One of my very favourite things to do with my own kids, ever since they were babies, is to snuggle down together and read a book.
Over the years, we must have read hundreds and hundreds of books, from baby picture ones, through to Baby Sitters Club, all the way up through Harry Potter and Percy Jackson and beyond.
I think the right book can serve so many purposes. Obviously reading is great just for the love and learning of language and vocabulary, but a book can also be such a great tool as a conversation starter, to get kids to learn about the world around them, to see things from another perspective and, on a broader scale even, to just become better, more rounded humans.
And sure is that not the goal of parenting in general?
Another goal many of us have as parents is to teach our kids to manage and understand their emotions – a life skill many adults today even struggle with, so getting this in while our little ones are still little, well, that is a parenting win in my book.
And speaking of books and feelings, child therapist Charlotte Clark recently took to social media to recommend one book in particular that she thinks all parents should be reading to their kids – and why.
‘Get this book’
Clark explains that The Grand Hotel of Feelings is one of the best ways she has seen emotions described to children.
She explains:
‘You’re the hotel manager. Feelings are the guests. Some are easy. Some are… not.’
But, she says, they all are welcome in.
‘But each one needs something different when they arrive.’
The therapist adds:
‘And that’s exactly how I think about emotions in my work with children – not as things to get rid of, but visitors to respond to.’
In its description online, here is what parents should know about the Grand Hotel of Feelings:
‘Delightfully imaginative picture book that is both a fun read-aloud and also a great way to engage children in conversations about managing emotions. Welcome to the Grand Hotel of Feelings, where all kinds of feelings come and stay.’
‘Every guest has unique needs. Anger, for example, is very loud and needs plenty of space to scream and shout. Sadness speaks in a small voice and occasionally floods the bathroom. Gratitude likes wandering about in nature; you never know when she might come and sit by your side.’
And this bit is such a lovely lessons for kids about feelings, I think:
‘Some feelings are big and some are small, some are fun and some are tricky, but no feeling is ever turned away. At the Grand Hotel of Feelings, there is room for everyone!’
