The Power of Children's Books To Address Fears and Feelings

In this episode Dr. Frank Sileo, award winning children's author and psychologist, identifies common childhood challenges and feelings and discusses the power of stories to address them. He considers fears, stress, self-confidence, making mistakes, friends, gossip, being different and separation from parents. He demonstrates in the books he writes like, Sally Sore Loser; Don't Put Yourself Down in Circus Town; Bug Bites and Campfires: A Story for Kids about Homesickness; A World of Pausabilities: An Exercise in Mindfulness, etc. what research has found about the power of books to develop empathy and coping skills. He shares an understanding of how reading takes children out of their world to another place where they see the world through another's eyes. When that story is shared with a parent, teacher or another child, it is an intimate experience of shared imagination. If you love children and you love stories, listen in to learn how valuable the joy of reading can be.