“Will you give me away when the new baby comes?” my neighbor’s child asked. “I would cry in the night if you would give me away.” This mother was looking forward to her second child with tremendous joy. Her three-year-old son, however, was having more trouble accepting his new role of big brother.
Children react in a variety of ways to a new sibling, and even those who look forward to the event may have mixed emotions that can surface unexpectedly. It’s not uncommon for children to feel overwhelmed or fearful. Frequently these feeling will begin before the new baby even arrives. Luckily help is as close as the nearest public library! Picture books can be a great way to help children cope with intense feelings.
One way that picture books can help ease the transition is merely the physical act of sitting together, comfy and cozy, spending one on one time parent and child. Although it can be difficult to find the time when there’s a new baby in the house, this is an ideal opportunity to snuggle up, giving your child the reassuring message that you are still available despite the baby’s arrival. …show more content…
Using picture books, children can raise questions and concerns that may seem threatening when discussed directly. For example, a child can feel free to question an older sibling’s jealousy in a picture book without necessarily having to admit to having that feeling himself. A parent who asks questions about the characters in the book such as, “Why do you think Lily is so upset at the new baby?” or “Why do you think Daniel said that?” may gain valuable insight from the child’s
Children react in a variety of ways to a new sibling, and even those who look forward to the event may have mixed emotions that can surface unexpectedly. It’s not uncommon for children to feel overwhelmed or fearful. Frequently these feeling will begin before the new baby even arrives. Luckily help is as close as the nearest public library! Picture books can be a great way to help children cope with intense feelings.
One way that picture books can help ease the transition is merely the physical act of sitting together, comfy and cozy, spending one on one time parent and child. Although it can be difficult to find the time when there’s a new baby in the house, this is an ideal opportunity to snuggle up, giving your child the reassuring message that you are still available despite the baby’s arrival. …show more content…
Using picture books, children can raise questions and concerns that may seem threatening when discussed directly. For example, a child can feel free to question an older sibling’s jealousy in a picture book without necessarily having to admit to having that feeling himself. A parent who asks questions about the characters in the book such as, “Why do you think Lily is so upset at the new baby?” or “Why do you think Daniel said that?” may gain valuable insight from the child’s