob, Education and Family Literacy director for the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County. “It’s easy to find books that deal with anger and sadness at the appropriate age level. Sites such as Brightly allow you to search book titles by topic for readers from pre-K to teens.”
And children can feel more confident simply being better readers because it improves self-esteem.
“When a student is able to read and understand in a variety of ways and contexts, the learning that can happen increases exponentially,” says Kelly Gilbert, a certified educator of K-5 Reading Interventions for the Palm Beach County School District. “He or she will be able to better respond to prompts and questions from the teacher and also participate more in the classroom conversations around texts being read and content being discussed.”
3. WHAT IF I DON’T READ THAT WELL OR THAT OFTEN?
In building super readers, educators often work with students whose parents don’t read books in English. Their parents may speak a different language or prefer watching films or TV. If language is a barrier, Richards Bob suggests using picture books with illustrations that tell the story. That way, the parents and child can interpret in their own words. Parents can use the same question technique about emotions while following the character’s plot. Parents looking for help with their own literacy skills can reach out to the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County.
SOURCES:
• Kelly Gilbert, certified educator of K-5 Reading Intervention, School District of Palm Beach County
• Megan Richards Bob, Education and Family Literacy director, Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
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Related resources
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- Education
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School District of Palm Beach County
School library media center resources — print and electronic resources for students
561-434-8000 Website -
- Education
Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
Countywide programs to promote literacy for children and adults
561-279-9103 Website -
- Education
- Parenting
- Things to do
BRIDGES of Palm Beach County
Ten neighborhood hubs help parents raise children healthy, safe and strong
561-740-7017 Website