Fox learned that happiness comes from within
Material things and the feeling of happiness
| Author | Tatjana Gjurković, Tea Knežević |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Jelena Brezovec |
| Original Title | Lisica je naučila da sreća stanuje u srcima |
| ISBN | 978-953-8008-78-8 |
| Format | softcover |
| Pages | 24 |
| Size | 22x22 cm |
| Age range | Early learning (2 – 6), Beginning readers (5 – 7) |
| Category | Happiness |
|---|---|
| Tag | Basic emotions: HAPPINESS |
WRITTEN BY EXPERTS IN CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
Little fox caught a lot of fireflies. She showed them to her grandpa and told him how she would be even happier if she had new toys, a tree house, and delicious forest berries she so desperately wanted. Grandpa listened to her and then told her a story about a different kind of happiness, the kind that comes when we play with friends, talk to our parents, and spend time in nature. This happiness comes from within and resides in our hearts, not in toys and material things.
Every person feels happy when they receive something they want as a gift or when they purchase something they want. However, the question is whether we are happy because we own something or because of the experience we’ll have using that thing.
Happiness is one of the so-called basic emotions. Basic emotions appear in all cultures and from the earliest age. By the end of the 6th month of life, a child expresses all four basic emotions (anger, fear, happiness, sadness).
We live in an age of material abundance, and we can generally afford children a wider choice of toys and other things. Child will show happiness when he gets something, and adults enjoy seeing their child happy, so they repeat this action until it becomes unconscious behaviour on both sides. Child persistently seeks new things to feel happy, and the parent buys him new things for the same reason, to feel happy because the child is happy.
However, it’s interesting that when we get something, happiness usually lasts very short, and we already want something else. The same thing happens with children. On the other hand, children will always say they are happiest when their parents play and talk with them. Happiness is not in the toy, but in playing with parents or friends, in the attention and time that the child receives.
At the end of the picture book, there are also tips for adults that will help you direct your child to the right sources of pleasure and happiness.
Author: Tatjana Gjurković
Tatjana Gjurković has a master’s degree in psychology, she is certified psychotherapist, certified child play therapist (RPT), Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA), Teacher and Supervisor of Transactional Analysis (TSTA). She works individually with children and adults and holds educational programs for specialists in fields of child play therapy and transaction analysis. She is author of a book “Play Therapy with children” and 28 therapeutic picture books. She continuously promotes the importance of mental health in children and adults through Centar Proventus which she co-founded with her colleague Tea Knežević.
Author: Tea Knežević
Tea Knežević has master’s degree in psychology, she is certified psychotherapist, certified child play therapist (RPT) and Certified Transactional Analyst (CTA). She provides play therapy with children, psychotherapy with adults, parent consultations, and conducts numerous training courses for professionals in Centar Proventus which she co-founded with her colleague Tatjana Gjurković. She has written 28 picture books with therapeutic stories for children. In addition, she is the author of several manuals related to psychological resilience, gifted children, and anger management.
Illustrator: Jelena Brezovec
Jelena Brezovec has a master’s degree in social studies. For a long time, drawing was just a hobby, until 2008 when she became a co-founder of the publishing house Evenio and decided to study digital illustration, with the focus on children’s illustration. So far, she has illustrated more than 40 picture books and many other publications. She is the winner of the Grigor Vitez “Bird” Award, a special praise from the children’s jury. She has illustrated the most popular children’s book series in Croatia – Mrljek & Prljek. Her illustrations have been part of many exhibitions throughout Croatia. She lives and works in Varaždin, Croatia.
