READING FOR YOUTH MENTAL WELLBEING
PERSONALIZED BOOK QUIZ
What’s your child’s or teen’s general mood?
a
Nervous and cautious.
b
Angry or withdrawn.
c
Unsure of themselves, seeking validation.
d
Distracted and hyper.
NEXT QUESTION
a
b
c
d
a
a
Health and safety concerns.
b
b
Only their most preferred activities. Nothing else seems to interest them.
c
c
When they’ll get your undivided attention.
d
d
Something new every 5 minutes.
NEXT QUESTION
a
a
A fixation on routine.
b
b
A lack of motivation.
c
c
A lack of independence.
d
d
A lack of focus.
NEXT QUESTION
a
a
Focuses on details and asks questions about plans for the day ahead.
b
b
Doesn’t want to get out of bed, or gets angry about small things.
c
c
Doesn’t want to leave for school or day care, or be away from caregivers.
d
d
Does a million other little things while they’re supposed to be getting ready.
NEXT QUESTION
a
a
Feel safer in the world.
b
b
Feel engaged in life.
c
c
Feel seen and heard.
d
d
Be able to sit with their feelings.
NEXT QUESTION
a
a
Gets anxious and upset.
b
b
Feels angry or indifferent.
c
c
Wants to be sure they won’t be left alone.
d
d
Thrives on it.
NEXT QUESTION
a
a
Is overly cautious and focused on doing everything right.
b
b
Shuts down or explodes easily.
c
c
Needs lots of help and guidance.
d
d
Skips around without really finishing.
SEE RESULTS
RESULTS:
Your answers indicate that your child may be having difficulty with fear, anxiety, and worry. This can manifest in different ways.
Your child may be anxious, nervous, or fearful.
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Sources +
Hong YR, et al. (2012). Impact of attachment, temperament and parenting on human development. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3534157/
Housman DK. (2017). The importance of emotional competence and self-regulation from birth: A case for the evidence-based emotional cognitive social early learning approach. https://ijccep.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40723-017-0038-6
Maine F, et al. (2021). Children’s exploration of the concepts of home and belonging: Capturing views from five European countries. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088
3035521001452
Martikainen S, et al. (2013). Higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis reactivity to psychosocial stress in children. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/98/4/E619/2537095
Martin L, et al. (2018). Creative arts interventions for stress management and prevention—a systematic review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5836011/
Over H. (2016). The origins of belonging: social motivation in infants and young children. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4685518/
Yuan S. (2018). Comparative efficacy and acceptability of bibliotherapy for depression and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788928/
Youth Mental Wellbeing Quiz RESULTS
YOUR
will appear here when you complete the quiz
1.
What topics most often seem to be on your child's or teen’s mind?
2.
In the morning, your child
4.
What concerning behavioral trait have you noticed?
3.
You’d like your child to
5.
When it comes to change, your child
6.
When completing tasks, your child
7.
For kids who feel fear about health and safety
Even though COVID-19 pandemic mandates are easing in many places, your child may be having health-related fears about infectious diseases, germs, or seeing people in person after such a long time dealing with safety measures.
Try these books for kids and teens experiencing fear of germs, disease, and social interaction:
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RESULTS:
Your child may be irritable, down, or withdrawn.
Picture book:
"Jabari Jumps" by Gaia Cornwall
Middle grade:
"Guts" by Raina Telgemeier
Young adult:
"The Rest of Us Just Live Here"
by Patrick Ness
For kids who fear loss or are dealing with grief
Picture book:
"You’re Amazing, Anna Hibiscus"
by Atinuke
Middle grade:
"Mrs. Bixby’s Last Day" by Raina Telgemeier
Young adult:
"The Boy in the Black Suit"
by Jason Reynolds
If your child has recently lost a loved one, they may be worried about losing someone else they depend on and cherish. The pandemic has brought up issues of grief and loss for many families.
Try these books for kids and teens experiencing grief over a recent loss or fear of losing a loved one.
For kids who fear change
Picture book:
"Ten Beautiful Things"
by Molly Beth Griffin
Middle grade:
"Stuntboy, in the Meantime"
by Raina Telgemeier
Young adult:
"Black Girl Unlimited"
by Echo Brown
Change can be scary at any age. Losing familiar routines and environments can be a major source of stress and anxiety, and this is something we've all experienced since the pandemic began.
Try these books for kids and teens who have difficulty adapting to new circumstances:
For kids who fear big emotions
Picture book:
"Calm Down Time" by Elizabeth Verdick
Middle grade:
"King and the Dragon Flies"
by Kacen Callender
Young adult:
"How It Feels to Fly"
by Kathryn Holmes
Emotional regulation is a skill we develop in childhood and continue to hone throughout life. Some kids have a harder time managing and processing their emotions.
Try these books for kids and teens who fear expressing their feelings or have difficulty understanding them.
For kids who feel overwhelmed
Picture book:
"Sometimes I’m Bombaloo"
by Gaia Cornwall
Middle grade:
"The Red Tree" by Shaun Tan
Young adult:
"Darius the Great is Not Okay"
by Adib Khorram
Like adults, kids can face overwhelm too. Shifts in routine from the pandemic or otherwise, upheaval from a home, or even spikes in schoolwork can all ramp up stress.
Try these books for children experiencing overwhelm:
Your answers indicate that your child may seem irritable or withdrawn. In young kids, this may manifest as anger or agitation. Older kids may clam up and act aloof.
Picture book:
"Virginia Wolf" by Kyo Maclear
and Isabelle Arsenault
Middle grade:
"Ways to Make Sunshine" by Renee Watson
Young adult:
"The Memory of Light"
by Francisco X. Stork
Like adults, kids can face overwhelm too. Shifts in routine from the pandemic or otherwise, upheaval from a home, or even spikes in schoolwork can all ramp up stress.
Try these books for children who need support with apathy or withdrawal:
For kids who feel angry or pessimistic
Picture book:
"Emily’s Blue Period"
by Cathleen Daly and Lisa Brown
Middle grade:
"The List of Things that Will Not Change" by Rebecca Stead
Young adult:
"How It Feels to Float" by Helena Fox
An angry child may be covering up deeper feelings of fear or sadness. Young kids may act out, while older kids may develop a negative outlook.
Try these books for children who need to overcome anger or pessimism:
For kids who need help finding joy in the little things
Picture book:
"Sidewalk Flowers"
by JonArno Lawson and Sydney Smith
Middle grade:
"Black Boy Joy" by Kwame MBalia
Young adult:
"The Stars Beneath Our Feet"
by David Barclay Moore
Completing tasks in smaller chunks and enjoying the smaller wins as steps toward bigger goals can help a child cope with overwhelm.
Try these books for children who need incremental
goal-setting and celebratory moments to ease stress:
Want more options? Check out our complete list of book recommendations with descriptions here.
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Want more options? Check out our complete list of book recommendations with descriptions here.
SOURCES
For kids who need to form secure attachment
Picture book:
"Coming On Home Soon"
by Jacqueline Woodson
Middle grade:
"When Stars are Scattered"
by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Young adult:
Secure attachment is the understanding that when a loved one leaves — to go to work, for example — they will return. If your child is having difficulty with separation, they may need help forming secure attachment, which is associated with self-reliance and independence.
Try these books for children who need to cultivate secure attachment:
For kids who need to feel a sense
of belonging
Picture book:
"The Day You Begin"
by Jacqueline Woodson
Middle grade:
"New Kid" by Jerry Craft
Young adult:
"The Night Diary" by Veera Hiranandani
A sense of belonging is crucial to a child’s well-being and a part of their identity formation. When children feel like they belong, they feel safe and secure.
Try these books for children who need to cultivate a sense of belonging:
For kids who need to know they make a difference
Picture book:
"Extra Yarn" by Mac Barnett and
Jon Klassen
Middle grade:
"The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora"
by Renee Watson
Young adult:
"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
Teaching a child how much they matter to their family, their community, and the world at large can help boost their independence and self-confidence.
Try these books for children who need to know their value:
For kids who need to feel a sense of self-worth
Picture book:
"All Because You Matter"
by Tami Charles and Bryan Collier
Middle grade:
"Genesis Begins Again" by Alicia D. Williams
Young adult:
"We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour
Even adults struggle with self-confidence at times, so it’s easy to see how kids can too. They may lean too much on you or others to complete everyday tasks while forgoing their independence.
Try these books for children experiencing low self-worth:
Your answers indicate that your child may be missing human connection or feel unsure about where they belong.
RESULTS:
Your child may be lonely, doubt their worth, or feel they don’t belong.
Your answers indicate that your child may divert from their emotions, have trouble focusing, or bounce from one thing to the next.
RESULTS:
Your child may be avoidant, distracted, or overactive.
For kids who need positive ways to release stress
Picture book:
"The Hike" by Alison Farrell
Middle grade:
"Ghost" by Jason Reynolds
Young adult:
"Four Weeks, Five People" by Jennifer Yu
Negative feelings can show up as excess energy, which can be released in positive ways, like exercise or creative pursuits.
Try these books for children who need to learn healthy stress-relieving techniques:
Want more options? Check out our complete list of book recommendations here, plus tips on how to use reading to support your family.
For kids who need to learn positive coping mechanisms
Picture book:
"Breathe" by Scott Magoon
Middle grade:
"Five Things about Ava Andrew"
by Margaret Dilloway
Young adult:
"Zen and Gone" by Emily France
Without coping mechanisms in place, children may jump from one thing to the next when they get frustrated, scared, or face an obstacle. This can manifest as a lack of concentration.
Try these books for children who need help with focus:
For kids who need to learn about safe spaces and safe people
Picture book:
"Ruby Finds a Worry" by Tom Percival
Middle grade:
"Some Kind of Happiness" by Claire LeGrand
Young adult:
"The Poet X" by Elizabeth Acevedo
Children need to know they have safe people to talk with and safe spaces for expressing their big feelings — that they won’t be punished or judged.
Try these books for children who need to explore safe people and places:
For kids who need to learn big feelings are OK
Picture book:
"Big Feelings" by Alexandra Penfold
Middle grade:
"The Golden Hour" by Niki Smith
Young adult:
"Who Put this Song On?" by Morgan Parker
Big feelings can make anyone uncomfortable, especially a child who is still learning what each emotion is and how to express it.
Try these books for children trying to understand big feelings and what to do with them:
"American Street" by Ibi Zoboi
Want more options? Check out our complete list of book recommendations with descriptions here.
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