Maya's Big Feelings: Stressed for the Test

by Amy Elkins Dickerson

Maya is a yellow labrador retriever that is struggling with some big feelings. The morning before a big math test, Maya's Mama notices that Maya is feeling stressed. Maya's Mama then encourages Maya to talk back to the negative self-talk that is making Maya feel so stressed and teaches Maya how to use deep breathing to calm her body down before the test starts. After Maya learns these tools and feels seen and heard by her Mama, Maya feels more confident and knows how to manage her anxiety related to test taking. A note for grown-ups teaches adults how to help their child identify, express and cope with their emotions. The author also includes information on how to access her parenting podcast "Little Ones/Big Feelings with Amy Dickerson".