Picture Books for Social Emotional Learning: Teaching Kindness
In our constantly changing world, one thing does remain the same: showing kindness to one another is as important as ever! We also know how important it is to read to children. The benefits range from building their vocabulary to creating connections to the world around them. Of course reading is a pathway to building academic success, but it goes deeper than that. Books can teach children about social emotional skills without them even realizing that they’re learning. Learning while enjoying--now that’s a win-win! Reading picture books about kindness can also show kids the importance of acting with kindness and how sometimes it may take courage, persistence, or creativity to do so.
Teaching Kindness: Ordinary Deeds, Extraordinary Effects
In today’s world kindness is an endearing quality. Sadly, it’s also sometimes hard to come by. But it’s there inside every one of us, and its effects are far reaching. The earlier children learn that even one small act of kindness can make a huge difference, the better! Picture books are tools we can use to build strong social emotional foundations in children.
A great example is Emily Pearson’s Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed. In this book children will see how a very ordinary little girl changes the world through a simple act of kindness. The story begins with Mary being described as ordinary. She decides to leave a bowl of blueberries on another character, Mrs. Bishop’s, porch. Mary has no idea that this simple act will turn into the baking and giving away of blueberry muffins which then has the paperboy deciding to pay it forward by personally handing newspapers to the people along his route. In turn, each act of kindness multiples throughout the story causing a ripple effect of good deeds that eventually reach and bring joy to more people than Mary could’ve ever imagined. And it all began with a bowl of blueberries.
By seeing the positive effects of Mary’s good deed, children will begin to realize that they too can make a difference by the choices they make in their own lives. Something as simple as picking up a classmate’s pencil from the floor or helping a parent with a chore around the house can set off a wave of kindness. What a wonderful place our world will be if we equip our children to appreciate the power of even the smallest acts of kindness!
How would having a complete set of interactive read alouds that are perfect for social emotional learning make a difference in your class? Your students will benefit from the lessons and classroom discussions, and having all the lessons done for you will definitely simplify the planning process. Grab the complete interactive read aloud lesson for 40 engaging books for social emotional learning and mark something off your to-do list!
