Therapeutic Children’s Books: How Stories Can Help Your Child
Written By: Grace Rieke, Counseling Intern
Key words: Parenting, Children, Children’s Books, Coping Skills
Disclaimer: The information and resources provided in this blog post are simply supplementary information. The recommendations and resources in this post are not a substitute for mental health treatment.
Therapeutic Children’s Books: How Stories Can Help Your Child
When your child is dealing with something hard, like family transitions, divorce, the death of a loved one, or a traumatic experience, many parents find themselves at a loss. It might feel hard as a parent to explain what is happening and help your child adjust. One tool to help in this challenging task can be children’s books. It may come as a surprise that many children’s books cover these tough topics. They aim to educate your child, help them develop understanding, and let them know they are not alone. Stories allow children to use their imaginations, and they make information easier to understand and pay attention to so that kids can work through their concerns (Wark, Szekely, & Abrahamson, 2015).
If this sounds like it might be helpful for you and your family, try checking out one of the following five therapeutic children’s books! If none of these stories fit your needs, or you want to find more, you can look for other books by these authors.
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
This well-known story teaches children that they are always connected to those they love. It can be especially helpful for children struggling with separation anxiety or losing a loved one and emphasizes that we are never alone.
The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr
This book is perfect for young children, with easy words and simple illustrations. Aimed for children who have experienced a loss or had to say “goodbye” to someone, it suggests many different feelings and thoughts that a child might experience.
A Little Spot of Anger by Diane Alber
This educational book teaches children about anger and offers a hands-on way to calm down. Children can follow along in learning and practicing a “special trick” to feel more peaceful.
Daddy’s Disease by Carolyn Hannan Bell, MS, LPC
This book tells the story of Tommy, whose father is dealing with alcohol abuse. Throughout the story, Tommy’s mother explains alcoholism and helps him cope with feelings of guilt, sadness, and anger. This book can educate about the effects of substance abuse on an individual and help a child make sense of their own reaction when a parent is struggling.
Help Your Dragon Cope with Trauma by Steve Herman
This rhyming story follows a kid named Drew and his pet dragon, Diggory Doo, as Drew helps his dragon find several ways to cope with a traumatic memory. It teaches children a basic definition of trauma and gives some ideas for coping skills. This book happens to be part of a series of dragon books, including (just to name a few) “Dragon & the Bully,” “Train Your Dragon to Love Himself,” “Help Your Dragon Deal with Anxiety,” and “Teach Your Dragon About Diversity.”
To strengthen your child’s connection to the story, you might ask as you read: “What do you think will happen next?” or “Have you felt like that character?” Let them ask questions, make comments as you read, and listen! Children may also need time to absorb what they are reading, or they may not be ready to talk. While you are reading to your child, pay attention to how they react to the story. Your child could start to feel upset and not know how to tell you. If your child seems uncomfortable, it may be a good time to ask them how they are doing, if they want to talk, or if they might want to save the book for another time (Wark, Szekely, & Abrahamson, 2015).
It is important to remember that these books are only a starting point! They are meant to prompt questions and conversations about your child’s personal link to the topic. Always take time to talk to your child about what they thought of the story and listen to how they connected to it.
References
Alber, D. (2019). A Little SPOT of Anger: A Story About Managing BIG Emotions (Inspire to Create A Better You!). Diane Alber Art LLC.
Bell, H. C. (2013). Daddy’s Disease: Helping Children Understand Alcoholism. CreateSpace Publishing.
Herman, S. (2019). Help Your Dragon Cope with Trauma: A Cute Children Story to Help Kids Understand and Overcome Traumatic Events. (My Dragon Books). DG Books Publishing.
Karst, P. (2000). The Invisible String. Camarillo, CA: DeVorss Publications.
Parr, T. (2015). The Goodbye Book. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Wark, L., Szekely, J., & Abrahamson, L. (2015). Using children’s books in family therapy. The Therapist's Notebook for Children and Adolescents: Homework, Handouts, and Activities for Use in Psychotherapy, 115.