Growing Feelings

More about the book

Friendships can be complex, often stirring up difficult emotions. Children frequently encounter feelings of shyness at unfamiliar gatherings, anger during disputes, or sadness when friends move away. Since friendships are so important, kids tend to have strong emotional reactions related to them. This engaging book addresses a variety of feelings children experience about friends, including worry, guilt, jealousy, compassion, and gratitude. Through relatable cartoon stories and practical, research-based coping strategies, along with humorous commentary from a cat and dog, kids receive hands-on approaches they can implement. Child psychologist Eileen Kennedy-Moore and writer Christine McLaughlin help children recognize the Feelings Story behind common friendship challenges, illustrating the connections between events, thoughts, emotions, actions, and social responses. The situational cartoons clarify how reactions can either exacerbate or resolve relationship issues. Moving beyond a simplistic "think positive" mindset, the book offers a nuanced view of emotions, emphasizing the value of all feelings. It guides children in empathizing with others and understanding, managing, and communicating their own emotions healthily. By equipping kids with tools to navigate their feelings about friends, it supports their mental health and well-being.