William F. Natale Jr.
One of the best methods I have found to teach children about insight and feelings is the feelings book. This is a diary of how the child is feeling. I suggest that every child have a small notebook and write in it each day at the same time beginning each entry with “I feel. . . .” It is stressed that honesty and acceptance of one’s own feelings are important. Also, it is very important that a child’s privacy be guaranteed. A discussion of respecting one’s privacy should be conducted beforehand. I also give the children the choice of putting their books under lock and key and always leave it to their option if they wish me to read a certain entry.
If a child swears in his feelings book I think it is a good sign that he feels secure enough with the teacher to be honest with his feelings.
Published material such as Merrill Harmin’s
Got To Be
Me books and Argus Communications
Learning To Care
series are an excellent aide in the awareness process and are listed along with some others in the Bibliography.
