Help your kids learn how to behave, get along with others, and handle their emotions with these children’s books about positive behavior.
Hitting, yelling, tattling, lying, biting, and getting angry are just some of the social behaviors we often have to discuss with our little ones.
But as you can imagine, hearing all the ways you can improve doesn’t always feel good to a child. Even if said with patience and love, there are only so many teachable moments she can take before she feels compelled to throw a tantrum.
You see, however common these behaviors are, kids aren’t always willing nor able to discuss their anxiety, frustration, or worry. They don’t have the words to describe their emotions, much less understand that they’re normal and will soon pass. Nor do they have much experience practicing social skills and anger management with their peers or making good choices even when it’s hard.
It’s especially difficult to talk about behavior right when these things happen. I’ve even found that it’s much better to discuss their behavior later when everyone has calmed down and is more receptive to listening and learning about positive alternatives. Trying to make a teachable moment during power struggles rarely works.
Instead, these books help them discuss appropriate behavior and social awareness without feeling lectured or scolded. You’re able to address responsible decision-making without your child feeling attacked. She can relate to the characters in the book, and learn a few ways to handle similar situations.
And finally, reading these books helps when they’re in daycare, with other preschoolers, or with a caregiver. These books allow them to see how we expect them to behave with others, even if we’re not there with them.
From toddlers to elementary kids, these are my favorite children’s books about positive behavior:
Children’s books about positive behavior
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Rita and Ralph’s Rotten Day by Carmen Agra Deedy
Train Your Angry Dragon by Steve Herman
My Mouth Is a Volcano by Julia Cook
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
What Should Danny Do? by Adir and Ganit Levy
Little Dinos Don’t Hit by Michael Dahl
The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
The Way I Act by Steve Metzger
What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
Calm-Down Time by Elizabeth Verdick
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
Hands are Not for Hitting by Martine Agassi
Cool Down and Work through Anger by Cheri J. Meiners
Get more helpful tips:
- Toddler Acting Out at Daycare? What You Need to Do
- 6 Reasons to Stop Labeling Kids
- How to Stop Tattling
- What to Do When Your Child Regresses Because of New Baby Jealousy
- How to Get Kids to Do Chores (Without the Constant Reminders)
Free printables: Want even more book ideas? Join my newsletter and grab your copy of the Read Aloud Book List! You’ll get hundreds of favorite selections to read aloud with your kids. Get it below—at no cost to you:
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