All Feelings Welcome: Parenting Practices for Raising Caring, Confident, and Resilient

Early-childhood experts Oriard and Christensen, best friends since high school, joined forces to create Slumberkins, which is a brand of books, plush toys, and other products designed to help children identify, understand, and regulate their emotions. Their book reflects stories of the popular Slumberkins characters, all of which demonstrate the featured concepts. In the past, teachers and parents focused on managing behavior while neglecting the emotional side of the issue, but Oriard and Christensen argue that children must be in a state of regulation to best learn new skills. Their book includes guidance on finding personal alignment and working toward creating a stronger parental bond. Traumatic situations affecting children—moving, switching schools, divorce, chronic illness, loss of ability—are addressed. A special section on grief and loss shows readers how to talk about death with children. Each chapter concludes with ways to connect, reflect, practice, and grow.