By Elizabeth Hurtado-Lafont Special to Official Kids Mag

Hi , bookworms ! Have you ever felt something that you don ’ t know how to say or express ? Whether it ’ s happiness , sadness , excitement , or even anger , every feeling you have is important . There are no good or bad emotions , but some of them can feel really strong , like when you ’ re super mad or really scared , and it ’ s important to learn how to express or manage them in a healthy way .

For example , if you ’ re feeling angry , you could take a deep breath or talk to someone about it . Or , if you ’ re feeling really happy , you might want to share your joy with a friend . Another awesome way to handle these strong feelings

is through art – by drawing , painting or taking pictures , you can show the world exactly how you feel . And this fall , Springdale Public Library has an awesome program called Emotions Snapshots thanks to a grant awarded by the Arkansas Arts Council , an agency of the Arkansas Department of Parks , Heritage and Tourism , and the National Endowment for the Arts .

Emotions Snapshots is a super fun , six-week photography program for kids in grades 4-7 . The curriculum was developed by an organization named 100cameras with the help of professionals ’ understanding to address youth ’ s challenges in expressing their experiences and emotions . Participants will get to use a real camera

( the library will provide it !) and learn how to take amazing pictures . But this isn ’ t just about snapping photos – it ’ s also about learning how to understand and express their emotions .

Each week , participants will join other kids to explore different feelings like happiness , kindness , and even how to stay strong when things get tough .

They ’ ll talk about what these feelings mean and then capture them in photos . Imagine showing how much you care about your friends with a picture or capturing the joy of a sunny day with a camera !

At the end of the program ,

all the photos that participants take will be part of a special art exhibition at the Springdale Public Library Gallery in November . This exhibition will celebrate Kindness and Thanksgiving , and everyone in the community will get to see the world through their eyes !

If you love taking pictures or want to learn how to express yourself in a new way , Emotions Snapshots is perfect for you . The program has 25 spots and registration is open now ! Call the library or visit its website to check if you can still sign up .

If you don ’ t get a chance to participate , mark your calendar to join us on Nov . 6 at the library to check the fantastic pictures children in our community took while learning more about themselves and their feelings . We can ’ t wait to see the world through their eyes . See you soon !