Bibliotheraphy Essay Example

Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is defined as an individual under 18 years old. Dawes (1987:28) describes a child as someone below 18 who has not yet reached adult status and is entitled to specific legal provisions according to Common Law, the Criminal Procedures Act 51 of 1977, and the Child Act 74 of 1983. The United Nations' definition states that children require special safeguards, care, and legal protection due to their physical and mental immaturity (1992:119).

The Longman Dictionary defines a child as someone who has not yet reached puberty and has gone through different stages of development. Concern, on the other hand, refers to the feeling of worry about something important. Children's concern relates to the psychological and emotional distress they experience. To effectively address these concerns, educators and adults must have a deep understanding of their children. This understanding will allow them to use bibliotherapy as a therapeutic method.

Using Bibliotherapy to Address Children's Depression Concerns

Bibliotherapy is a valuable tool for helping children, especially those who are dealing with depression due to their parents' separation. These children may have difficulty understanding the changes in their lives and may experience feelings of sadness and anxiety. Therefore, it is important for teachers to be proactive in identifying these affected children and taking steps to address this issue.

The initial step in assisting children is by utilizing bibliotherapy. Subsequently, educators will discover appropriate resources such as books, poems, and drama for this purpose. By selecting a book as the material, teachers can involve the entire class in an activity. This activity might consist of reading aloud or storytelling. While the teacher communicates, the children

will take turns examining the book. Through this activity, children have the chance to enhance their listening skills and expand their reading capabilities.

So, one of KBSR's objectives will be involved automatically. In addition to that, the book's interesting illustrations will help in calming their emotions. They will witness how the characters fulfill their roles and how it relates to their own lives. Furthermore, they will learn problem-solving strategies by observing the characters' experiences in the books. According to Gregory and Vessey (2004) and Thibault (2004), it is necessary for the child to first identify with the characters in the story who are dealing with similar issues.

Following a process of self-discovery, individuals come to realize that their challenges are resolvable; yet, the assistance and guidance of teachers or parents are required. A suitable illustration of such support is found in the book "Was It the Chocolate Pudding?" authored by Sandra Levins in 2005. This narrative revolves around a young boy who harbors apprehensions that his own behavior led to his parents separating.

He learns that the divorce is not because of him and even though his parents will not live together anymore, they are still one family. Through the book and activity approach, the children will start to realize the fact that there are not only people who bump into the problem. Maybe to some extent, they will start sharing and it helps in healing their depression.

The Children’s Concern on Illness and Death

Illness and death are the most fearful thing for everyone including adults. As children are not exposed to and understand this reality of life, the feeling of anxiety may be greater. Research studies have suggested

that bibliotherapy can be used to heal children’s concerns on illness and death.

Typically, adults in hospital frequently utilize clinical bibliotherapy. A study conducted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas demonstrates that children are encouraged to relate to significant characters in stories. This allows them to experience emotional catharsis as the characters express themselves, ultimately connecting these experiences to their own lives. The research also focuses on addressing children's concerns regarding illness and death. This involves asking children to recognize similarities between their own problems and situations present in books. Furthermore, it is important to select books that are suitable in terms of language and physical limitations. The research explores various approaches within bibliotherapy.

Not only do they have storytelling activity, but they also have other interesting activities such as a puppet show, role play, and singing. It is important that all of these activities are centered around the selected book. Through these activities, children will learn the value of life and gain confidence when interacting with others. Ultimately, the children are left feeling motivated and inspired.

Asking for feedback is vital for further interventions. The effectiveness of the activities carried out will aid children in surviving difficult situations, especially those suffering from chronic illnesses like cancer and those nearing death. Examples of books addressing illness and death for children include The Boy Of Steel: A Baseball Dream Come True by Ray Negron, which tells the story of a boy with brain cancer who loves the Yankees and gets to be batboy for a day, and It's Not About The Bike: My Journey Back To Life by Lance Armstrong, which is an inspirational story about the famous

cyclist's battle against cancer, among others.

Children’s Concern on Disabilities

Children born with disabilities such as deafness, autism, epileptic attacks, speech disorders, down syndrome, and others often have low self-esteem. They feel different from others and experience a high affective filter. Bibliotherapy can help heal feelings of shame and embarrassment resulting from these disabilities.

According to Pardeck and Pardeck (1994), Bibliotherapy has developed in recent years, focusing on pedagogical and curricular issues such as the "urban school," minority ethnic groups, disadvantaged and handicapped groups, and children living apart from their families. Additionally, numerous research studies have indicated that bibliotherapy can influence both students' behaviors and attitudes. For example, structured bibliotherapy sessions have helped students reduce obsessive-compulsive behaviors (Tolin 2001) and develop coping skills (Ableser 2008; Haeseler 2009). Children facing disabilities struggle with various aspects of their lives, including their family, friends, and society. Through bibliotherapy treatment, they may find motivation to overcome difficult times.

According to Forgan's research, a successful bibliotherapy treatment for disabled children involves four elements. The initial phase is pre-reading, during which teachers or adults must carefully select books that are appropriate for the children. Since these children have disabilities, they are particularly sensitive to certain topics and their association with them should be considered.

When choosing materials to use, it is crucial to consider their importance. The next step is guide reading, where teachers engage children in reading aloud. This helps improve speech order, aids in understanding the story, and encourages a better life. The following stage is post reading discussion, where teachers retell the story to enhance children's understanding.

Children with disabilities often have slow reception skills, so it is important to use clear and repeated

styles. Additionally, it is crucial to analyze the characters to help them understand that they are not alone in facing disabilities.

In conclusion, it is important to ask for feedback from individuals and observe their reactions to determine the effectiveness of the bibliotherapy approach. Positive feedback indicates that this approach is beneficial and can also increase motivation. An example of a book associated with children's disabilities is "Taking Down Syndrome to School" by Glatzer, J. (2002), which presents a positive perspective on Down syndrome.

As the number of children with disabilities, including Down syndrome, rises in our schools, it is important to engage in discussions about pertinent subjects. In Rodriguez's book Sarah's Sleepover, the narrative adopts a first-person approach, enabling Nick, a young boy with Down syndrome, to share his story using his own words. The emphasis in the book lies on highlighting the similarities between Nick and the reader instead of fixating on their differences.

(2000) This book is about Sarah and her cousins who are excited for a sleepover weekend filled with hot chocolate, pillow fights, and ghost stories. However, their plans take an unexpected turn when a storm causes a power outage, plunging them into complete darkness. Despite the challenge, Sarah remains composed and uses her knowledge of the house to safely guide the other girls through the unfamiliar territory. These books serve as valuable sources of inspiration, illustrating that disabilities can actually be strengths. They provide fresh perspectives and deeper understanding of the lives of individuals with disabilities.

In conclusion,

bibliotherapy has gained increased attention and recognition as a distinctive form of therapy in recent years.

Engaging in bibliotherapy is particularly beneficial for children, as multiple studies

have demonstrated its significant potential to help them overcome their challenges. This treatment has increased our awareness of children's concerns, which is crucial for us as future educators and adults.