😁 Feelings Check-In

• At dinner or bedtime, go around and share “one feeling you had today and why.”

• Helps kids recognize their own feelings and listen to others’.

👀 Empathy in Action

• Ask your child: “How do you think your friend/teacher/sibling felt today?”

• Practice imagining another person’s perspective.

🎊 Celebrate Differences

• Point out differences in your family (likes, hobbies, favorite foods) and talk about why those differences make your family special.

• Reinforces that belonging doesn’t mean being the same.

❤️ Kindness Challenge

• Encourage your child to do one kind thing each day (help a sibling, say thank you, invite someone to play).

• At the end of the week, talk about how those acts made others feel.

📖 Storytime Connection

• After reading a book at home, ask: “How do you think the character felt?” and “Have you ever felt that way?”

• Builds bridges between their experiences and others.

🌈 Feelings Rainbow at Home

• Have your child draw a rainbow and assign a feeling to each color.

• Add to it throughout the week when new emotions come up.

Other Read Aloud Choices: 

• The Way I Feel by Janan Cain 

• Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang 

• The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig 

• Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall 

• The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld  

💪 Courage Check-In
At dinner or bedtime, go around and share “one time you were brave today” (big or small).
Helps kids notice everyday acts of courage.

🤔 Brave What-If
Ask your child: “What’s something that feels a little scary? What could happen if you tried it anyway?”
Practice thinking through fears together.

🌟 Small Brave Steps
Pick one simple “courage goal” for the week (raise your hand in class, try a new food, say hi to someone new).
Celebrate when your child takes that step.

🎉 Courage Spotlight
Share a story from your own day about a time you showed courage—even if it was tricky.
Shows kids that courage is for grown-ups too.

📖 Storytime Bravery
After reading a book, ask: “What did this character do that was brave? Would you have done the same?”
Connects courage to familiar stories.

🛠️ Courage Toolkit
Together, list or draw 3–5 “tools for being brave” (deep breaths, asking for help, saying kind words to yourself).
Keep the list somewhere visible as a reminder.

Other Read Aloud Choices: 

• Brave Irene by William Steig 

• I Can Do It Even If I'm Scared by Lisa Katzenberger 

• Just Keep Going by Lynn Smith 

• The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson 

😁 Gratitude Check-In

At dinner or bedtime, go around and share “one thing you are thankful for today and why.”
Helps kids notice and express appreciation for small daily moments.

👀 Gratitude in Action

Ask your child: “Who helped you today? How did that make you feel?”
Encourages noticing others’ kindness and reflecting on the impact of gratitude.

🎊 Thankful Together

Make a family gratitude jar: each person writes something they’re thankful for on a slip of paper and adds it to the jar.
Once a week, read them aloud as a family to celebrate positive moments.

❤️ Gratitude Challenge

Encourage your child to do one thoughtful act each day (say thank you, draw a picture for someone, help a sibling).
At the end of the week, discuss how these acts made others feel and how it made them feel too.

📖 Storytime Connection

After reading a book at home, ask: “What is one thing the character was grateful for?” and “What are you grateful for that is similar?”
Builds connections between the story and real-life experiences.

🌈 Gratitude Collage at Home

Have your child draw or cut out pictures of things, people, or experiences they are thankful for.

😌 Self-Regulation Check-In
At dinner or bedtime, ask: “What was one moment today when you felt a big feeling?” and “What did you do to help yourself?”
Helps kids recognize emotions and reflect on strategies they already use to calm or refocus. This is a great way to utilize the monthly calendars!

🛑 Pause & Plan
When your child feels frustrated, practice stopping together and asking: “What’s my plan?” (take a breath, ask for help, take a break).
Builds awareness that pausing before reacting can help manage strong emotions.

🫁 Breathe Together
Practice a simple calming breath (inhale through the nose for 4, exhale through the mouth for 4) for one minute each day.
Supports emotional regulation by calming the body and mind.

🧠 Calm-Down Toolbox
Create a small list or box of calming tools (stress ball, drawing, listening to music, quiet corner).
Empowers kids to choose strategies that help them regain control when emotions feel big.

📖 Storytime Connection
After reading a book, ask: “How did the character handle their feelings?” and “What could they do next time?”
Encourages problem-solving and understanding of self-regulation through stories.

🎨 Feelings & Strategies Chart
Have your child draw or list different feelings and one strategy that helps with each (sad → hug a pillow, mad → take deep breaths).
Helps children connect emotions with healthy coping tools.

🌱 Growth Mindset Check-In
At dinner or bedtime, ask: “What was something that felt hard today?” and “What did you try or learn from it?”
Helps kids understand that challenges are part of learning and growing.

🧠 The Power of “Yet”
When your child says “I can’t do this,” help them add the word yet to the end of the sentence.
Encourages persistence and reminds kids that skills develop over time.

🎯 Effort Over Outcome
Praise effort instead of results by saying things like, “I noticed how hard you worked,” or “You didn’t give up.”
Builds confidence and reinforces that effort leads to growth.

📖 Mistakes = Learning
Share a mistake you made and what you learned from it. Invite your child to share one too.
Normalizes mistakes and helps children see them as opportunities to grow.

🧩 Challenge Choice
Encourage your child to choose one small challenge (puzzle, reading a harder book, learning a new skill).
Supports risk-taking and builds resilience when trying something new.

🎨 Growth Mindset Reminder
Have your child draw or write a growth mindset phrase (e.g., “I can learn,” “Mistakes help me grow”).

💬 Confidence Check-In
At dinner or bedtime, ask: “What is something you did well today?” or “What is something you’re proud of?”
Helps children recognize their strengths and build positive self-esteem.

🗣️ Practice “I” Statements
Role-play simple situations where your child can practice saying things like “I feel…” or “I need…”.
Builds confidence in expressing thoughts and feelings respectfully.

🚦 Boundary Practice
Practice ways your child can say “No thank you,” “I’m not comfortable with that,” or “I’d rather do something else.”
Helps children learn to set healthy boundaries in a kind and respectful way.

🌱 Try Something New
Encourage your child to try a new activity, skill, or challenge. Celebrate their effort rather than the outcome.
Builds courage, resilience, and confidence.

🪞 Positive Self-Talk
If your child says something negative about themselves, help them reframe it. For example: “I can’t do this” becomes “This is hard, but I can keep trying.”
Strengthens self-belief and a growth-focused mindset.

📚 Stories About Confidence
Read a book or watch a show together and talk about moments when a character spoke up, believed in themselves, or set a boundary.
Helps children recognize and learn from examples of assertiveness and self-confidence.

💬 Honesty Check-In
At dinner or bedtime, ask: “Did you have a moment today where you had to make a tough choice?” or “When did you choose to do the right thing?”
Helps children reflect on their choices and recognize honest behavior.

🧠 Talk Through Scenarios
Give simple “what would you do?” situations (ex: finding something that isn’t theirs, making a mistake, or being tempted to copy a friend).
Builds decision-making skills and understanding of right vs. wrong.

🔄 Own It & Fix It
When mistakes happen, guide your child to say, “I made a mistake, and here’s how I can fix it.”
Teaches accountability and that mistakes are opportunities to learn.

👏 Catch Them Being Honest
Notice and point out moments when your child is truthful or responsible, even in small ways.
Reinforces integrity through positive recognition.

📚 Stories About Doing the Right Thing
Read a book or watch a show together and talk about moments when a character showed honesty or made a tough but right choice.
Helps children see integrity in action and apply it to their own lives.

🤝 Model Integrity
Share simple examples of your own choices (ex: returning something that wasn’t yours, admitting a mistake).
Shows children what integrity looks like in real life.

National Bullying Prevention Center

Kids Against Bullying