Using Read-Alouds for Social-Emotional Growth: A Guide for Ages 6–9

Learning about emotions isn’t just for therapy, parent’s can make it a part of everyday family learning too. Reading with your children is a wonderful way to build social emotional skills. It is a great opportunity to work on reading skills in the early elementary years and have quiet time with your child after a busy day.  You can take advantage this time to explore feelings, friendships and problem solving through stories. 

Choose Books with Rich Storylines and Complex Emotions

Pick stories that feature characters navigating challenges like jealousy, anxiety, or empathy. Books exploring friendships, fairness, and coping skills help children build perspective.

Pause for Reflective Questions and Discussions

Engage your child in conversations by asking:

• “Why do you think the character felt that way?”

• “How would you handle that if it happened to you?”

• “What could they do next?”

Connect  Stories to Real-Life Experiences

Encourage your child to share similar feelings or situations they’ve encountered. Help them brainstorm coping strategies together informed by the story.

Model Emotional Language and Problem-Solving

Demonstrate how to talk about feelings calmly and think through solutions. Use story examples to role-play better choices and responses.

Encourage Deeper Exploration and Creativity

Invite your child to draw, journal, or act out the story and emotions. This helps increase emotional understanding and expression in varied ways.

Recommended Read-Alouds for Ages 6-9

Here are some books available at our local Timberland Library or bookstore.

• Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

• Quiet by Tomie dePaola

• What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada

• The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

Looking for More Support?

If your child is struggling with big emotions or you would like parenting support feel free to contact me.  Foels Counseling is a place where joy, calm and connection grow, I’m here to support you and your family!