Resources

Reading with Them Today, Memories for Tomorrow.

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, managing children’s emotional and behavioral challenges can feel overwhelming for both parents and educators. However, with the right tools and guidance, helping children navigate their emotions and develop positive behavior patterns is entirely possible. The following list of resources offers expert-backed strategies, frameworks, and practical solutions designed to equip adults with the necessary support to address issues such as anxiety, defiance, and emotional regulation. These resources provide insightful approaches to build self-awareness, foster resilience, and encourage positive interactions at home and in the classroom, ensuring that children can grow into their best selves with confidence and emotional security.

10 Resources to Support Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Growth

1. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

  • CASEL provides comprehensive resources on social-emotional learning (SEL), helping parents and educators understand how to foster emotional intelligence and manage challenging behaviors in children.
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2. Positive Discipline by Dr. Jane Nelsen

  • This approach focuses on teaching kids responsibility, problem-solving, and self-regulation through respectful communication and encouragement. Positive Discipline resources include books, videos, and workshops for parents and educators.
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3. Zones of Regulation

  • The Zones of Regulation framework helps children categorize their emotions into four color-coded zones and teaches strategies for emotional control. It is widely used in classrooms and at home to manage challenging behaviors.
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4. Child Mind Institute

  • The Child Mind Institute offers free resources and expert advice on behavior management, mental health, and emotional challenges. It provides toolkits for addressing common issues like anxiety, ADHD, and defiance.
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5. MindUP Curriculum

  • MindUP provides mindfulness-based strategies for managing behavior and emotions. With easy-to-use classroom lessons and home activities, this resource helps children build self-regulation, empathy, and resilience.
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6. The Explosive Child by Dr. Ross Greene

  • This book and its associated resources focus on collaborative problem-solving and teaching children with behavioral challenges to express their frustrations in productive ways, offering practical guidance for parents and teachers.
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7. PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)

  • PBIS is a school-wide framework that promotes positive behavior and creates supportive learning environments. Parents can also adapt its principles at home to encourage good behavior through positive reinforcement.
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8. GoZen! Anxiety Relief for Kids

  • GoZen! offers programs, videos, and activities that help children build emotional resilience and cope with anxiety, stress, and behavior challenges. It uses storytelling and animation to engage children in learning about their emotions.
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9. Conscious Discipline

  • Conscious Discipline combines discipline with social-emotional learning by teaching adults and children how to manage their emotions, create a positive environment, and resolve conflict constructively.
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10. Understood.org

  • Understood.org offers resources for children with learning and attention issues, providing guidance on how to manage behavior challenges tied to ADHD, autism, and other developmental conditions, with tailored tips for parents and educators.
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These resources provide practical strategies, expert advice, and activities that support children in understanding and managing their emotions while addressing behavior challenges in a positive, constructive way.

Resources to Encourage Children to Read and Help Close the Million Word Gap

Engaging children in reading is essential for their language development and overall academic success. The “million word gap” refers to the difference in vocabulary exposure between children who are regularly read to and those who aren’t. To help close this gap and foster a love for reading, here are 10 effective resources:

1. Epic!

  • A digital library offering thousands of books, audiobooks, and videos for kids ages 12 and under. Epic! makes reading fun and accessible, with personalized recommendations based on the child’s interests.
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2. Storyline Online

  • An award-winning literacy program where celebrities read aloud from children’s books. Each story comes with lesson ideas and activities, making it a great tool for both home and classroom use.
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3. Scholastic’s Reading Club

  • Scholastic provides access to age-appropriate book selections, reading tips, and special programs that encourage children to discover and love books. It also offers book fairs and classroom libraries for teachers.
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4. Read Aloud Revival

  • This resource offers book lists, podcasts, and events designed to help families and educators incorporate more read-aloud time into daily routines. It also provides tips for building lasting reading habits.
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5. Rivet

  • Rivet is a free reading app that offers thousands of leveled books designed for kids to read independently. The app uses interactive features to make reading more engaging and fun, helping kids build their confidence and skills.
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6. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

  • This nonprofit organization mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they start school, promoting early reading and language skills. The program is available in various communities worldwide.
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7. Oxford Owl

  • A free educational resource from Oxford University Press that offers a wide variety of ebooks, reading tips, and downloadable activities for children ages 3-11. It also provides guidance for parents on how to support their child’s reading journey.
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8. Reading Rockets

  • A national literacy initiative offering research-based reading strategies, lesson plans, and book recommendations. Reading Rockets provides valuable resources for teachers and parents to help struggling readers close the reading gap.
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9. We Need Diverse Books

  • An organization committed to promoting literature that reflects diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. It offers resources and book lists that ensure children see themselves and others in the stories they read, fostering a love for reading in all children.
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10. Start with a Book

  • Start with a Book connects parents and educators with book recommendations, reading activities, and themed reading adventure packs. The site focuses on reading around topics like science, art, and history to spark curiosity and engagement.
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COLORING THERAPY

Brighten Your Mind, One Shade at a Time.

Coloring isn’t just a fun activity; it’s a powerful tool for emotional expression, especially for children. Color therapy taps into the calming and restorative effects of coloring, helping children process their emotions, reduce anxiety, and improve focus. The act of coloring provides instant gratification, as children can see their creative efforts come to life on the page, which boosts their confidence and sense of accomplishment. By offering these free downloadable coloring sheets, we hope to give mental health experts, educators, parents, and anyone else a simple, yet effective resource to help children express themselves in a safe and creative way. Coloring allows children to explore their feelings in a non-verbal way, making it a valuable tool for emotional growth and mental well-being.