Real Stories for Real Children

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 [email protected], or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know! 

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 [email protected], or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know! Stay tuned for a bonus episode with tips for caregivers! 

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 [email protected], or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know! 

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 [email protected], or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know! Stay tuned for a bonus episode with tips for caregivers! 

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 [email protected], 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! 

This is an episode for adults that includes different tips and ways to practice "interrupting politely" at home with your child (it's a companion to the Interrupting Politely children's story). Enjoy! Did you try this with your child? How'd it go? Connect with us at [email protected], or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know! 

Sometimes, a friend has a toy that you want, but you can't take it out of their hand! In this story, Javi and his friend Oscar learn that if someone has something they want, they can either wait or choose something else. Grown-ups, try this at home! Did you try this with your child? How'd it go? Connect with us at [email protected], or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know! Stay tuned for a Tips for Caregivers episode coming soon! 

Sometimes, toddlers forget that teeth are for eating (not biting)! In this story, Javi learns that teeth are for eating, and that he can use words if he wants somethingGrown-ups, try this at home! Did you try this with your child? How'd it go? Connect with us at [email protected], or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know! Tips for Caregivers:Often, children bite because they don't have the language (or enough practice with language) to say what they want/need. Work on short phrases with your child to help them know what they can say ("stop," "please," "no," etc.). If your child is still learning how to talk, you can teach them sign language or another physical movement to indicate if they want (or do not want) something. If you're working on not biting and substituting words or signing, be sure to be extremely responsive the first few times your child uses words/signs so that they understand that words/signs can help them communicate. Sometimes children bite if they've tried another form of communication that hasn't worked. 

This is a bonus episode for adults that includes different tips and ways to practice "interrupting politely" at home with your child (it's a companion to the Interrupting Politely children's story). Enjoy! Did you try this with your child? How'd it go? Connect with us at [email protected], or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know! 

Sometimes, you want to get an adult's attention and tell them something, but they are already having a conversation! In this story, Javi learns how to interrupt politely or let someone know that he wants to tell them something. Grown-ups, try this at home! Did you try this with your child? How'd it go? Connect with us at [email protected], or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know! Tips for Caregivers:Check out the special companion episode to this one that includes tips and ways to do this with your own child! 

Sometimes, when you really want something, it's easy to forget to use a kind voice. In this story, Javi learns and practices how to use a kind voice. Grown-ups, try this at home! Did you try this with your child? How'd it go? Connect with us at [email protected], or on IG at @RealStoriesRealChildren and let us know! Tips for Caregivers:Try practicing this in a neutral moment when your child is calm and regulated. Prioritize your child's needs - sometimes they may be unable to ask for something calmly, especially if they are hungry, thirsty, or tired. Just encourage the use of a kind voice whenever you can. 

We don’t always get what we want, and that can be really hard. In this story, Javi learns that when he doesn’t get what he wants, he can try to do something that makes him feel better, or just let himself be sad for a little bit. Grown-ups, try this out with your own littles! Did it work? Did you run into a challenge? Connect with us at [email protected] or on IG at @Realstoriesrealchildren. Tips for caregivers: Don’t feel that you need to rush to make your child feel better immediately. Part of growing up and being in touch with your feelings is sitting in disappointment sometimes - this is where you can empathize with them!In a moment when your child isn’t upset, you can talk about how they feel when they don’t get what they want and maybe even think about some things that they can do to make them feel better. Maybe a special song or a handshake, or maybe they just practice letting themselves have sad feelings. A neutral moment is a great time to practice these things because then they can think about it without having the emotions in the heat of the moment.

When someone tells you something, it's kind to acknowledge them. In this story, Javi learns that he can say "okay" or give a thumbs up if someone tells him something, and he wants to let them know that he heard them. Got questions or comments? Send them to [email protected] IG: @realstoriesrealchildrenTips for Caregivers: Make sure you model the same thing - if your child tells you something, be sure to pause and acknowledge them (meaningfully) before moving on. 

Sometimes, someone is too close to your body and you just need some space. In this story, Javi learns how to say "I need space." Grown-ups, try this out at home! Got questions or comments? Send them to [email protected] IG: @realstoriesrealchildrenTips for Caregivers: For non-verbal children or children with limited speech, try using a hand signalSometimes physical space isn't enough - some children may benefit from finding a quiet room or less stimulating space. You know your child best, so follow their lead. 

Sometimes, everything feels like too much and you don't know what you want. In this story, Oscar learns how to take a breath when he doesn't know what he wants. Grown-ups: try practicing this at home with your own littles! Got questions or comments? Send them to [email protected] IG: @realstoriesrealchildrenTips for Caregivers: Sometimes children are overwhelmed, and even asking them what they want once they've calmed down can feel like too much. You can read a book near them or play quietly with a toy as a way to continue to help them regulate and calm down. They also may want you to make the choice of what to do until they know what they want, which is also okay! 

Sometimes, especially when you have a new sibling, it can be hard to get adult attention! In this story, 2-year-old Javi learns what he can say to get grown-up attention safely. Grown-ups: try practicing this at home with your own littles! Got questions or comments? Send them to [email protected] IG: @realstoriesrealchildrenTips for Caregivers: Some children may use non-verbal ways to get attention, like putting their hand on your shoulder or hip. Follow the lead of your child and their needs. The first few times a child asks for your attention, be sure to stop what you are doing and give them your attention right away. Over time, you can have them wait until you are available. This helps children build trust and confidence in using their words/attention-getting signals.