Knowing that someone is there for you no matter is one of the pillars to building self-esteem and resilience
Mental wellness in our children is so important as they navigate through life. I shared earlier some tips from experts on how to raise a calm child earlier and wanted to support this with some books about courage.
These stories present opportunities to reassure your child that you are there for them, no matter the difficulty. Children can also learn about being a source of support themselves, and being a dependable buddy for their friends.
Here are three carefully selected picture books about courage that we receive and can also give.
Who will keep the boy safe?
Who will keep them both safe?
Who will keep the ship safe?
Big or small, old or young, near or far, we all need someone to watch over us. This touching picture book is a reassuring tale about a circular journey and the people who are with us as we travel through life.
This endearing story resonated with me as an adult as well and is a good reminder of the many people in our lives who look out and care for us.
Little Crab and Very Big Crab live in a tiny rock pool near the sea. They go for a dip together in the big ocean and Little Crab encounters waves for the first time.
Oh. The waves! They’re ENORMOUS. And loud! Maybe it’s better if they don’t go in? Will Little Crab be brave enough to go in?
This sweet book shows that sometimes a gentle “don’t worry, I’m here” can keep tentative little crabs from running away from new and unfamiliar situations, and help them discover the brilliant worlds that await when they take the plunge.
One of my mindset mantras is “It’s only difficult because it’s new”. This story can trigger conversations about building up the courage to put yourself in uncomfortable situations.
Olive is a little girl who likes the types of adventures that exist in books. Her best friend Hoot, a stuffed-animal owl, prefers the ones that take place in the real world.
Today, Hoot gets to pick the adventures. At first, Olive isn’t sure if she’s brave enough for the activities Hoot has picked: flying a makeshift hot-air balloon and navigating raging rivers. When her dearest friend gets hurt though, Olive discovers that she’s not only brave, she’s brave enough for two.
I read this and felt emboldened to also be brave enough to step up for the vulnerable people in our lives. Receiving and giving emotional support to our loves ones gives us collective strength!
Topics about isolation, loneliness and mental wellness are tough to talk about, and these books about courage take a positive approach to these topics.
Unconditional love, true friendship and mutual encouragement help us to flourish, so let’s grow these in our children, ourselves and the people around us.
I’m sending you good vibes, dear reader!
PS: Want some expert tips? Highlights from psychiatrists and children educators in the talk about how to raise happy and resilient children here.
Email me at PositiveLeePeilin@gmail.com or leave me a comment at @PositiveLeePeilin on Facebook or Instagram. I would love to see your storytelling session!
Featured books are suitable for children from 4 years and up.
All books featured are available in Singapore’s public libraries and in the bookshops linked.
PS: This article was shared by Chalk and Chakras, who create yoga mats for children! Serene, the owner, asks me a few questions about building courage in the time of Covid-19, which you can read about here.
