Book Reviews: Anxiety & CALM
We have recommended the following books for Kim’s Corner at the GUS Book Fair and want to share them with you.
For Children:
The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook for Kids by Lawrence Shapiro, PhD, Robin Sprague, LCPC
Excellent workbook that starts with a quick assessment to determine how much stress you are living with and how to identify stress when it enters your life. There are 7 chapters based on different themes that are filled with easy and fun activities for kids to do or you can do as a family. The themes are breath, visualization, mindfulness, yoga, play, art & laughter. We highly recommend this book for every family!
Star Bright Meditations by Maureen Garth
Wonderful, fun meditations you can read to children from 3 – 10 years old. There is a welcoming introduction with great information on how to get started and then 25 meditation stories to read to children.
What to Do When You Worry Too Much by Dawn Huebner, PhD
Excellent book to read to children who are worried or anxious. The read-along book starts by explaining growing worries, defining worries, feeling worries in the body, setting up a worry time, overcoming worries, starting to relax with techniques and keeping worries away. Recommended for children ages 6 – 12.
Imaginations: Fun Relaxation & Meditations for Kids by Carolyn Clarke
Whimsical 1-page meditations with colorful pictures that you can read to your child for relaxation and they can read to themselves for fun. There are a few yoga poses at the beginning of the book as the author is a Yoga teacher.
For Teens & Adults:
Power Animal Meditations by Nicki Scully
If your child loves animals, these meditations will help relax and nurture a love of mindfulness. Each meditation conveys a particular meaning such as: self-esteem, problem solving, making choices, responsibility, or generosity. These meditations are very spiritual and very deep.
For Parents:
Anxiety-Free Kids by Bonnie Zucker, Psy. D
I really like this book because it has a parent section AND a children’s section (for ages 10+). It’s an interactive guide with easy to follow charts and worksheets. This is for kids who have anxiety, not ones who are just a little stressed from time to time.
Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents by Reid Wilson, PhD & Lynn Lyons LICSW
This book is great for parents of an anxious child. It begins by describing how typical responses are not helping the situation and then teaches 7 new strategies for dealing with worry & anxiety. The 7 ways to solve the ‘worrying puzzle’ are: Expecting to worry, being unsure & uncomfortable on purpose, talking to worry, breathing, knowing what you want, bridging back to success, and taking action on your plan. There is a great summary in the back of the book for each chapter with a list of corresponding activities.
