Everyone – young or old – have bad days. Days when it’s hard to get out of bed. Days when we don’t feel like talking. Days when we feel overwhelmed and struggle to manage our emotions. On these tough days, we may feel as if no one understands us. We may even feel as if no one cares.
Finn is having one of those days. His grandpa wants to help, but Finn doesn’t think he can. Author Cori Doerrfeld, in her picture book, Beneath, shows how they discover a way to connect while taking a walk. Read the book with children ages 3+ and use one or more of these activities to explore together what lies beneath the things we see all around us.
Undercover. Finn begins the story hiding under a quilt. He even walks around with it over his head. Invite children to show you what they do when they are having a bad day. Encourage them to use their whole bodies (including facial expressions) as they pantomime their actions.
Guess. Grandpa says sometimes it’s easy to guess what’s beneath and sometimes it’s not. Play a guessing game with children. Describe (or show an image of) something and invite children to guess what might be under it. Start with descriptions/images that imitate the story: a boat on water, an animal digging in the dirt. Ask: What do you think is beneath x? Gradually make the items more difficult: a bed, a wrapped gift, a head of curly hair, a worried expression. Affirm the variety of answers offered.
Change. Grandpa tells Finn that things falling apart can be a sign that something new is about to happen. They see tiny new plants starting to grow under the crumpled leaves. Invite children to close their eyes. Say: Imagine that you are a tiny seed in the ground. (pause) You feel the soil around you getting warmer. (pause) You feel water washing over you. (pause) Suddenly, you feel a tiny ‘pop’ and a stringy shoot is sticking out of you. (pause) Your shoot reaches up and pushes aside the topsoil. (pause) You feel the sun shining down on you. (pause) You feel two little leaves sprout to take in the sunlight. (pause) Take a deep breath and open your eyes when you are ready. Encourage children to share how they felt as they meditated.
People. Grandpa has a lot to say about what’s beneath people. He imagines experiences, explanations for actions, commonalities, and understanding. Invite children to draw a picture of something hidden beneath their outward appearance. It might be a significant experience that shapes who they are, or a reason that they like to do certain things or act a certain way. It might be a drawing of their skeleton or a feeling they keep inside them. Encourage them to tell a story about themselves, using their image as a starting point.
Hearts. Finn and Grandpa go from having hearts that are broken to hearts that are whole. Ask children: Why do you think Finn and Grandpa were feeling heartbroken? What do you think helped their hearts feel whole again? Have you ever felt heartbroken? What helped your heart feel whole again? If children are uncomfortable sharing about themselves out loud, invite them to write down their thoughts or whisper them in your ear so you can help them share.
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