Brief Summary
“Worries are about Forever” by Elizabeth Verdick starts out with a scene in the sometimes noisy and busy bustle of the outside world.
Examples are provided of times when a child might worry, such as when a child enters a new classroom or when someone is learning something new, such as swimming.
The author provides various examples of how it might feel when a child is worried.
It also gives ideas on how to make the worries smaller and forget about the worries by suggesting:
– a breathing technique that is fun and relatable to kids
-l things/activities you can do to help out the worries away (such as through movement or doing things with your hands)
-examples of positive affirmations you can say to let yourself know that everything will be okay
The story doesn’t dismiss the worry feeling; but rather, teaches ways for children to deal with the feeling in a healthy way.
Thoughts
This book is perfect to prep children who are going to school for the first time or to any child moving up to a new grade. New school, new classroom, teachers, students; and sometimes new home are things kids can get worried about and rightfully so! Every child is different. For one child, they may need little to no talk about school to happily go; where others may need lots of extra reassurance and prep.
The breathing technique the author highlight in this books is brilliant, fun and relatable to many kids , “Breathe in slowly through your nose like you’re smelling cookies. Breathe out slowly through your mouth, like you’re blowing bubbles.” It honestly taught me a more visual and improved way to breathe in and out. Try it too! Smell those cookies and blow those bubbles!
Running, jumping and using clay are other things you can do to make your worries smaller. I like to have my kids make a large circle with both their hands opened wide, reaches up towards the sky and ask them to make it go smaller and smaller until it’s small enough to crumble and toss away with a “plop”. I like to do this activity along with them– it’s engaging and a nice stretch for parents too– and also a reminder for parents to show them worries can be put away for the moment. You can also have kids blow up a big worry bubble and pop it by pretend poking it with their finger or clapping it to pop it. Both ways of physically acting out a worry, lightens the mood and yields a little laugh at the end.
Positive affirmations are a great way to help make worries smaller as the author would likely say. The affirmations listed are simple , but strong. It can be said to also calm angry or emotional kids down when they begin to feel a negative or not so good feeling.
I like that the author gave examples of what it actually feels like to feel worries, such as butterflies in stomach and racing heart because sometimes kids feel these type of feelings, but can’t or need help pinpointing that they’re not necessarily angry, mad or sad, but worried.
I’m Happy -Sad Today by Lory Britain is an insightful book on mixed up feelings that can go hand in hand with this book for a bed time read aloud or unit on feelings at school. I wrote a review for that book as well. We gifted that book to teachers this year on the first day of schools.
So if you have a child you know who may worry a lot, this book can be an immense duo of support for a worried child.
**Thank you Free Spirit Publishing for providing this book for honest review.
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