Research
How Picture-Print Books Benefit the Social-Emotional Development of Children
Exploring the impact of children's books is a crucial part of understanding child development. Picture-print books play a critical part in the education of our youth and reveal a way to support children’s emotional growth by encouraging them to relate their feelings to text and illustration. Children's books can help guide behavior and help kids adapt social skills and problem-solving strategies when faced with tough situations. The characters in stories can present good examples for children to relate to and emulate. According to respected early childhood education author Carol Copple and early education specialist Sue Bredekam, making text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections can help children understand the story and use it to reflect on their own lives and problems. Children's literature is a valuable tool to support children's moral development because it encourages creating parallels between their own lives and the stories depicted. The National Library of Medicine states that a child's understanding of emotions and ability to keep control of them is crucial for developing the social competence needed to interact well with others. In order to help children develop empathy, parents can read and discuss stories with their kids throughout their entire childhood. Children's books play a crucial role in supporting the social-emotional development of kids by encouraging positive behaviors, supporting moral development, and fostering empathy.
Personal Stake in Research
Exploring the impact of children's books is a crucial part of understanding child development. Picture-print books play a critical part in the education of our youth and reveal a way to support children’s emotional growth by encouraging them to relate their feelings to text and illustration.
Children's books can help guide behavior and help kids adapt social skills and problem-solving strategies when faced with tough situations. The characters in stories can present good examples for children to relate to and emulate. According to respected early childhood education author Carol Copple and early education specialist Sue Bredekam, making text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world connections can help children understand the story and use it to reflect on their own lives and problems.
Children's literature is a valuable tool to support children's moral development because it encourages creating parallels between their own lives and the stories depicted. The National Library of Medicine states that a child's understanding of emotions and ability to keep control of them is crucial for developing the social competence needed to interact well with others. In order to help children develop empathy, parents can read and discuss stories with their kids throughout their entire childhood.
Children's books play a crucial role in supporting the social-emotional development of kids by encouraging positive behaviors, supporting moral development, and fostering empathy.
What is Social Emotional Health?
Before diving into the research behind what it entails, one first needs to understand what social-emotional health means. Social-emotional health is the ability to comprehend and manage our emotions. Additionally, it is the skill that allows us to have relationships and social connections with others. In the social-emotional realm, humans progress through positive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Our ability to recognize others' emotions and adapt to others' state of mind is another key factor of social well-being. Social-emotional health utilizes self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and resilience. According to a study done by Christina Cipriano, PhD, an assistant professor at the Yale Child Study Center, and Michael Strambler, PhD, an associate professor of psychiatry, K-12 students who participate in social-emotional learning programs develop a better work ethic in school and have a better social life. The students who participated in the study displayed better work in their academics and other school-related categories such as attendance and engagement in classes. Cipriano stated that “[Their] new findings provide robust evidence and a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of SEL (social-emotional learning): positive effects that matter for student success in the short and long term, across the K-12 academic lifespan,” after completing the study. The positive effects that stem from these SEL programs last at least 6 months after the course is finished. Supporting social-emotional well-being is a critical part of guiding children's cognitive development and gives them a better chance to reach their full potential throughout all aspects of their lives.
