It's all right to cry...

I struggle with how to teach my kids that they can and should have and feel their feelings, but also that they can moderate their behavior - that they don't need to have a huge melt down over every little thing, but they don't need to stuff their feelings either.

The old Free To Be You and Me song, It's All Right To Cry (see the youtube video) is a great resource -- beautiful pictures of people young and old crying, with the words "it's all right to cry, crying gets the sad out of you... "

Kate and I recently got another book about Little Rabbit from the library. Why Do You Cry? (Not a Sob Story) by Kate Klise and illustrated by her sister Sarah Klise, features Little Rabbit (from Shall I Knit You a Hat fame, reviewed earlier) on the eve of his 5th birthday. Little Rabbit assertst that he won't cry anymore, once he is 5, and only wants those who don't cry to come to his birthday party. Of course he finds out that all his friends still cry, and comes to see crying in a different way. This is a book we're going to buy.

Emotional Literacy and Happy Kids

The Greater Good Science Center, out of Berkeley, offers tools for raising happier kids. (A video presentation of their ideas is in the right-hand sidebar). It is a new site, so there isn't a ton of information, but it has promise.

Greater Good is also a magazine, and this edition features essays about the 21st century family. Although there is nothing directly written about peacemaking, there are progressive and provocative articles.

"How We Are Smart" ~ a children's book about multiple intelligences

Nikola-Lisa, W and Sean Qualls. 2006. How We Are Smart. New York : Lee and Low Books.

This book uses poetry and artwork introduces talented Americans and emphasizes 8 different ways that people can be smart (body, logic, music, nature, people, picture, self, word). Drawing on Howard Gardner's ideas of multiple intelligences, the book provides insight into the different ways that "famous" people express their talents and invites kids to think about themselves and each other in a multifaceted way.

RESOURCES :

LEE & LOW BOOKS : Teacher resources for teaching about diversity. (PDF classroom guides, by theme, that are connected to books published by Lee & Low).

Multiple Intelligences and Child Development (the basics)

Project Zero at Harvard -- research and publications focused on integrating ideas of MI into the classroom. Project Zero offers professional development opportunities, an annual conference and an e-bookstore.

Strong Start : A SEL curriculum

John Gottman developed the idea of "emotional intelligence" and has a wonderful book on the topic : "The Heart of Parenting" as well as other resources for families.