Stories that help little feelings
A gentle starting point for a conversation.
Characters can give families a way to talk about everyday feelings. Pause at an interesting moment and ask, “How do you think this friend feels?”
Listen to your child’s answer without turning the story into a test. They might notice something entirely different from you.
You can share your own thoughts too: “I think I would want a friend beside me.” Keep the conversation gentle and leave room for wonder.
Begin with the character
A question about a woodland friend can be easier to answer than a question about yourself. Try “What do you notice about their face?” or “What might they want a friend to say?” Keep the conversation open: children may interpret a scene in several different ways.
Let a feeling have a name
You can offer a word without insisting on it: “I wonder if this friend feels disappointed.” Your child might choose worried, cross, or lonely instead. Ask what in the picture or story gave them that idea, and let them change their mind as the adventure continues.
Leave room for silence
You do not have to ask a question on every page or connect every scene to your child’s life. Sometimes simply sharing a story is enough. If a subject feels uncomfortable, follow your child’s lead and move on; the same book will be there another day.
Carry one kind idea into the day
After reading, choose a small, ordinary action together: invite someone to play, offer help, or sit beside a friend. These are conversation prompts for families, not a promise that a story will change a child’s feelings or behaviour. Keep the focus on listening and spending time together.