The Huggy Monster Father's Edition

Written for young children, this book provides an engaging way to explore Personal, Social and Emotional Development, with a particular focus on feelings and emotions. It offers opportunities to help children recognise, understand and communicate their feelings, while developing an awareness of how emotions can affect both the body and the brain.From birth, babies have basic responses to their environment, often described as attraction and withdrawal—or, more simply, experiences of pleasure and displeasure. Although babies cannot yet communicate through language, they have a range of ways of expressing how they feel. Through facial expressions, crying, vocalisations and body movements, they communicate needs such as hunger, discomfort, pain, excitement, tiredness or distress. They may also respond to unfamiliar or overwhelming experiences, such as loud noises, by withdrawing or becoming unsettled.Babies experience feelings of comfort and security when their physical and emotional needs are consistently met. Being fed, held, comforted and soothed, hearing a familiar voice, and experiencing gentle physical contact can all help babies to feel safe and secure. As they develop, they begin to smile in response to positive experiences and increasingly mirror the emotions and expressions of the people around them.