Free Spirit Publishing has the best line of behavior books that we've seen for toddlers and preschoolers. Each simple board book addresses one behavior issue presenting the problem (hitting, biting, using hurtful words, minimizing germ sharing, etc) and then presents a solution in a gentle, positive manner.



We read Hands Are Not For Hitting to Z often when she went through her two-year-old hitting phase. After reading it, we'd notice that she'd actively try to control her hitting and redirect her anger in a more positive way.

As cold and flu season is now upon us, we've been checking out the Germs Are Not For Sharing book which teaches kids how to prevent the spreading of germs and when to wash hands. Germs is sort of an abstract concept for toddlers and preschoolers and Germs Are Not For Sharing does a good job of making germs a more concrete idea - having a child wave goodbye to the germs.

Words Are Not For Hurting is going to be read a lot more often in our household. Z has entered a very sassy phase where she's experimenting with the way that words work and the emotions that they ellicit (read, she's saying things to be deliberately hurtful). This book, like all the books in Free Spirit's Best Behavior Series (take a look - there are several more!), is an excellent introduction or reminder for kids experimenting with language.

Each book in the set has a two-page spread at the end with tips for parents about dealing with the issue at hand. These tips are generally positive and gentle in nature encouraging parents to be mindful of their own actions, remembering that modeling behavior is often the best way to change it in our children. Free Spirit Publishing has these books set for ages 4-8 but honestly, who couldn't use a gentle reminder that words are not for hurting and germs are not for sharing? - Jennifer