Accidental Parenting
Some of my most fabulous parenting moments, I have stumbled into accidentally.
I stumbled into a genius one recently.
On the last day of school, we went to the library. Andrew stocked up on his current favorite series (39 Clues- for anyone in the middle to upper elementary level- is fantastic. Boys, and girls, will both like it. It's basically a scavenger hunt with lots of adventure, but a little information about famous, important historical figures thrown in as well. They're well written and exciting), and Alexa found a few books too. One book that has become our current favorite, and I will probably buy, is "When Sophie Gets Angry- Really, Really Angry . . . " by Molly Bang.
From the first moment we read it, Alexa loved it. I read it every night and at least once during the day too. It's about Sophie having to share a toy with her sister and she doesn't want to. She has a temper tantrum, and the book describes how Sophie deals with her anger. The illustrations and words make the book feel angry, then sad, and then calm, and then comforted. Molly Bang is brilliant All children associate with the anger at having to share a beloved toy and the emotions that happen as a result.
So the other day, we're sitting in the kitchen and suddenly Alexa becomes enraged with me. Usually I feel completely at a loss when she does this. I have no idea how to react. I've tried to comfort her (like the books say to), but it just seems to add to the anger. I've tried "Quiet Time" (which is different than Time Out- and she knows that. School has Quiet Time and Time Out). I've tried discipline. This day, when she erupted unexpectedly, I said, "Alexa, do you feel like Sophie?! Do you want to roar a red, red roar?" And suddenly, she calmed down. I am not lying, exaggerating, or telling you a dream. It is an honest fact. At the time I assumed it was an isolated incident, except I have done it several times since . . . and it's NOT! When she gets mad, and goes into temper tantrum mode . . . I ask her if she feels like Sophie, then I quote a part of the book, and suddenly . . . she's not so mad! She becomes more rational.
It makes total sense from a special education teacher perspective. It's sort of like a social story that people use to help Autistic children deal with emotions they don't understand. This book, has helped Alexa deal with her strong anger! It's so bizarre and amazing and relieving. I have researched a few other books and will be checking those out of the library as well! If nothing else. . . it's bought us 5 days of hardly any fits. And for that I thank the author!
I stumbled into a genius one recently.
On the last day of school, we went to the library. Andrew stocked up on his current favorite series (39 Clues- for anyone in the middle to upper elementary level- is fantastic. Boys, and girls, will both like it. It's basically a scavenger hunt with lots of adventure, but a little information about famous, important historical figures thrown in as well. They're well written and exciting), and Alexa found a few books too. One book that has become our current favorite, and I will probably buy, is "When Sophie Gets Angry- Really, Really Angry . . . " by Molly Bang.
From the first moment we read it, Alexa loved it. I read it every night and at least once during the day too. It's about Sophie having to share a toy with her sister and she doesn't want to. She has a temper tantrum, and the book describes how Sophie deals with her anger. The illustrations and words make the book feel angry, then sad, and then calm, and then comforted. Molly Bang is brilliant All children associate with the anger at having to share a beloved toy and the emotions that happen as a result.
So the other day, we're sitting in the kitchen and suddenly Alexa becomes enraged with me. Usually I feel completely at a loss when she does this. I have no idea how to react. I've tried to comfort her (like the books say to), but it just seems to add to the anger. I've tried "Quiet Time" (which is different than Time Out- and she knows that. School has Quiet Time and Time Out). I've tried discipline. This day, when she erupted unexpectedly, I said, "Alexa, do you feel like Sophie?! Do you want to roar a red, red roar?" And suddenly, she calmed down. I am not lying, exaggerating, or telling you a dream. It is an honest fact. At the time I assumed it was an isolated incident, except I have done it several times since . . . and it's NOT! When she gets mad, and goes into temper tantrum mode . . . I ask her if she feels like Sophie, then I quote a part of the book, and suddenly . . . she's not so mad! She becomes more rational.
It makes total sense from a special education teacher perspective. It's sort of like a social story that people use to help Autistic children deal with emotions they don't understand. This book, has helped Alexa deal with her strong anger! It's so bizarre and amazing and relieving. I have researched a few other books and will be checking those out of the library as well! If nothing else. . . it's bought us 5 days of hardly any fits. And for that I thank the author!
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