Looking for books and resources that teach kids how to manage worries, be kind and feel good about who they are? Here are our top picks!
Our parenting guides
All Right Parenting Guides are a great place to start (even if we do say so ourselves!)
- How to help kids manage worries
- How to help kids be grateful and kind
- How to help kids keep calm
- How to help kids feel good and have fun
- Looking after yourself – Dads
- Looking after yourself – Mums
Talking feelings
Talking about feelings is important in emotional regulation (being able to manage big emotions). We recommend doing this lots! Use books, videos, any TV your child is watching, or talk about your own emotions or your child’s (but when they’re calm!).
Managing worries
Books that can help with Managing Worries
(please note, many of these books are available as readings on You Tube in case you can’t access the books, but we especially recommend that you read them with your child if you can).
- Ages 3-6: When I’m feeling scared (at the library)
- Ages 4-7: Giraffes can’t dance (at the library)
- Ages 4-7: The Invisible String
- Ages 4-8: Oh the places you’ll go - Dr Seuss
- Ages 4-7 : Elephant was scared (series of 4 books - happy, sad, scared and angry)
- Ages 5 - 7+ - First Week Blues - a book about bullying
- Ages 5-12: Sitting Still Like a Frog (at the library)
- Ages 5-8 : Maia and The Worry Bug – in Canterbury all children aged 3 - 8 were offered this book through their school or preschool, but it is available at the library.
- Ages 6-8: Banjo Bounces Back (at the library)
- Ages 8-12: Rising Tide – in Canterbury all children aged 8-12 were offered this book through their school, but it is available at the library.
- Ages 8-14:From Worrier to Warrior - A Guide to Conquering your fears by Dan Peters
- Ages 10+ : The 10pm Question - an award winning kiwi novel by Kate De Goldi that helps remind you about what it’s like to worry as a child.
Videos that can help with Managing Worries
- Ages 3-8: Beautiful oops – this is also available as a book, but we also think the song is pretty cool.
- Ages 4-8 Sesame Street – Feeling Scared
- Ages 10-11: Talking mental health - an animation designed to help begin conversations about mental health in the classroom and beyond.
For you (and your kids)
- The Worry Bug Website – check out their video Everything is Going to be Alright. These strategies are not just relevant to worry about the earthquakes.
- Are We There Yet - A RNZ Podcast on the pleasures, pratfalls & practical lessons of parenting in the modern world.
- How to help kids manage worries - All Right Parenting Guide
Feeling Good
Books which can help Children Feel Good:
(please note, many of these books are available as readings on You Tube in case you can’t access the books, but we especially recommend that you read them with your child if you can).
- Ages 2 -5: There are no animals in this book, only feelings - This is a funny book about the sounds of our emotions, and some animals! If talking emotions is new or tricky - try this, you’ll all have a giggle! (at the library)
- Ages 4-8: I like myself
- Ages 4-6 : The Happy Owls (at the library)
- Ages 4-8: Have you filled your bucket today?
- Ages 4-8: A is Amazing - Poems about feelings- A great way to look at feelings; expressing them through poetry. If you have an older child, you could encourage them to write about their feelings if they’re big sometimes (at the library)
- Ages 4-13: Awakening Joy for Kids
- Ages 6-9: Unstoppable me (at the library)
Other resources that help children feel good:
- Ages 11 + : Strengths survey – NB: an adult will need to register first for anyone under the age of 13
For you (parents!)
- Awakening joy (at the library)
- Strengths survey
- Mindfulness Aotearoa
- How to help kids feel good and have fun - All Right Parenting Guide
Be Calm
Books to help talk and understand about emotions
(please note, many of these books are available as readings on You Tube in case you can’t access the books, but we especially recommend that you read them with your child if you can).
- Ages 3-7: Prickly Jenny - explores what it’s like when we feel like nothing is ‘right’ and ways that help bring us ‘out of it’. Remember to talk about your experiences too parents! (at the library)
- Ages 3-7: When Sophie’s feelings are really, really hurt - A great book to think about the places we can go that make us feel good (early in the story) and what we can do when our paintings or ‘creations’ don’t go the way we want them to or our feelings get really, really hurt. It’s all a nice way to explore out emotions through painting and colour - just like real artists do! (at the library)
- Ages 3-7: Big, Bad Owl - A nice story to explore what it’s like when we try to cheer another person up - what’s it like when we can? What’s it like when we can’t? And how do we try not to take on the feelings and emotions of others when we don’t succeed in cheering us up, or their mood makes us feel bad? (at the library)
- Ages 4-6: My Big Shouting Day (at the library)
- Ages 4-7: When I’m feeling series – We recommend! Includes a range of emotions, not just ‘anger’ (at the library)
Ages 4-7 : Elephant was scared (series of 4 books - happy, sad, scared and angry)
- Ages 4-8: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very-Bad day
- Ages 4-8: Kei Te Pehea Koe? How do you Feel? Explore emotions in te reo and English - a great way to talk emotions, in any language! Perhaps that’s why we call it emotional literacy? (at the library)
- Ages 5-8 : Emotions in motion (at the library)
- Ages 5-8: The Dot
- Ages 5-9: Starving the Anger Gremlin - a workbook for parents and children to interact with
- Ages 10 +: The Feelings Book - for girls
Videos that help talk about and understand emotions
- Ages 4-8 : Sesame Street - Feelings
- Ages 4-8: The Feelings Song
For you:
- How to help kids keep calm - All Right Parenting Guide
Building self esteem
Books to Help Build Self Esteem
(please note, many of these books are available as readings on You Tube in case you can’t access the books, but we especially recommend that you read them with your child if you can).
- Ages 3-5: The Wonderful Things You Will Be
- Ages 3-6 :When I’m feeling kind (at the library)
- Ages 3-6: When I’m feeling loved (at the library
- Ages 4-8: I like myself
- Ages 4-8: Have you filled your bucket today?
- Ages 5 and up!: Goodnight stories for rebel girls - a great book to encourage talking about heroines, over-coming odds (growth mindset) and how being a girl is really cool! (at the library)
- Ages 5-12: Sitting Still Like a Frog (at the library)
- Ages 9-12: Wonder (at the library)
Videos to Help Build Self Esteem
- Ages 4-6: Sesame Street – What I am
- Ages 4-6: Sesame Street – The Power of Yet
Other Resources which can Help Build Self Esteem
- Ages 11+ : Strengths survey – NB: an adult will need to register first for anyone under the age of 13
For you
- How to help kids feel good and have fun - All Right Parenting Guide
Grateful and Kind
Books to help develop gratitude and kindness
(please note, many of these books are available as readings on You Tube in case you can’t access the books, but we especially recommend that you read them with your child if you can).
- Ages 3-6 : When I’m feeling kind (at the library)
- Ages 4-7: Little Bird (at the library)
- Ages 5-7 : Because Amelia smiled (at the library)
- Ages 5-8: The invisible boy (at the library)
Other resources to help develop gratitude and kindness
- An Awesome book of thanks (on YouTube)
For you
- How to help kids be grateful and kind - All Right Parenting Guide
- All Right Parent Hub courses