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Quote of the Week
"We cannot tell what may happen to us in the strange medley of life. But we can decide what happens in us - how we can take it, what we do with it - and that is what really counts in the end." -- Joseph Fort Newton
Four Lessons From "Inside Out" To Discuss With Kids
"Since its release last month, Inside Out has been applauded by critics, adored by audiences, and has become the likely front-runner for the Academy Award for best Animated Feature. But perhaps its greatest achievement has been this: It has moved viewers young and old to take a look inside their own minds. As you likely know by now, much of the film takes place in the head of an 11-year-old girl named Riley, with five emotions - Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust- embodied by characters who help Riley navigate her world. The film has some deep things to say about the nature of our emotions—which is no coincidence, as the Greater Good Science Center's founding faculty director, Dacher Keltner, served as a consultant on the film, helping to make sure that, despite some obvious creative liberties, the film’s fundamental messages about emotion are consistent with scientific research. [...] Some of the most memorable scenes in the film double as teachable moments for the classroom or dinner table.
Though Inside Out has artfully opened the door to these conversations, it can still be hard to find the right way to move through them or respond to kids’ questions. So for parents and teachers who want to discuss Inside Out with children, here we have distilled four of its main insights into our emotional lives, along with some of the research that backs them up." [read more]
Reading Corner
 Title: Inside Out Box of Mixed Emotions
By: Brittany Candau
Ages: 3-6
Why? "This tie-in to Disney Pixar's animated film Inside Out consists of five color-coded little books each devoted to one of the five emotions that play such a big role in the film. Joy in Yellow shares with us the many things she is happy about. Sadness in Blue describes her feelings of confusion over the world and all the losses she experiences. Disgust in Green focuses on the gross things she's encountered. Fear in Purple reflects on the terrifying things out there. Anger in Red lists the things that tick him off. Reading the books, you and the children in your life will be encouraged to acknowledge all the different ways you can feel each day in response to different events. Then as you put the books back in their slipcase, you can decide which one to have show through the opening in the back that says The Emotion in charge today." -- Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Recommended by Cubs Editors
Be The Change
A recent study found that people who experience “emodiversity,” or a rich array of both positive and negative emotions, have better mental health. For most parents, it is much easier to embrace and understand our children's "happy and joyful" moments relative to moments that bring up seemingly negative emotions like fear or anger. Next time your child experiences a negative emotion, embrace the moment with the same presence and heart that you would when they are experiencing a joyful moment. Help them ride the wave of their emotion, fully accepting it for what it is, without spiraling into a series of negative reactions.
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