Little elephant is afraid of yelling and punishment
Basic emotions: FEAR
| Author | Tatjana Gjurković, Tea Knežević |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Jelena Brezovec |
| Original Title | Slonicu je strah vikanja i kazne |
| ISBN | 978-953-8008-71-9 |
| Format | softcover |
| Pages | 24 |
| Size | 22x22 cm |
| Age range | Early learning (2 – 6), Beginning readers (5 – 7) |
| Category | Fear |
|---|---|
| Tag | Basic emotions: FEAR |
WRITTEN BY EXPERTS IN CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
Little elephant loved to play and jump in water puddles. But that summer there was a terrible drought and water had to be saved so all the animals would have enough to drink. But the little elephant didn’t know that. When she caught her playing in the puddle, mum got very angry and started yelling at the little elephant. She even punished her. Frightened little elephant accepted her punishment, but she couldn’t calm down. When mum saw how scared her little elephant was, she felt sorry and very sad. She apologized to her daughter and then comforted and calmed her with hugs and conversation.
This picture book deals with the fear and tension children develop if they are frequently criticized and punished.
Fear is one of the so-called basic emotions. They occur 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).
Punishment is a method that is very often used in upbringing when adults want to teach a child which behaviour is not acceptable. In addition to specific forms of punishment, some children are also exposed to criticism. Criticism and praise have a very strong effect on a child’s long-term sense of self-worth and self-esteem. Therefore, these methods should be used very thoughtfully and with a clear distinction in whether we criticize or praise the child’s behaviour or them as a person (being). If a child is continuously exposed to criticism, fear can develop in the form of permanent tension and anxiety.
It’s extremely important that parents, educators and guardians become aware of the power of praise and criticism, rewards and punishment, and that when applying these upbringing methods, they don’t diminish child’s sense of value, love and security.
This story may be most helpful to adults, to become aware of their own emotions and behaviours in moments of anger due to some action of their child. At the end of the picture book there are also tips for adults that will help you understand your child’s emotional needs so that you can provide them with help and comfort, and the necessary sense of security.
Book also contains guidelines and advice for parents and caretakers that will help them better understand child’s behaviour, teach him to manage his behaviour and self-regulate unpleasant emotions.
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.
