When my son was small, trips to our local playground was, quite like most children, the best part of his day (and mine). While these playful times may start out with good intensions, it can regrettably also be a time where conflict, overwhelming situations and shy social behavior can turn a lighthearted time into a stressful one.
Our brain plays a vital role in regulating our emotions. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for our decision making and impulse control, which in turn, helps us to manage our emotional responses. According to The Kids Mental Health Foundation, a child's ability to be able to understand, express and manage their emotions is a skill that develops over the course of their childhood. Some little ones are adept at mastering these skills earlier than others who may struggle.
Helping to guide your little ones to regulate their emotions can be difficult for families and caregivers. The American Psychological Association, based in Washington, D.C., states that children's ability to manage their feelings depends upon a variety of factors including, "genetics, their natural temperament, the environment they grow up in, and outside factors, like how tired or hungry they are." But,we can play a critical role to helping our children to learn how to manage their feelings. One of the best ways that we can provide comfort and reassurance in handling our little ones emotions are through literature. Stories can provide our children with the vocabulary, coping skills and most importantly, empathy to handle the emotions that playing in a playground can bring. Stories like I Need Space, written by Molly Harris and illustrated by Jon Corby.
As our tale begins, Rocco the rocket ship has the most special and unique playground- space! His playground is filled with so many favorite rides, slides and swings, that it's just so hard for Rocco to name one. This playground can be a total blast for rockets like Rocco, but sometimes, not everyone at the playground knows how to play as nice as Rocco does. He tries to gently ask them to move and play nice but he gets ignored.
Rocco and his friend decide to play in another area when suddenly, a group of meteors known as the "Roughhousers" who love to play loud and rowdy, crashed into Rocco and his friend, knocking poor Rocco into some flying debris. Rocco is exasperated and cries out. "I NEED SPACE!!!" He blasts into a place at the edge of the solar system that is quiet and dark. A place that not many "Roughhousers" would likely to be found. A place that felt exactly what Rocco needed. He takes some breaths, depressurizes and marvels at the sparkly, beautiful universe below him, and finds his strength to return back to the space playground with his friend. Rocco and his friend realize that there is plenty of room in the space playground for all to play and have a true BLAST!
Author Molly Harris' tale paired with the lighthearted illustrations of Jon Corby, provides an extremely fitting read aloud for parents and caregivers to give children a pathway to talk about the feelings that may have arised from a recent playground-related issue with a relatable story that will open discussion. I Need Space will help your little ones to build their confidence and empathy towards other children that they may encounter who are feeling overwhelmed. An added bonus is the helpful two paged section in the back of the story that gives insightful information about space, the planets, as well as tips for little ones to bring them "back to earth" when a difficult situation occurs.
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