Books for Challenging Childhood Behavior

Every child has difficult moments and it’s up to teachers to help them develop positive ways to process their emotions. Parents, too, must learn how to best approach their children’s challenging behavior in order to minimize outbursts while not exploding themselves. Teacher Boutique has a wealth of books exploring many familiar topics parents and teachers deal with every day. So, we’re going to go through a few of our most popular subjects and books best suited to help parents and teachers nip these problems in the bud, so to speak.

Biting

Toddlers biting is a rather common occurrence, but is something that scares the recipient and, at times, angers parents. Our The Biting Solution book covers everything you need to know about dealing with a little biter. It helps parents and teachers understand the many reasons why children bite and includes fun ways to help toddlers express emotions appropriately. Learn how to react when you witness biting and learn the important steps to take to help children understand why it’s inappropriate.

Bullying

Bullying is a behavior that can spiral out of control if not handled early and properly. Bullying instills unhealthy behaviors in both the bully and their victim while stifling creativity in the classroom and on the playground. For anyone who is dealing with a child who is a bully or is being bullied, No More Bullying is a fantastic resource! This book covers strategies parents and teachers can use to end bullying at home and in the classroom while helping everyone process their feelings in a healthy way.

Tantrums

All kids throw tantrums. While it may seem as if they are upset for no reason, to them their feelings are legitimate. Parents need healthy ways to help their children express themselves while they continue to respect the rules. Our No More Tantrums book covers the many reasons why children have tantrums and how to prevent them. This resource also covers what to do when children begin to express themselves in inappropriate ways.

Tattling

There is a big difference between tattling and reporting. Tattling involves children telling on each other about something they should be able to handle on their own. It’s important for children to get through those types of small struggles on their own terms. Children need to also understand the importance of reporting when appropriate. Our No More Tattling book covers plenty of strategies to teach parents and teachers how to help their children avoid the negative impacts of tattling.

These are just a few of our favorite books for dealing with some of the more common behavioral issues. If your child is suffering from one of these issues or dealing with a child that is, remember that patience, talking, and listening will always be your best weapons!

Gifting For Teachers

Teachers are constantly gifting the children in their classrooms with knowledge and skills that are important for everyday life situations and scenarios. Sometimes teachers make such an impact that it feels like there’s not a gift that can really show your appreciation for all that they do for your child. But, finding the right gifts for your child’s teachers is easy at Teacher Boutique! With our teaching tools, books, music CD’s, shirts and jewelry, you can find the perfect gift for any teacher. Below are some of our favorite items that teachers will love receiving as a gift.

My Work Is Child's Play T-Shirt:

Our preshrunk heavyweight cotton purple “my work is child’s play” shirt is perfect for preschool and grade school teachers who spend their time with young children. This fun colored shirt has a pair of children’s handprints on the front in hot pink, blue, green and red. This shirt is fun way to show your appreciation and is a great gift they can wear on casual dress days at work or at home. We carry 20 inspirational t-shirts with inspirational, empowering and funny quotes in fun colors and designs so that you can find the right t-shirt for every teacher on your list.

It Takes A Big Heart To Help Shape Little Minds SilverBracelet:

Teachers spend the majority of their time shaping the minds of our little ones and deserve praise and recognition for how hard they work. What better way to show how grateful you are for all that they do with our fun and creative jewelry selection? Our lobster clasp bracelet has a heart charm with “it takes a big heart to shape little minds” engraved on it. This is the perfect quote to have etched in a bracelet that teachers can wear everyday that shows everyone that they care and are cared for. Shop or selection of jewelry today and find the perfect accessory to show your appreciation today!

Music CD's:

Many preschool and grade school teachers use music as a tool to teach and calm students. Music is a powerful and effective tool to help children learn and development a world of different skills. Our selection of educational music is classroom friendly and is a gift you know will be put to good use. Not only will teachers enjoy a tangible gift that they can use but they’ll enjoy this gift because they can share with their students to help them improve and grow. Our selection of music can make teaching letters and numbers easier or help them instill valuable life lessons such as sharing and cleaning up after themselves. Browse our selection of music CD’s today and find a gift that teachers and students will both love.

Teaching Tools:

Sometimes teachers like gifts that they can use as a resource. Many teachers have limited access to supplies, hence why we provide students with supplies at the beginning of the year. Often, teachers invest their own money in their resources and decorations. Some teachers want gifts for their classroom more than anything. With our selection of teaching tools you can give various gifts that teachers will be overjoyed to incorporate into their lessons. For teachers who focus on using music as a teaching aid, we carry musical puppets that they can use to entertain students while they learn. For teachers who deal with special needs students, we carry sensory tools like our calming mitt and self color changing egg that can help students ease their frustration and relax their minds.

You can find the perfect gift that grade school and preschool teachers will truly appreciate at Teacher Boutique. Shop today and find the perfect way to say thank you to your favorite teachers and show them how much they’re appreciated!

What are some of your favorite stories about inspirational teachers you’ve had in your lives? Share your stories in the comments below!

The Magical Color-changing Egg for Calming Children

Children will inevitably get upset from time to time. That’s nothing new to anyone familiar with child behavior. While we must teach children how to process their emotions in positives ways, sometimes they just need a cool down period to calm themselves. At times, words can get in the way when trying to calm an upset child. Changing their environment to one with a quiet, relaxing feel can help them begin to also change their mood. One tool we love is our Self Color-changing Egg.

The Self Color-changing Egg is a calming tool that kids find mesmerizing. This adorable toy slowly changes colors as children watch in relaxed anticipation. This helps them forget about why they were upset and brings their emotions, and heart rate, back into control. The soft glowing light slowly cycles through blue, green, orange, red, and purple in soft tones children love.

Whether for naptime, timeouts, or relaxing upset kiddos, this magical color-changing egg helps return them back into their mild-mannered selves in no time. This egg has been shown to provide comfort for children on the autism spectrum, as well, who find it a soothing sensory toy they can play with anywhere. This is a cordless toy with included batteries so there is no worry about your child getting tangled up.

This is a great travel toy and gift idea for birthdays or the holidays. Kids of all ages and developmental stages will take great joy in this amazing, fun toy while they inadvertently learn to self-soothe and bring themselves back into a more calm state of being.

What tools have you used to calm your children when they are inconsolable? Share our thoughts and stories in the comments below!

How to Deal with Difficult & Strong-willed Kids

Not all children respond to discipline the same way. While most children respond well to discipline and being told "no," some children are more challenging. If you have a child who constantly questions your parenting style and likes to test the boundaries, then our selection of parenting resources and teaching tools can help you develop the skill set to better respond to outbursts and discipline.

Managing Stress

As a parent, dealing with a difficult child is well...difficult; often to the point that it can add extra stress on you as a parent. Stress when left unmanaged can affect how you react and respond to your child when they misbehave. How you respond to a child who's still developing when they misbehave will teach them how to react in future situations. Every time they act out becomes a teaching opportunity for you as a parent, as well. If you're explosive and loud when you're upset, they will learn to be explosive and loud when they're upset and don't get their way. You can't fight fire with fire, so it's important to learn how Managing Stress can help you react calmly in order to properly assess their actual needs without escalating the situation. 

Discipline Dilemma Book

Understanding your child's temperament will go a long way towards helping figure out which disciplinary tactics will be most effective. Do it Right! 101 Solutions for Discipline Dilemmas is a book that provides 101 real life scenarios with logical solutions and easy-to-implement responses. This book can help you better understand your child's temperament and actions to stop defiant and out-of-control behavior in its tracks. 

Be Proactive

Once you're able to better understand how you and your child can effectively interact, you can take the necessary steps to adjust your parenting style to improve your child's behavior. For children who need constant stimulation and activities to behave well while at home or out and about, you can pack items like our Self Color Changing Egg designed to help children self-soothe and relax by keeping them visually stimulated. If your child has trouble understanding and processing difficult or confusing emotions, music can often be a soothing solution. Musical puppets, like Teacher Boutique's duck or dog, can allow children to entertain themselves while also helping them explore and express their feelings and thoughts in a fun and productive manner. In doing so, you can communicate more effectively with one another in stressful or upsetting times. Music can help children learn by increasing their attention span, helping them calm down and reducing impulse control while performing difficult tasks and everyday activities. Check out our Music Learning blog to see some of our favorite selections!

Remember that improving your child's temperament and your own parenting style takes time and is often a game of trial and error. Be patient and don't be too hard on yourself or your kids. The most important ingredient in raising children is love, Teacher Boutique can handle the rest!

Using Music to Help Kids Learn

Music makes everything more fun and enjoyable. But, it can also help us learn and grow. Incorporating music into lessons, as well as discipline, can provide the additional context children need to remember important information and help them process difficult or confusing emotions. Whether it’s for teaching math or helping kids transition between tasks, music is a powerful tool teachers and parents can use to give their kids new ways to learn. So, we’ve picked out a few of our favorite CDs for enjoying music with kids.

All Aboard for Learning

The All Aboard for Learning music CD is filled with funky takes on your favorite classics including “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” as well as fun songs explaining the five senses, numbers and letters, and more in both English and Spanish with lyrics and activities included. This music CD is recorded by Stephen Fite, an award-winning artist dedicated to using music to help motivate kids to move, learn, and grow.  

Hip-Hop Alphabop 2

Hip-Hop Alphabop 2 is the ultimate hip-hop album for teachers and kids. This album from Jack Hartmann is great for helping kids learn how to spell and sound out words while they enjoy hip-hop beats and rhythms. This will help kids improve their listening skills, as well. This CD contains 25 fun songs including favorites like “Jack’s Miss Mary Mack,” “Hip-Hop Tooty Ta,” “The Cowboy Dance,” and much more.

Brain Boogie Boosters

Brain Boogie Boosters is a fantastic collection of rockin’ tunes to help improve kids’ attention spans and impulse control, as well as relax and de-stress their minds. These are fun, silly songs designed to inspire kindness and love while teaching valuable lessons kids will take with them for the rest of their lives. Some brain-boosting songs include “Nutrition Pyramid,” “Brain Game” and “Brain Breaks,” “Watch me Listen,” and more.

Get on Board the Transition Train

Get on Board the Transition Train is another hit CD from one our favorites, Jack Hartmann! This album helps students transition between tasks and performing everyday activities including washing their hands, listening quietly, and cleaning up after themselves, as well as how to be on their best behavior. This CD has fun songs that will help teachers in the classroom from the beginning to the end of each day.

These albums all provide fun, positive ways to help young children understand how to navigate several subjects including everything from behavioral issues to learning how to remember important lessons. Check out all of our Music for kids to find your child’s favorite new CD.

What are your favorite ways to incorporate music into your children’s lives? Share your stories in the comments below!

Showing Teachers you Care

With the school year back in full swing, it’s important to remember just how vital teachers are to our children. We trust teachers with our children’s safety, as well as their mental and intellectual development hoping they love them as much as we do. Well, they do. While every child grows up experiencing a different parenting style and set of rules, teachers are able to find ways to treat each child equally with compassion and respect. Each child will inevitably receive different amounts of attention and levels of discipline as teachers balance their entire classrooms, all while expanding each student’s growing mind. This amazing super power deserves to be nurtured, appreciated, and rewarded whenever possible.

Instilling a sense of respect in your children will go a long way towards helping teachers maintain a positive, healthy learning environment. Teachers only play a partial role in the discipline of our children and the less time they have to focus on outbursts, the more time they can spend teaching valuable lessons. Outside of teaching your children to be well-behaved, you can always give your kids’ teachers presents. Yes, we said presents!

We are proud to carry the most unique jewelryfor teachers designed to convey the heartfelt feelings you have for their hard work and dedication. These inspirational pieces can be worn anywhere and we have a range of styles and colors from which to choose your favorites. Our jewelry will remind teachers of their importance in their students’ lives and allows them to show off in style.

Our t-shirtsfor teachers are designed to help them show off their fun side with cute quotes teachers say every day emblazoned across the front. We have funny t-shirts with “You can’t scare me. I teach preschool” in bright colors, as well as plenty of other t-shirts with inspirational and funny quotes. These shirts are perfect for holiday and end of the year gifts for your favorite teachers and we offer the best prices with fast shipping on all orders.

We make showing your gratitude for your children’s teachers easy and affordable. These simple gifts can help remind a teacher just how appreciative you and your children are for their daily efforts.

Who are some of your favorite teachers from growing up? Share your stories in the comments below!

How to Get Your Kids Interested in Science

Science and the scientific method are vital to understanding the natural world. Instilling a strong respect for science and critical thinking at an early age will help children learn how to question what they see and create informed opinions in all areas of their lives. Getting children excited about science is not always an easy task, so we’ve outlined a few fun ways you can get your children interested as early as possible.

Hands-on Activities

Interactive play is a great way to get your kids interested in science. Using a microscope or chemistry set allows them to use their hands and mind to observe scientific processes and reactions they create themselves. This gives children the context they need to understand that studying and practicing science can allow them to control, and even predict, outcomes. Once children see that science is not as mysterious as they once thought, they can begin to appreciate and grow as young scientists. And, who doesn’t love a good chemistry set?

Practical Applications

The practical application of the sciences happens around us at all times. From measuring and mixing ingredients for baking a cake to learning how their favorite electronics work, you can help your children find everyday ways science is intertwined in their lives. When children understand the power and connection science has in their everyday lives, they can appreciate and use science to solve everyday problems, giving them a head start on their peers.

Learn with them

One of the most important factors in getting kids interested in science is parental involvement. Many scientific concepts can seem overwhelming or complicated to young children and their parents guidance can be critical to preventing frustration and waning interest. Children whose parents help them learn these scientific concepts have a better, more complete understanding and are more likely to take an interest in science in the future.

Get Outside

Nature provides a wealth of interesting scientific experiments and projects you can do with your children. From making molds of animal tracks to testing lake water for contaminants, the natural world is a scientist’s playground! Visiting and testing the same area over time gives children a sense of how and why data is collected and what can be done with it once it’s been gathered.

Performing and monitoring scientific experiments teaches kids the awesome power of the scientific method while giving them fun ways to practice its application. Visiting your local planetarium and museums gives your kids a stronger sense of how science has shaped our lives and affects their futures. Learning about and practicing science together allows parents to bond with their children while they grow into the next generation of world-changing scientists.

What are your favorite memories of learning science as kid? Share your stories with us in the comments below!

How Bullying Affects Children

In recent years, bullying has surfaced as a more serious problem than experts had previously considered. As bullying has become more prevalent, cruel, and targeted, the effects on children has shown increasingly traumatic results. From decreased academic accomplishments to behavioral and emotional problems, bullying has adverse effects on all parties: bullies, bully-victims, and bystanders all suffer the effects of bullying. So, we’ve put together a list of ways bullying affects children & what to look for if you suspect your child is being bullied.

Bullying is defined as the use of superior strength or influence to intimidate someone, typically to forcing them to do what one wants. This is repeated, aggressive behavior that includes a real or perceived power imbalance. Bullying can include verbal abuse and/or physical abuse with the goal of belittling and embarrassing the victim, usually publicly. Of course, the Internet provides bullies with a shield against exposure, as well as a vehicle for spreading their harmful messages to the world.

Academic Effects of Bullying

Children that are bullied in school have shown a decrease in their academic accomplishments and interest in academic endeavors. Both bullies and their victims suffer adverse effects of bullying and see a decrease in performance with elementary school age students showing the highest number of bullying incidents. Bullied students have lower attendance rates, a reduced desire to attend school, and do not engage or contribute to classroom activities in hopes of avoiding continued bullying.

Social Effects of Bullying

The social aspects of bullying have been exponentially exacerbated by the explosion of social media platforms. Social media has forced an increasingly elevated standard of beauty and belonging that can make children and young adults extremely self-conscious and feeling anxiety ridden. Social media gives bullies an anonymous means of harassing their victims that can spread like wildfire through their friends’ lists, as well as all of their social media platforms. This often leaves children feeling left out and alone. This can cause a pain and frustration that follows them everywhere they go with little to no relief. This can cause a host of social problems including loneliness, hopelessness, and low self-worth. With social media penetrating every aspect of children’s lives, it can feel like an inescapable barrage of insults and hurtful comments.

Long Term Effects of Bullying

The effects of bullying tend to last well beyond the childhood years. Many victims of bullying suffer from depression, anxiety, and a host of additional mental health problems. While bully-victims are more likely to suffer from depression and low self-esteem later in life, bullies are at a higher risk of substance abuse and hostility. Bullies have a higher risk of developing personality disorders and a tendency to manipulate others, even into adulthood.

While these effects can be easily observed and confirmed by teachers, administrators, healthcare providers, and parents, there have been few qualified and objective studies done over an extended period of time with large enough sample sizes to accurately record and monitor the results. As the trend of bullying continues to grow, it is important to give young children the tools they need to handle these situations in a healthy way.

Stopping bullying benefits bullies and bully-victims, as well bystanders who also see the harmful effects of bullying even if they are not the direct target. Inclusion for all promotes clear and open communication, healthy opportunities for personal growth and development, and fewer mental health problems later in life.

Check out our resources for dealingwith bullies or visit https://www.stopbullying.gov/ for more information.

What are some of the ways you have dealt with a bully? Share your stories and tips in the comments below!

Why Children Misbehave in Class & What to Do About It

Most early childhood centers, pre-schools, and elementary schools are starting the count-down to the days of summer.  This is a time when parents and teachers reflect on everything their children have learned over the past school year. For these young students in particular, the classroom provides more than a nurturing environment where they learn about ABCs and 123s. The early years are characterized by growth both socially and behaviorally.

One of the most interesting (and at times, frustrating) parts of any teacher’s job can be helping children learn how to behave properly.. That’s why it’s so important to have strategies for reaching and teaching all children.  This post, will give you some effective ways to manage various types of behavior in the classroom.

Behavior Management

Behavior management starts the minute children enter the classroom.  Greet them warmly when they come into the classroom. The stronger the connection you have with children, the less children will misbehave.  The more you connect, the less you correct.

Use the strength-based approach for behavior management pointing out the strengths of children rather than their weaknesses.  Whatever you put your attention on will expand and grow. 

When you see a child beginning to engage in an inappropriate behavior, use proximity control, standing or sitting near the child in a non-threatening way.  Children typically get the point that you are nearby and stop engaging in negative behaviors. 

Another strategy is to simply make a gesture like putting your finger over your lips to suggest, “We are silent right now,” or making a writing gesture to remind a student “It’s time to write.”

Teach children ASL, American Sign Language.  This is an effective way for them to ask you for what they want and for both you and children to communicate in a quieter and calmer way.   

Logical consequences are a way to help children understand the cause and effect relationship between their actions and the consequences of their actions. Logical consequences are directly related to the behavior that needs to change. For example, if Kennedy chooses to break crayons at the art table instead of using them to color, the logical consequence can be that she has to spend some of her recess time gluing broken crayons back together.

Classroom Management

When two or more pupils start talking, throwing things, or otherwise disrupting the class, it’s important to immediately step in before the distraction gets too difficult to contain. Often, the child (or children) who started the disruptive behavior wants to ruffle your feathers and get attention, so clapping or verbal strategies give them what they want. Always remember, that whatever you put your attention on, will expand and grow.  If you put it on disruptive behaviors, those will expand and grow.  Stay calm.  Be a role model of calm confidence.  Have a multitude of strategies to use for classroom management.  Here are some for you:

1.     Redirect children by playing music or doing something else engaging.

2.    Use a transitional object to get the attention of the whole class.  For example, check out our  wireless chime to see a video example of how effective this strategy works.

3.    Use a saying that gets the children’s attention.  “If you hear my voice, clap 3 times; If you hear my voice, blink your eyes 2 times; If you hear my voice, clap your tongue 2 times.”

Impulse Control

K-5 children are still developing impulse control skills.  Children who need to work on their impulse control can bring various disruptive behaviors into the classroom. Fortunately, the classroom environment provides numerous opportunities to help children develop this crucial life skill.

Teach children impulse control by teaching them self-regulation strategies.  Here are some you can use:

1.    Deep breathing is a skill that children will be able to use throughout their lives when they are upset.  Have them take deep breaths and then exhale the breaths slowly in a relaxing manner.

2.    Have soothing items they can use like watching a timer that is calming.

3.    Have soothing items like a stress ball that they can hold and manipulate to get calm.

4.    Provide visual cues such as signs and posters around the classroom that gives children consistent reminders of self-calming strategies.

5.    Create a “relaxation station.”  This is a safe place that children can go when they need some time to just be alone for a bit to calm themselves. 

And most importantly, stay calm.  Your attitude is contagious not only to children who have issues with impulse control, but for the whole class.  Children copy more what you do, than what you say.

Teacher Boutique is a trusted provider of training materials teachers. We stock a selection of Appelbaum training activities that are sure to engage your students. If you’re working on continuing education this summer, our state-recognized courses and books are priced affordably and arrive fast. Shop our selection online and enjoy fast shipping.

Let Every Day Be Mother's Day

Let Every Day Be Mother's Day

This Sunday is a special day in the United States, a day set aside to honor mothers. It made me first think of my own mom and that she is no longer here for me to celebrate with her — to choose a card or a gift. Then I thought about all of the people in my life who have been mom figures to me. That led me to think about the word "mother."

When I think of the word "mother," I think about a special kind of person, a person who:
 • Loves unconditionally
• Feels her life change from the moment that child enters her life
• Plans for the future of her children
• Shares in the joys and in the sorrows of her children
• Enjoys watching her children grow and learn
• Makes special time even when tired, to be with her children
• Gets that special smile on her face when her children enter the room

I also think of the many different kinds of moms in the world — natural birth moms, adoptive moms, foster moms, step-moms, relatives who become mom figures, and friends who are mom mentors, and I also think of teachers — sometimes the sole "mom" figure in the lives of some children.

It is not enough to have just one day to honor moms. It needs to be everyday. Let the love and gratitude you have for all those "moms" in your own life shine! Children will see it and learn, learn, learn to also honor the "moms" in their own lives. Have a wonderful day and a wonderful week-end!

Maryln Appelbaum