Using picturebooks to talk about Trauma, Anxiety, Stress and COVID-19 [Part II]

BY ANGELA M. WISEMAN

On April 21 I wrote a post on the same topic, in which I addressed some of the anxiety, stress, and trauma that children might be facing during COVID-19. In this follow-up post, I am sharing some books that my colleagues and I have found helpful in talking with adults and children about trauma, in hopes that these books can start facilitating conversations about feelings, fears, hopes, and dreams.

COVID-19 has created stressful situations for many families - we may be concerned about many issues, including financial issues/job security, trying to meet professional obligations, and staying healthy. Children are experiencing general anxiety and stress, but also often experience negative feelings resulting from missing friends and family, adapting to changes in routines and activities, and fear of getting sick.  In this post, I am going to suggest some ways to use children’s literature to start conversations about anxieties, sadness, and coping mechanisms. In addition, I share some resources for adults and children that might be helpful.

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Books for talking about anxieties and fear

Reading and responding to literature can be emotional, empowering, and transformative. When children experience trauma or anxiety, picturebooks can be a powerful way to foster conversations about their experiences and beliefs.  Or, simply, they can offer an opportunity for adults and children to talk about feelings and emotions. The complexity of picturebooks - the visual and textual components - allows for multiple ways to respond and consider topics. Children’s literature can expand readers’ experiences; encouraging readers to relate to others and consider different perspectives. In addition to text, images serve as a central component of picturebooks that allow readers to articulate insightful interpretations that can lead to further discussion.

Here are two books that could cultivate conversations about anxiety and stress. I have used both of these texts with my colleagues in a trauma-informed family literacy program for parents who are in rehabilitation for substance use disorder to foster communication and build relationships. After describing the two books that could facilitate discussions, I provide some suggested ebooks about the CoronaVirus. Finally, I provide a few resources that could be helpful for families.

After the Fall by Dan Santat

This book is a variation on Humpty Dumpty and his great fall. The character in this text falls from a ledge while watching birds. After his recuperation, his fear of falling again affects the things he loves in life and his everyday tasks - from birdwatching to grocery shopping. In this book, we see how Humpty addresses his fears and “learned how to fly”.

While on the outset, this book may seem like an updated nursery rhyme, it is much more complex than that. After the Fall is Santat’s love letter to his wife, acknowledging her journey with anxiety and postpartum depression. You can learn more about the backstory at this Sharpread post. When my colleagues and I have used this book in our family literacy program, we have posed the following questions:

• How does Humpty Dumpty’s fear prevent him from healing fully?
• Humpty Dumpty is famous for falling off the wall but this is a continuation of his story. How did Humpty Dumpty’s life change and how will he now be remembered?
• The author suggests that life begins when you get back up. What does this mean to you?
• What are your fears and how do they affect your day-to-day life?

Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Weber

Ira is invited to his first sleepover, but he wonders...can he tell his friend Reggie that he needs his teddy bear? While his parents tell him it’s fine, his sister berates him and causes him to feel like his friend would make fun of his teddy bear’s name. Reggie initially decides not to bring him, but in the end, finds out that his friend has one too! So, he gets his own bear and can finally enjoy the sleepover.

While this book is older, it is infinitely relatable. First, we see how anxiety is affected by how others respond to us. Second, we can talk about the idea of security objects - things that make us feel better when we need them. This could be helpful during times of quarantine. One thing our family has done is talk about things that make us feel better when we are stressed. For instance, my sons are taking regular walks together and having time with their friends online.

In our family literacy program, we ask questions such as:

• Do you have a security blanket (or item) that provides comfort?
• How does this story relate to you? What are some of your fears and worries?
• When do you worry and what might help you during these times?

Books for talking about the Corona Virus with children

There are several ebooks that are free that are great resources to read with children to explain about COVID-19. Here are some we recommend:

• Dr. Li and the Crown-Wearing Virus is a free e-book that provides information about COVID-19 and focuses on scientific information to explain the pandemic. It also focuses on how to stay safe at home.
• Coronavirus: A Book for Children  explains many aspects of the pandemic, including why you can’t go to school, visit your friends, and why grown-ups are at home with you. It is written in a question and answer format and focuses on questions such as what is the coronavirus, how you catch it and why places are closed.
• My Hero is You! Is a book that was published about the pandemic and how families and caregivers can talk about it. This link features the book in 35 different languages and was developed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, and supported by global, regional and country based experts, in addition to parents, caregivers, teachers and children in 104 countries.
  

The New York City School Library System recently published a list of free ebooks for children about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. The list includes several books in Spanish as well as books in other languages.

Additional Helpful Resources

• For more resources for children’s literature and supporting teachers and caregivers in dealing with child trauma, read this helpful list from NC State University.
• UNICEF has a COVID-19 guide for parents to “navigate this health crisis with providing you with accurate, reliable information on the best ways to keep your family safe”.
• Many health providers are supporting families through waiving co-pays for many services, for instance, Blue Cross  Blue Shield is waving cost sharing for telehealth services for fully insured members. For more information, see AHIP's Blog post on how health insurance providers are taking action.
  
• The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearing House has been sponsoring online workshops/twitter chats for dads. They are offering a chat on father/child activities while home on April 30th, 2020. 
• The National Alliance on Mental Health has curated a free resource guide and FAQ.
• Some states and insurers have waived mental health care copays and increased telehealth flexibility to ensure increased access/availability as outlined in an article in Psychiatric Times.
• Sesame Street in colaboration with Headspace will offer free mindfulness meditation shorts for children.

Thank you to Lauren Liang for suggesting the ebooks. I would like to acknowledge Qiana Cryer-Coupet’s and Ashley Atkinson’s collaboration on the family literacy program and Qiana’s contribution of additional helpful resources.

Image by enriquelopezgarre. Pixabay License.