The Asia Foundation with support from Smart Axiata has launched BookLab, a children’s book creation event to produce 10 children’s storybooks, laying out different situations and problems for young readers to learn and explore.
The event, themed “How do I feel?” is about social and emotional learning (SEL), with the purpose of helping children recognise and manage their emotions, especially during the Covid-19 crisis.
Asia Foundation country representative Meloney Lindberg said when it comes to social and emotional learning, there are five broad, interrelated areas of competence: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.
“Each of the 10 children’s storybooks for this BookLab addresses these competencies, ” she said.
She gave an example of one of the stories – I’m Scared, about a boy named Dara who is afraid to go to school by himself for the first time.
Dara normally goes to school with his sister. One day, his sister falls sick and Dara is not sure if he can go alone.
He thinks: “What if I go alone and other kids will make fun of me? What if I go alone and other kids try to take my money or my snack?... But I want to learn.”
This will help children unpack their emotions and develop confidence strategies, Meloney said. — The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
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