Hi, I’m Dr. Shoshana Magnet!

• As a professor and mother of two, I have both personal and professional experience with navigating children’s big feelings like anxiety, grief, neurodivergence, and depression. My research focuses on feminist approaches to children’s mental health which includes an intersectional approach that accounts for the ways that systemic oppression impacts mental health and the ability to access resources and “be well”. Children experience all of the feelings that adults do, but with none of the emotional regulation strategies to cope with them.

• Picturebooks to Grow offers a practical approach to using picturebooks as pedagogical tools for folks who interact with children both professionally (educators, mental health professionals, etc.) and personally (families and caregivers). My work uses picturebooks to teach both adults and children how to navigate big feelings without judgement.

• Children experience and express challenging ideas in challenging ways.  Have you ever felt at your wit’s end in dealing with rude or obstinate behaviour from your child?  I have picturebooks that can to help you to compassionately validate your child and built your connection to them while holding boundaries

•  Have you ever bribed your children to go somewhere and then thought to yourself: “what am I doing?” You’re not alone.  Using picturebooks to provide developmentally-appropriate strategies to help children and adults weather the pain and discomfort of wanting something and not being able to have it, or not having the material circumstances for which you might have wished, I can help you to speak to your children in gentle ways about the complexities of wanting “stuff.”

•  Sex, divorce, homophobia, death, racism – children ask challenging questions.  A good picturebook can really help to deepen your connection to your children while talking together about some of life’s challenging topics.

• I had the opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences at a variety of esteemed institutions and initiatives. Here's a snapshot of the places I have presented:

  - Yorkville School

  - Andrew Fleck Early Childhood Educators

  - Child in Mind Psychology

  - Andrew Fleck Special Educators for Children with Disabilities

  - Cafco Centre for Children with Mental Health Needs

  - Cedar Ridge Camp

  - Lady Evelyn School

  - Francojeunesse

  - Librarians Association

  - Change Champions Initiative for Mental Health in Children and Adolescents

  Each of these opportunities has given me a chance to connect, learn, and contribute to the important conversation around children’s mental health.