Whether it’s October, which is National Bully Prevention Month here in the U.S., or any other month of the year…
I feel strongly that it is our job as parents to do all we can to educate & safeguard our children from becoming a bully or being bullied. Of course my preferred method of teaching children is through books. So I’ve decided to start an ongoing Reading Initiative using the hashtag #BullyFreeReadtoMe and I really hope you’ll join us, so let’s get started…
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.
What is the #BullyFreeReadtoMe Reading Initiative?
Our #BullyFreeReadtoMe Reading Initiative is an opportunity to teach your children important life long social skills, such as,
1. identifying emotions & learning how to regulate them,
2. exploring diversity & the importance of inclusion,
3. empathy, kindness & friendship
4. standing up for yourself and others.
The best part is… all of this happens by connecting with your child through reading.
How Do I Participate in the #BullyFreeReadtoMe Reading Initiative?
Put very simply… read to your child.
You might be thinking that there is a “catch” or something, but there isn’t. I think too often parents underestimate the power of reading. There are so many amazing children’s books, with stories that not only captivate your attention but can easily touch your heart.
I’m frequently selecting books that I feel are character building and are great stepping stones towards Bully Prevention, and I also post bookish play using #BullyFreeReadtoMe throughout the year.
I hope you join in our #BullyFreeReadtoMe Reading Initiative! Please feel free to use #BullyFreeReadtoMe & tag me on Instagram @parentingnotperfection to be a part of our community of caregivers working on Bully Prevention through reading. Show us your books, your play or your bookish play related to the following skills…
Identifying Emotions & Learning How to Regulate Them…
Children being able to identify their emotions is an extremely important skill. It helps ease frustration and unwanted behaviors. There are many children’s books that talk about feelings in a variety of ways. Aside from being able to identify their emotions, its just as important to help your child learn how to regulate them, in other words, what to do with them. Storybooks are a great outlet for children to discover what they can do, what works and what doesn’t work when you have these big emotions you’re just getting to know.
Recommended Books…
- “I’m Gonna Like Me” by Jamie Lee Curtis
- “The Feelings Book” by Todd Parr
- “I’m Sad” by Michael Ian Black
- “I’m Worried” by Michael Ian Black
- “The Color Monster: A Pop-up Book of Feelings” by Anna Llenas
- “How Do Dinosaurs Say I’m Mad” by Jane Yolen
- “The Bad Seed” by Jory John
- “The Good Egg” by Jory John
- “What Do You Do with a Problem?” by Kobi Yamada
- “Today I feel Silly and Other Moods that Make My Day” by Jamie Lee Curtis
- “The Story of My Feelings” by Laurie Berkner
- “Glad Monster, Sad Monster: A Book about Feelings” by Ed Emberley
- “I Feel Teal” by Lauren Rille
- “I Think, I am! Teaching Kids the Power of Affirmations” by Kristina Tracy
- “Big Boys Cry” by Jonty Howley
- “Llama Llama Mad at Mama” by Anna Dewdney
- “Ruby Finds a Worry” by Tom Percival
- “Orion and the Dark” by Emma Yarlett
- “Angry Cookie” by Laura Dockrill
- “Grumpy Bird”by Jeremy Tankhard
*Click here to access the FREE printable list
Exploring Diversity & the Importance of Inclusion…
Children (and grown ups) tend to react poorly to people and things that are unknown or different. Bullying often occurs when a child has been set apart from the group. Books can help show your child a world of people, cultures, religions, families, etc… that are different from their own or the same. They can identify with characters that remind them of themselves and feel comforted they are not so different after all or they can explore societies they never would have known if it weren’t for that book.
Recommended Reading…
- “Red: A Crayon’s Story” by Michael Hall
- “Huff & Puff: Can You Blow Down the Houses of the Three Little Pigs?” By Claudia Rueda
- “We’re All Wonders” by R. J. Palacio
- “It’s Okay to Be Different” by Todd Parr
- “All are Welcome” by Alexandra Penfold
- “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae
- “Strictly No Elephants” by Lisa Mantchev
- “Pink is for Boys” by Rob Pearlman
- “A Normal Pig” by K-Fai Steele
- “Lovely” by Jess Hong
- “Zero” by Kathryn Otoshi
- “A Family, is a Family, Is a Family” by Sara O’Leary
- “The Other Side” by Jacqueline Woodson
- “Chocolate Me” by Taye Diggs
- “Where are You from?” by Yamile Saied Mendez
- “Mixed” by Arree Chung
- “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson
- “Neither” by Airlie Anderson
- “Except When They Don’t” by Laura Gehl
- “What Riley Wore” by Elana K. Arnold
*Click here to access the FREE printable list
Empathy, Kindness & Friendship…
After learning about their own feelings and understanding themselves, children can begin to understand other peoples feelings and how they may differ from their own. Characters can show what it means to have empathy and how to be kind to one another. They can depict a variety of situations that gives your child a solid framework to building solid friendships.
Recommended Reading…
- “Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miller
- “Sick Day for Amos McGee” by Philip C. Stead
- “Can I Play Too?” by Mo Willems
- “The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld
- “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” By Carol McCloud
- “I Walk with Vanessa” by Kerascoet
- “A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: a Story about Knitting and Love” by Michelle Edwards
- “I am Human: A Book of Empathy” by Susan Verde
- “The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade” by Justin Roberts
- “My friend Maggie” by Hannah E. Harrison
- “The Invisible Boy” by Trudy Ludwig
- “Lubna and Pebble” by Wendy Meddour
- “The Sandwich Swap” by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah
- “Peace is an Offering” by Annette LeBox
- “Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug” by Jonathan Stutzman
- “Truman” by Jean Reidy
- “A Chair for My Mother” by Vera B. Williams
- “Zen Ties” by Jon J. Muth
- “Sam and the Lucky Money” by Karen Chinn
- “Maddi’s Fridge” by Lois Brandt
*Click here to access the FREE printable list
Standing Up for Yourself & Others…
Books have the power to help teach us how to stand up for ourselves and others. They can allow children to imagine being in that characters position and walk in someone else’s shoes, all while being curled up next to you safe and loved.
Recommended Reading…
- “The Proudest Blue” by Ibtihaj Muhammad
- “Llama Llama and the Bully Goat” by Anna Dewdney
- “Don’t Be Afraid to Say No!” by Llona Lammertink
- “The Big Orange Splot” by Daniel Pinkwater
- “Say Something” by Peter H. Reynolds
- “Malala’s Magic Pencil” by Malala Yousafzai
- “Stick and Stone” by Beth Ferry
- “One” by Kathryn Otoshi
- “Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon” by Patty Lovell
- “How to Be a Lion” by Ed Vere
- “Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and her Families Fight for Desegregation” by Duncan Tonatiuh
- “Love will See You Through: Martin Luther King Jr.’s 6 Guiding Beliefs (as told by his niece)” by Angela Farris Watkins
- “Just Kidding” by Trudy Ludwig
- “My Secret Bully” by Trudy Ludwig
- “Be Who You Are” by Todd Parr
- “The Hundred Dresses” by Eleanor Estes
- “Elena’s Serenade” by Campbell Geeslin
- “Lucía the Luchadora” by Cynthia Leonor Garza
- “Name Jar” by Yangsook Choi
- “Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match” by Monica Brown
*Click here to access the FREE printable list
Tips for Success in Our #BullyFreeReadtoMe Reading Initiative!
- Choose a time that works for both of you. There is no law saying that reading must be done at bedtime, if you’re too tired and in a hurry to get bedtime over with, its not the best time for you, and that’s okay. Maybe you’d prefer to read while your child is eating their breakfast? Or maybe when they are in the tub. (Did you notice I named times when you have their undivided attention? 😉 ) Anytime can work.
- Make reading a part of your routine and you’ll be more likely to stick with it!
- Your child does not have to sit still while you read, if you let that expectation go before you begin, you will be much happier. Some kids just can’t sit still. I have one child that never moved while I was reading, and my other one can not stop moving. She looks like she’s not paying attention at all, and to be honest, it was a challenge to let go of my idea of what reading time was “supposed” to look like. But truth be told, if at any point I ask what I said or request a summary of what we read, she has never missed a beat and always knows. So keep that in mind.
- Join our community of caregivers doing the #BullyFreeReadtome Reading Initiative by using the hashtag on social media to spread the word & tag me @parentingnotperfection on Instagram to be featured in my story!
To help you succeed, check out our FREE Printables. I’ve created…
1. A clickable & printable Book List of all 80 books (yep, 20 for each of the 4 categories) that are shown in this post, so you can get started today. Please don’t feel obligated to read them all, I just wanted to be sure to give you a nice selection to choose from. Think about where your child might be and go from there. These lists are perfect to bring with you to the library too! 😉
2. A Reading Log for you to write down all the books you’ve read this month, or maybe just the books you really enjoyed that could become a holiday list of books you’d like. 😉 Or perhaps it could be a library wishlist of all the books you saw on #BullyFreeReadtoMe that you didn’t get a chance to read yet!
3. A Reading Sticker Chart for your child to place a sticker (like these you can find in a dollar store) each time they read a book with you. Its great fine motor work to peel and stick the sticker, eye hand coordination and counting how many books you’ve read together! Other options are to have them color in a smiley face for each book you’ve read. It also serves as a nice reminder to read together! 🙂
You can find all or our #BullyFreeReadtoMe Reading Initiative Printables in our FREE Printables Library. Click here if you’ve already subscribed. Otherwise, Sign Up below to get the password & access to our entire FREE Printables Library today! 😉
