4 Ways Llama Llama Teaches Toddlers and Preschoolers Emotional Maturity

Our little ones are growing in so many ways. Their language is blooming, they are sprouting out of their clothes, and they are processing some big new emotions.

Once again, books can navigate us through it all. Stories help our little ones relate and process through life’s milestones. One character, in particular, helps our toddlers and preschoolers deal with all things related to feelings. His name is Llama Llama.

Author Anna Dewdney created an entire series around this lovable character who deals with all sorts of childhood events from bullying to missing a loved one. The Llama Llama stories build emotional maturity in several different ways — here are four of the biggest. 

1. Llama Llama Helps Kids Recognize Big Feelings

Kids feel lots of different things as they become more independent. But, they don’t always have a name for those big feelings. Books allow us to identify and talk about different feelings the character or characters are experiencing in the story. In this page spread from Llama Llama Home with Mama, the text and illustrations help kids identify that Llama Llama is sick and not feeling well. And, Mama Llama is there to help.

Just from reading the Llama Llama books kids can identify the following feelings: jealousy, loneliness, worry, sickness, anxiety, generosity, love, anger, and thankfulness.

2. The Character Also Helps Littles Process Emotions

The first step is naming those big feelings, and the next step is processing those emotions. Llama Llama can help with that too. In each story, Llama Llama works through a feeling of concern. For example, in Llama Llama Time to Share, he's upset about someone else using his toys, but, by the end of the story, he learns how good it can feel to share. 

(Here are more great picture books to help teach preschoolers about sharing.)

Children learn that it’s not always an easy ride and there are bumps along the way. They also learn how to recognize and manage those feelings.

As we all know, it’s a journey to help little ones with this. There will be meltdowns, but we can use Llama Llama as a concrete example of how to deal with those feelings.

3. The Series Shows How to Solve Problems and Handle Life Events

New situations such as encountering a bully in Llama Llama and the Bully Goat or sleeping away from home for the first time in Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa brings up new emotions to handle. (Plus, here are even more books about bullying for pre-K kids.)

When little ones can see situations played out it in books, happening to a character they care about, they can then associate and apply it to their own lives. There's a sense of comfort in knowing that a book friend has experienced and survived a situation they are dealing with right now too.

MORE: Tales of Friendship & Love for Preschoolers

4. Llama Llama Lets Kids Connect With Their Caregivers

Books, in general, make good springboards into conversations between kids and their caregivers. The Llama Llama books, in particular, are ideal for talking about emotions. Try these talking points that can be used with any of the Llama Llama books to build emotional maturity:

• How did Llama Llama feel at the beginning of this story?
• How did Llama Llama feel at the end of the story?
• Can you think of a time when you felt like Llama Llama?
• What did Llama Lama learn in the story?

Grab a collection of Llama Llama books and help your kids mature emotionally.

Connect with Jodie at Growing Book by Book.