Written in partnership with Thomas Herd, founder of T1 Advertising
Although many positive advances have been made in recent years regarding children’s mental health, unforeseen circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have caused many children to suffer from its isolating effects. According to data collected by the United Nations Children’s Fund, one in seven children have been negatively affected mentally by the coronavirus, a discouraging trend that is only expected to continue as new variants emerge and we begin to entering the third year of the pandemic. One such way to combat these adverse effects is through the use of social-emotional learning concepts, a form of teaching highly touted by child psychiatrists for its ability to help children understand and manage their feelings. and their behaviors, which can now be taught easily at home and in the classroom through author Lauren Grabois Fischer’s uplifting series of children’s books, The Be Books.
Rather than letting children be overwhelmed and frightened by their feelings, social-emotional learning concepts instead encourage them to accept how they feel, communicate about what made them feel that way, and deal with the situation in a healthy way. rather than pushing things back inside. The theory itself is built around five key principles: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and positive decision-making; all elements found in Grabois Fischer’s books that help children work towards a more enjoyable and uplifting youth culture.
“As a mom and educator, I know the power a book can have on a person,” says Grabois Fischer. “In raising my own children, I knew I wanted to create books that would create a kinder, more tolerant world around and within them. Thus, ‘The Be Books’ was born. I wanted to remind all children of to be kind, to be accepting, to be grateful, to be positive, to be themselves!
From volumes that promote kindness and positivity like “Love Grows Love” to entries like “The Light Within Me” that encourage gratitude and mindfulness, “The Be Books” eight-book collection has something for everyone. child to resonate with and learn from. With simple yet engaging worksheets and discussion questions at the back of each book, teachers and parents can help cement the social-emotional learning concepts children have just read deep in their minds with the materials provided. .
While social-emotional learning concepts have yet to be implemented on a large scale to address the mental health issues of children born from the coronavirus, Grabois Fischer’s “The Be Books” makes the integration of these lessons at home easier than ever, turning story time into an exciting learning opportunity that children are both excited to participate in and ultimately benefit from in their daily lives.
To learn more about ‘The Be Books’ and what it can do for the kids in your life, visit the collection’s website or Instagram for more information.