Today we are talking about feelings with Lorrie Manosh. Lorrie's first book The Feeling Closet takes a unique approach to helping children understand and manage their complex emotions. A book borne of out experience, read on to discover how Lorrie's easy to follow concept can help you with your child's needs.
Tell us about your books?
My book, The Feeling Closet: What are you Wearing Today? is a book that entertains as well as teaches children how to talk about and manage their feelings. Matt experiences some fear and learns how his feeling closet can help him turn his day around. Just like changing a shirt, feelings can be changed, and Matt quickly becomes aware of his choices and the many feelings that his closet holds. This book is a tool for parents as it includes talking points and activities to help facilitate conversations to help children improve their emotional intelligence.
Why did you want to write this story?
Having worked with children for over twenty years in education and as a mother of four, I am aware of the varying needs and complex emotions that children face daily. I believe that children should not only grow academically but they also need to grow socially and emotionally. If children can learn to talk about and manage their feelings at a young age it is my belief, they will carry that through as adults. My passion for children’s growth and understanding the need for parents to have a tool to facilitate discussions led me to writing this book.
What's been the best reaction from a reader so far?
I have been amazed at the reactions over this book, and there have been many from both adults and children. I will highlight just a few. A four-year-old girl, after reading this book with her mom responded, “Do I have a feeling closet too?” Another child at the age of seven, after receiving this book from his grandmother and reading it, responded the following day, “Today I’m taking out hopeful.” Another child’s mom sent me a video of her six-year-old daughter as she went into her actual closet to think about the feelings she needed to change. She was doing school and was experiencing fear and madness. When she came out, she told her mom that she now had her reading shirt on and her braveness pants. At such a young age these children are understanding that they are in control of their feelings.
Where do you find your inspiration?
God and my family are my inspiration! I am a goal setter and love to reach beyond my potential to be all I can for my family. I believe the Lord goes before me in all I do and He sets the path for me to walk in, so I can do all things in Christ. As a mother of four my kids always inspire me to keep pressing on and be the example to them that they deserve.
What's the most fun part of being an author?
Seeing and hearing the responses and reactions of children, and even adults, after reading my book is the most fun part of being an author. To know that my writing has entertained them or has positively influenced them is amazing. In the book The Feeling Closet: What are you Wearing Today so many families are now using the lingo of “feeling closet” to talk with their kids and to assess feelings in their day. It’s exciting!
What's your tip for parents to encourage reading?
To encourage reading with your children I encourage you to jump into their thinking. What do they love? How do their minds work? So often we choose books that we as parents enjoy, but to get our kids to love reading we need to choose books that they enjoy. Reading and the enjoyment of reading is a learned behavior. Model reading to them, take turns reading, act out a story together, take field trips to the library, have family reading time where you all read your own book at the same time, design a “book nook” area, dress up as the characters.
What's your favourite children's book of all time and why?
As a child I was not exposed to as many great pieces of children’s literature as children are today, however having raised kids I now have many favorites. As a young girl I did love the Little House on the Prairie series written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I loved Laura, her way of life, and the adventures her life brought her. Laura and her family were often dealt with tough situations yet together they learned and persevered.
Lorrie Manosh is an author, educator, wife and mother of four amazing children, and one adorable dalmatian dog. She has taught children from Kindergarten through college as a teacher, principal, and professor.
Lorrie loves to write, speak and to inspire others to be their best. The Feeling Closet: What are you Wearing Today is Lorrie’s first published children’s book.
You can find out more about Lorrie by following him on Facebook and Instagram. You can find her book here.
Where to Next?
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