The "Big Feelings
Tales" Series
Three children's books are
now available. The text in these books is a collaboration of Bob &
Marlene while Bob created the illustrations. The "Big Feelings
Tales" are written for 4 to 9 year olds and can also be fun with
younger or older children.
Poco Freeho's Problems
tells the story about a little mouse for whom everything seems to be
going wrong. He is angry but doesn't realize it. His unexpressed anger
could make things worse for him. How can he have a better day and keep
his best friend?
Poco Freeho Gets into Trouble
tells the story about a little mouse that has a run-in with a bully.
He gets frightened. How will he deal with his fear? How will he
respond to the bully?
In It's Your Birthday, Poco Freeho
the little mouse has a birthday party but because he doesn't tell
people what he wants his birthday doesn't turn out the way he had
planned. How can he get what he wants?
What is unique about Poco Freeho is that he
has skills and tools which help him shift from victim thinking to true
creative power. In each book, he gets caught in a common problem, one
that children can relate to, and then uses his skills and tools to
have more fun. These books teach children the skills and tools which
help them make friends with their feelings.
The tools and skills taught in the "Big
Feelings Tales" are based on the work of world-renowned
psychologists and authors, Drs. Gay & Kathlyn Hendricks. In the
foreword to the "Big Feelings Tales", Dr. Gay Hendricks,
says, "I have worked as a psychotherapist with thousands of
people who come into my office with personal and relationship issues.
I coach them in simple body-centered techniques to rechannel the
energy of conflict and low self-esteem into creativity and love. I
have frequently bemoaned the educational system for not adequately
preparing us for life as emotional/spiritual beings. We are not taught
to experience or express our feelings. We are not taught that our
feelings are O.K. We are not taught to ask for what we want or how to
access our full creative potential. We are not taught how to shift
from blame to creativity and appreciation. We are not taught how to
feel a flow of good feeling inside ourselves and between us and other
people. Bob Neufeld's "Big Feelings tales" use simple
allegorical methods to offer something brand new; teaching children
how to experience big feelings and express them at an early age. They
introduce children to how to shift from not knowing their feelings and
acting them out to knowing their feelings and acting creatively."
Reading Bob's books at Circletime has
been very meaningful for both the children and for myself. I've used
the book as a teaching tool for dealing with children in conflict
situations. Fred Simpson, Early Childhood Educator
I like the Poco Freeho books because
the mouse is so smart. I like his car too. Eileen, age 6
I like it in Poco Freeho Gets into Trouble because Claw learns that
mice have feelings. One of my favorite pages is in Poco Freeho's
Problems when Poco plays with his anger. Rowan, age 5
I like the Poco Freeho books because
the speech bubbles are funny. It's funny and interesting that broccoli
is treated like candy by Poco. Calvin, age 9
I like Poco Freeho because he's a cute little guy who knows how to
solve mental problems which involve fear and anger. Brianna, age
11 |
Poco Freeho's Problems |
Poco Freeho Gets into Trouble |
It's Your Birthday, Poco Freeho |
A
Message to Parents and Educators re the "Big Feelings Tales"
By Marlene Neufeld, Early Childhood Educator, Masters of Social Work
Many of us have been taught that it is not
all right to feel angry or frightened. These feelings make us feel
uncomfortable. Rather than allowing others to be angry or afraid in our
presence, we rush in to try and fix it or try to talk them out of
feeling the way they feel. I remember saying to my children, "don't
be frightened" or "don't be angry" and trying to explain
why they shouldn't feel that way. It never worked. Learning to make
friends with our feelings is an important skill that will enhance our
wellbeing.
It's important that children learn to be
aware of and experience all of their feelings. To encourage that, can be
a challenge for parents and educators who haven't learned to be aware of
and experience their own feelings. The "Big Feelings Tales"
series is all about children learning to be aware of and experience all
of their feelings. We invite you to enter into this adventure together.
Another of the most useful tools you can
teach children is to make clear requests. Which parent among us hasn't
been annoyed at their children for whining? Very few of us have been
taught how to clearly ask for what we want or even that it is O.K. to
want. Many of us believe that asking for anything is a sign of weakness
- that we 'should' be able to do it all ourselves - that if we were
whole and complete we somehow would not ever need anyone or anything. On
the other hand, we often believe, as Poco Freeho does in It's Your
Birthday, Poco Freeho, that if people really love us we won't have
to ask, they will know what we want without us telling them. Powerful
people are people who readily ask for what they want. Making clear
requests and receiving support are part of living a full healthy life.
Not asking for what we want undermines our sense of well-being and our
productivity.
The "Big Feelings Tales"
series is fun for kids and teaches them invaluable lessons at the same
time. |
