I’m wondering if anyone has any suggestions for picture books about standing up for yourself, what real friendship looks like, etc for the preschool crowd.
Long story short, my almost 4 year old is telling me that a “friend” at school is dictating who my son can play with and how he plays, telling on him for things he didn’t do and telling him he’s wrong about things that are true. He’s my first child so I’m guessing this is pretty normal and his teachers are already keeping a closer eye on them. I just don’t know what else to say to him other than suggesting he take a break from this friend/walking away/saying Stop,etc/ getting a teacher. He wants to be his friend so badly and I want to support him in navigating this imbalance into a successful and appropriate friendship, if possible. But I also don’t want my kid to be steamrolled. Anyway, books have always been very helpful for us so any suggestions would be great! Other non-book suggestions welcome too!
You might also enjoy...
-
@peaches1038: if you like llama llama there is a “llama llama and the bully goat”. I think it does a good job of balancing the need to stand up for yourself with the idea of second chances with friends who need to work on making better choices. The bully goat is mean but it feels realistic and then there’s some resolution. That is the first one that came to mind!
-
@peaches1038: Knowing H, maybe you could sit with him and ask him to draw some scenarios and how he would react in each one? That might reinforce the appropriate behaviors. For example, he draws the kid snatching a toy and then himself saying, maybe we should play later, and walking away to find a book??
-
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3118349-one
Fits the situation perfectly -
Having a similar problem with my 4.5 year old, except it's my daughter who's the bossy one or excluding others. We loved reading:
The Big Umbrella
A Sick Day for Amos McGee
Strictly No ElephantsAlso - our preschool reads Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids - as a school. It's a simple way for preschoolers to navigate social relationships. If a friend is being mean, my daughter will say that person is being a "bucket dipper" and the teacher will reinforce that as well. They have "buckets" at school and get little presents like erasers or stickers for being "bucket fillers" and if they're "bucket dippers," they lose those treats.
-
@MamaCate: thank you! I reserved it at the library!
-
@wrkbrk: thank you!! We talk through situations pretty consistently, but drawing might make it more “concrete”. I know this is all normal but it hurts my mama heart
-
@ChitownRo: perfect! I reserved it!
-
@cornucopia8: I am totally going to get that book for his classroom!! Thank you for the awesome suggestions!
-
BTW - here's another we found by accident: My Friend Maggie! https://www.amazon.com/My-Friend-Maggie-Hannah-Harrison/dp/0525429166
-
@cornucopia8: thank you!!
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
10 comments