It’s okay to be sad, it’s okay be mad and it’s okay to be glad.
Reminding parents and children of this was the main purpose behind Beacon for Hope’s second annual sad, mad, glad event inside of the Emporia Public Library Saturday afternoon. Social Innovation Lab Executive Director and Beacon founder Melissa Owen says the event helps to teach both parents and children how to process their emotions in healthy ways.
Owen says events and resources like Sad, Mad, Glad seem to be more important now in the post-COVID era due to a rise in children who are struggling with processing their emotions.
Owen adds the approach to emotional development in children has improved dramatically in recent years. She says before emotional outbursts were often “brushed to the side” as a typical part of being a child.
As part of Saturday’s activities, Children were able to take part in emoji and button making, a scavenger hunt and a special storytime. Also on hand for the event was Emporia State University’s Psychology club which ran the event’s coloring station.
Along with the lengthy list of games and activities, parents were also able to enter a raffle for a chance to take home several grand prizes.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE NewsÂ