Brief Overview
1-2-3 My Feelings and Me by Goldie Millar and Lisa A. Berger, published by Free Spirit Publishing is a comprehensive book on feelings.
The authors point out how feelings are felt in their bodies and mind, how everybody has them and how all kinds of feelings are valid.
The illustrations are detailed with expressive faces and postures of children in a relatable setting where their feelings would often be challenged or put into a position to act on their feelings, such as in the playground taking turns, trying their best at something new or helping a friend.
The book is filled with a variety of things a child can do to slow down to evaluate and be in tune with their feelings and to also observe other children and how they may feeling or why they may be feeling a certain way.
This book can help a child navigate and be more aware of how they are feeling and provide ways in which they can categorize their feelings, share them, organize them and empower themselves through self-talk.
Thoughts
If you are studying feelings or doing a unit study in feelings or getting to know me, this book can be a wonderful resource.
The images alone could be used for a week and be a part of many morning meetings and conversations.
The step by step feelings guide if you will, not only talk about feelings alone, but rather, it demonstrates a way for children to assess and discover their own feelings.
It breaks apart the big umbrealla of feelings to different intensities, from small to really big. I find this so helpful, as I often actually find myself asking my kids how “ouch” a boo boo or stomach pain is, a little, medium or a lot so that they can be in tune with whether or not they just have a little tummy ache or a big one. It gives me a way to access the urgency of their feeling, where I would make a judgement to wait (such as if it’s possibly just gas pain) or if it is more urgent, such as appendix or stomach bug pain, and other times, the I’m the nervous type of stomachache pain. There are so many levels of feelings that vary in certain situations.
I agree with the book that feelings can change.I have one child who sometimes gets confused with her feelings. She’ll feel nervous in a moment and perfectly fine the next. She changes and gets even more anxious sometimes because she didn’t mean to “lie” about her feelings. I often tell her and reassure her that I believe all her feelings and that feelings can change and that yes, they can be confusing. I told her she can feel nervous and nauseous one moment, and perfectly back to normal in a few minutes; and just because feelings change, it doesn’t mean that she was telling a lie. Children can be hard on themselves at times, especially if they think they might be doing something “wrong.” Children can take comfort in knowing that it is acceptable and “normal” for feelings to change.
On a personal note, one of our kids was hospitalized for almost 3 weeks due to and flu severe pnemonia gone wrong not long ago. I won’t go into details, but it was a terrifying time in both me and my child’s life. I would recommend Child Life Specialists and Children hospitals to get a copy of this book to study and read. It would make a great resource for staff development for anyone working with children, especially if they are going through a tough time .
So many confusing, mixed up and new and different feelings a child feels when they child are admitted to a hospital. The book talk about feelings and how some can be comfortable, while others may not. It talked about things that a child can do to calm down and assess their own feelings, all things I felt were done so gently and heartwarmingly through the nurses and Child Life Specialists who do a marvelous and inspiring job supporting a child’s emotional well being during difficult times.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the part where kids can talk about their feelings and self-talk to encourage themselves to get through a not so easy situation they have to deal with, “I can do it”, ” I am loved” and ” “These feelings won’t last forever.” So many positive affirmations a child can say and learn to empower themselves. This book helped me to realize that adults can help support children, but many times, children could benefit from self-help too.
This book can be a great book for school directors, principals, guidance counselors and teachers doing detailed unit on feelings in school or for those who work and interact with children as their profession, such as Child Life Specialists, pediatric nurses, pediatricians and hospital educators. This book can also be an asset to parents who want to better understand the details on feelings and how a child sees and experience, process, internalize and express their feelings.
I wish they would make a set of bookmark style cards to go with many of the books Free Spirit Publishing publishes because I think it would be so helpful in a guidance counselor’s office, at a parent resource center, pediatrician’s, hospital or anywhere where the people interact with children. They would make great bookmarks too!
If you liked this book review on feelings, I highly recommend for you to check on my book review for “I’m Happy-Sad Today” by Lory Britain.
Disclaimers:
Free Spirit Publishing offered this book to me as part of their influencer program. All thoughts are my own. I am a big advocate for the books they publish that help strengthen and grow children’s socio-emotional skills.
As a Free Spirit Influencer, you can feel free to use code HOPSCOTCH15 for 15% off your order on the Free Spirit Publishing Website.
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