Real Stories for Real Children

Tips for Caregivers: Being Gentle with a Toy

This is an episode for adults that includes tips for helping your child play gently with toys, or offering options to play rough (it's a companion to the Being Gentle with a Toy story). Enjoy!  Did you try this with your child? How'd it go? Connect with us at realstoriesrealchildren@gmail.com, or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know!

Being Gentle with a Toy

Sometimes, you want to play rough, but if you play rough with a toy, it can break. In this story, Javi learns that if he plays rough with a toy, it can break, but that there are other ways to play rough.  Grown-ups, try this at home!  Did you try this with your child? How'd it go? Connect with us at realstoriesrealchildren@gmail.com, or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know!  Stay tuned for a bonus episode with tips for caregivers!

Tips for Caregivers: How to Wait

This is an episode for adults that includes information on why we practice "how to wait" at home with your child (it's a companion to the How to Wait children's story). Enjoy!  Did you try this with your child? How'd it go? Connect with us at realstoriesrealchildren@gmail.com, or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know!

How to Wait

Sometimes, you have to wait for something you really want, and that can be hard to do. In this story, Javi learns how to wait, by either singing a song or watching what's happening around him. What do you do when you wait?  Grown-ups, try this at home!  Did you try this with your child? How'd it go? Connect with us at realstoriesrealchildren@gmail.com, or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know!  Stay tuned for a bonus episode with tips for caregivers!

Going to School after a Long Break

Sometimes, you haven't been to school in a long time, maybe because you were on a trip, or because school was closed. It can be hard to go back to school after a long break. In this story, Javi is away from school for a long time and then has to go back. He practices remembering what he likes to do at school to make him feel better.  Grown-ups, try this at home!  Did you try this with your child? How'd it go? Connect with us at realstoriesrealchildren@gmail.com, or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know!  Tips for Caregivers: * If it's been an extended break, such as a summer break, or if your child is going to a new school, it can be helpful to do a "practice run" and go through the motions of your morning routine and going to school so that the first day doing it is a little smoother for you and your child.  * Having and practicing a solid goodbye routine (like a hug and a wave) that you do every time can be helpful with drop-off.  * Sometimes the first couple of days back go smoothly, and days 3 or 4 are challenging - this is normal, as your child may be processing that they'll be going back to school each day from now on.  * Your child might cry at pick-up instead of/in addition to drop-off in the morning. This form of emotional release is also normal!