by Megan Bayliss

Created on: November 04, 2006   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

Are books providing children with enough advice? This complex question requires active adult involvement to be able to answer yes, books are providing children with enough advice'.

The process of providing advice through books is called bibliotherapy. While self-help books, with structured steps for life improvement, are a form of adult bibliotherapy, quality junior fiction offers a range of problem solving options for our children. However, the advice contained within children's literature is only as good as the parental involvement of structuring follow up activities toward integration of the child's need for advice or social information.

Early childhood educators support that children learn through play. Reading is a form of play and a preferred indoor option for many children. The initial play and problem solving value of reading occurs as children engage with the book's characters. Connected with the story line, the child enters an imaginary space of interactive problem solving. Aided by the struggles and achievements of the characters, children learn the social rules of behavior and develop different ways of being able to seek help or reflecting on life issues. If provided with real life opportunities to test literature-induced problem solving, the child is active in their own therapy and the book becomes a good tool for providing advice.

The purpose of using children's books to give advice is a three-fold affair:

1. Identification of character and social situation: This identification increases the probability of learning different behaviors and receiving advice.

2. Catharsis: Through identification, an emotional connection with the character or social situation allows children to act out and discuss their emotional responses to the situation.

3. Insight: Through beneficial discussion and follow-up play, the child integrates the link between the story and their own life, with opportunities to practice how to address and solve issues of concern.

Just as adult self-help books give steps for life improvement, the following nine steps will help turn any children's book into helpful advice.

Step 1) Identify the practical advice (the message) you want your child to know.

Step 2) Match the message with an appropriate book. Seek out junior fiction/non-fiction that deals with the particular issue (drugs, death, alcoholism, fear, bullying, etc). While searching for the advice appropriate book, remember that:

The book should match your child's reading ability level,

The text

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>