Be kind. Encourage compassion. Inspire creativity. Nurture courage. Grow your mind.
Having meaningful conversations with kids can be challenging. Trust me, I get it. I’ve received my fair share of one-word answers in response to well-meaning questions.
“How are you feeling?” “Fine.”
“How was school today?” “Good.”
“Are you excited about (fill in the blank)?” “Sure.”
Be that as it may, conversing with our kids is so important for their development and wellbeing. Being able to hold a conversation helps children communicate clearly, develop strong relationships, build confidence, and ultimately, grow comfortable with expressing their emotions and needs with us (their parents) and others. Plus, developing and promoting conversation skills early on will make those inevitable difficult discussions and tough topics a little easier to tackle.
So, how can we get our kids to open up? Here are some practical tips for having meaningful conversation with kids and cultivating those conversation skills that will benefit them in the long run.
When initiating a conversation with our kids, it’s important to mix up the questions we ask from time to time to avoid talking about the same things day after day. Some children pick conversation skills up quickly, while others might need more practice, prompts and guidance. Here are some ideas:
Need more conversation inspiration? Card games can make having meaningful conversation even more fun. One of our family favorites to pull out at the dinner table is Authentic Agility.
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Stuck inside on a rainy day? Wondering how you’re going to keep your kids entertained? There’s no reason to be bored when there are so many fun activities to do with kids indoors. Inspired by Guion the Lion and his friends, here’s a list of rainy day activities for kids that cultivate creativity and curiosity, encourage kindness and confidence, foster problem-solving and decision-making skills, establish emotional awareness and more!
Arts and crafts activities promote so many opportunities for learning and creativity. Grab what supplies you have on hand and encourage your kids to get creative!
Let the games begin! Playing games with other kids or as a family supports a number of social skills, such as taking turns, engaging in conversation, showing good sportsmanship and making decisions.
Music offers endless opportunities for creative interaction making it an impactful teaching tool for kids. It enhances cognition, provides comfort, improves memory, helps with mood regulation, and can even reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Choose a book to read aloud to your children. As you read, pause and discuss how the story and characters make them feel, what they like or dislike about the characters, etc. Engaging your child in conversation about the story challenges them to think and see the story from different perspectives. Guion The Lion present messages of curiosity, kindness, adventure and more! Plus, there’s a conversation guide to follow in the back of the book!
Guion the Lion is about an imaginative little lion who sees things differently from his friends. Using colorful illustrations and charming animal characters, the story portrays that new perspectives can open the door to unexpected fun.
Learn more about the book and join the adventure! Follow Guion the Lion on Facebook and Instagram for more kid-friendly activities and learning resources.
I deeply believe that our differences make this world a beautiful and colorful place. But, this is only true if we see other people through a lens of empathy. As parents, teachers, and/or grandparents, we know this, but how do we teach our kids to be empathetic and open-minded? Raising kind, empathetic children is a big undertaking!
Judging is a natural instinct, after all, and the sad truth is that children begin judging others based on physical appearances and differences as young as 3 years old. I believe that curiosity enables empathy.
Curiosity is defined simply as “a strong desire to know or learn something.” Psych Central sites several studies that show how life is simply better when you’re curious and noted four science-based reasons:
We all want our kids to learn efficiently, develop healthy relationships, discover purpose and happiness and embrace new viewpoints and opportunities, right? Being curious about others leads to better understanding of their lives, experiences and perspectives – even if they are different from our own. The more curious a child is, the more he/she learns and empathizes, which is why curiosity is so important. Let’s cultivate it!
The good news is that while judgment comes naturally, babies are also born with unbridled curiosity. Just consider how newborns begin to follow sounds and faces with their eyes or how toddlers grab and touch everything they can reach or how older kids ask questions endlessly. They want to figure out how the world works! As parents, it’s our job to foster, encourage and inspire this natural-born curiosity as they grow up. Here are 7 tips for cultivating curiosity:
Raising my firstborn son, Guion, who happens to have Down syndrome, opened my eyes to not only how quick we can be to judge others based on their differences, but also to the beauty that comes through curiosity, adventure and empathy. Guion inspired me to write the children’s book, Guion The Lion.
Guion The Lion is about an imaginative little lion who sees things differently from his friends.
Using colorful illustrations and charming animal characters, the story shows that new perspectives can open the door to unexpected fun. My vision is for this book to present a message of empathy, curiosity, and adventure before children begin making their own judgments and assumptions. Learn more about the book and join the adventure!
Ahh summer – a season to unwind, relax, play and enjoy the sunshine and longer days. While having “fun in the sun” is the usual chant of summertime, learning does not have to be excluded from the fun. It's important to continue to nurture social and emotional learning concepts throughout the summer.
Parents and teachers agree that social emotional learning (SEL) makes a huge difference in a child’s behavior, ability to manage stress and depression, as well as have better attitudes about themselves, others, and school. Social emotional skills, like recognizing and managing emotions, practicing kindness and empathy with peers, having a growth mindset, making decisions and communicating effectively, are simply invaluable.
Social emotional skills are often gleaned through real-life experiences and modeled by caregivers, but they can be further developed through intentional activities.
Avoid the summer slump–get outside and foster social emotional development with these fun, kid-friendly activities! Visit our Let’s Play page for more activity inspiration.
Guion The Lion is a children’s book about an imaginative little lion who sees things differently from his friends. Using colorful illustrations and charming animal characters, the story portrays that new perspectives can open the door to unexpected fun. My vision is for this book to present a message of empathy, curiosity and adventure to support social emotional learning at an early age.
Learn more about the book and join the adventure!
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. Signs of autism often appear by age 2 or 3, and it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months.
How familiar are you with Autism Spectrum Disorder? Do you have a child in your class with autism? Or a friend who has a child with autism? According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects about 1 in 44 children in the U.S. today. In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, let’s bring to light a few important truths to understand about Autism and children who are impacted by the disorder.
Join me in supporting full inclusion and acceptance for all individuals, but especially those with autism, Down syndrome and other special needs. Just look around–we’re all different. We look different, have different personalities, like different foods, enjoy different activities, and have different perspectives on the world around us. Similarities may bring us together, but it’s our differences that make this world a beautiful and colorful place.
My personal experience with Down syndrome and passion for inclusion inspired me to write Guion The Lion, a children’s book that conveys a message of empathy, to be used as a social emotional learning tool. In raising my 3 kids, I have become a big believer in social emotional learning. ALL children – those with and without special needs – need help developing social emotional skills, like kindness, empathy and inclusion.
Using colorful illustrations and charming animal characters, Guion The Lion shows that new perspectives can open the door to unexpected fun. My hope for the children’s story is that it encourages children to embrace others’ differences and perspectives before they begin forming their own judgements and assumptions.
Order a copy today! Follow Guion The Lion on Facebook and Instagram for social emotional learning resources, inspiration and more.
Are you ready to celebrate Easter with your class and/or family? It’s easier than you think to revamp traditional Easter activities into EGG-cellent social emotional learning opportunities.
Many kids need positive outlets to manage their emotions, and art activities allow children to relax and put their worries and fears aside while focusing on the task at hand.
Gather the supplies: Eggs (plastic or hard-boiled eggs), paint, muffin tins or paper plates, and paper.
Let’s paint: Turn on a song and instruct the children to paint how the song makes them feel. Once they finish painting their eggs, ask the kids to explain all the feelings illustrated on their eggs. Do they feel more relaxed after completing the activity?
Use intentional conversation starters to transform an Easter gathering into intimate, fruitful conversation or help classmates get to know each other better. Conversations like these promote self-awareness and self-confidence while encouraging kids to listen to perspectives of others.
Gather the supplies: Plastic eggs, paper, pen, scissors
Let’s chat: Fill plastic eggs with conversation starters and place them in a basket or bowl on the table. Take turns selecting an egg and answering each question. Here are a few kid-friendly and festive conversation starters:
A festive take on a favorite Guion The Lion activity, “What’s in the Bag.” This simple activity will really put their listening and problem-solving skills to the test!
Gather the supplies: Plastic eggs, pen, paper and a mystery item
Let’s guess: Ask each child to find something unique to put inside their egg and write down 3 clues to read to the other children. Take turns reading the clues and making guesses. Can they guess what’s in the egg?
Let’s get moving! The Hoppin’ Easter Egg Hunt is a great outdoor activity to burn some extra energy from all the Easter candy and encourage kids to take on a challenge.
Gather the supplies: Plastic eggs, paper, pen, scissors
Let’s hunt: Fill plastic eggs with fun movement challenges, and hide them around the yard, park or playground. When an egg is found, everyone has to stop and do the challenge before they keep hunting. Here are a few ideas:
What are your favorite Easter activities for social emotional learning? We’d love to hear! Follow Guion the Lion on Facebook or Instagram to join the conversation!
Every child loves a colorful bedtime story! Add a story of empathy and acceptance to your kids’ Easter baskets this year. Guion the Lion is a children’s book about an imaginative little lion who sees things differently from his friends. Using colorful illustrations and charming animal characters, the story portrays that new perspectives and appreciating differences can open the door to unexpected fun. Order a copy of Guion The Lion today!
By: Rebecca Wilson Macsovits, Author of Guion The Lion
What does inclusion mean to you?
World Down Syndrome Day 2022 is coming up on March 21, 2022, and Down Syndrome International is posing this question. Today’s unfortunate reality is that often people with Down syndrome and other special needs do not benefit from full inclusion in our society.
What can we do to reform this reality? Start talking, sharing and advocating. So, I ask again, what does inclusion mean to you? Are you included? Are you inclusive of others? World Down Syndrome Day is an ideal day to join the conversation. Share your message with Down Syndrome International here.
To me, inclusion means accepting all people no matter their ability, their religion, their political views, their gender, their sexual orientation, their ethnicity… the list goes on and on and on.
Inclusion, empathy and open mindedness became especially important to me in raising my oldest son, Guion, who has Down syndrome. Because of all the misconceptions that often surround Down syndrome, people often look at Guion and others who have Down syndrome differently. Sure, Guion looks different, has different abilities and has a different perspective on the world around us. But, aren’t we all different in our own ways?
I say this often because I believe it to be so true: Similarities may bring us together, but it’s our differences that make this world a beautiful and colorful place. Wouldn’t it be a shame if children missed out on the beauty that surrounds all of us because they become closed-minded?
When we get outside of our comfort zones, spend time with people who are “different” from ourselves, we discover what it’s like to be in another person’s shoes. We experience empathy. And from empathy comes understanding, which cultivates kindness.
Children’s books are powerful tools for social emotional learning (SEL). SEL is an important element of development as it promotes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making skills in children.
If you have children or teach children, you understand the lasting impression a story can have on a child. Children’s books have the power to instill social emotional skills like empathy, promote growth-mindsets, encourage kindness and nurture courage.
My experience with Down syndrome and passion for inclusion inspired me to write a children’s book that conveys a message of empathy. Using colorful illustrations and charming animal characters, the children’s story shows that new perspectives can open the door to unexpected fun. My vision is for this book to present a message of empathy, curiosity, and adventure before children begin making their own judgments and assumptions. My hope is that it encourages children, and parents alike, to embrace others’ differences and perspectives.
By: Rebecca Wilson Macsovits, Author of Guion The Lion
My oldest son, Guion, gets a lot of stares when we’re out and about from both children and parents. Guion has Down syndrome. If you are not familiar, Down syndrome is a genetic condition where a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21, which impacts how a baby’s body and brain develop, which can cause cognitive and physical differences.
Because of the many misconceptions associated with Down syndrome, Guion often gets put into a box. People look at him and see Down syndrome rather than an individual with a full spectrum of emotions, unique abilities, spectacular perspective and big dreams. This is not how it should be…
Let’s debunk some common myths about Down syndrome!
DEBUNKED: Down syndrome is actually the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition. About one in every 792 babies in the U.S. is born with Down syndrome, which is around 6,000 births a year. Has your child recently been diagnosed with Down syndrome? Trust me in this: You are not alone. Talk and meet with other parents and families blessed with a child who has Down syndrome. Listen and learn from their stories and experiences.
DEBUNKED: In our experience, this could not be further from the truth. Our community is extremely accepting and inclusive toward Guion. As soon as Guion was diagnosed, my husband Mac led us in learning how to be parents to a child with Down syndrome. He immediately began calling people to learn more about the condition and get engaged with the community. We met with several families who had children with Down syndrome and had the opportunity to ask them questions, get to know their children, and ultimately, gain a better understanding of Down syndrome. Also, our family and friends who do not have a child with special needs are often our biggest supporters. He’s treated the same as all our other kids – just as we do!
DEBUNKED: People with Down syndrome have feelings just like anyone else. As I mentioned earlier, Guion experiences a full spectrum of emotions. He’s funny, intuitive and kind, and surprises us daily with his beautiful perspective of the world around him. But he also gets sad, mad and frustrated. We all do, right? Guion is also uniquely in tune with the emotions of those around him. He often notices when I’m upset and immediately seeks to cheer me up with a sweet “I love you, Mom” note or picks the perfect “happy” song to make me happy. He’s not wrong!
DEBUNKED: In fact, most children with Down syndrome function in the mild to moderate range of cognitive impairment. The physical and intellectual delays associated with Down syndrome vary greatly with each child–just as children without special needs vary in social emotional and physical development. Today, a growing number of people with Down syndrome attend and graduate from college, drive cars, get married, are talented athletes, are employed and live independently.
In my family, we believe opportunity must precede ability. Guion, like my other two children, has so much to offer if he is given the opportunity. He rides his bike to tennis lessons, spends the night with typical friends, enjoys going to the movies with friends. And fortunately, more and more opportunities are available for his future education and employment.
All in all, assumptions and misconceptions are so limiting to all children–but especially to individuals with Down syndrome and other special needs. We decided early on that Guion’s Down syndrome diagnosis would not define him. Let’s give everyone a chance to be who they uniquely are without making judgements.
The day we received Guion’s Down syndrome diagnosis was scary. “Different” can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. The reality is, we’re all different in all sorts of ways. Embracing the differences in each other makes our world a beautiful and colorful place. Because of who Guion is and how he sees the world, I’m a much better person. For instance, I try to make others feel seen and included even if it makes me feel uncomfortable in that moment. Similarly, I make an effort to be more welcoming of individuals who I may not connect with naturally.
Guion inspired me to write the story of Guion the Lion about an imaginative little lion who sees the world differently from his friends. The children’s book presents children with a message of empathy, inclusion and adventure before they begin making their own assumptions about people who may appear “different.” While the book was inspired by a person with special needs, it is applicable to so much more. My hope is that it encourages children, and parents alike, to promote inclusion and the beauty of embracing everyone’s differences.
In case you haven’t heard, World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is coming up on March 21, 2022. The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome, which causes Down syndrome.
Join Guion The Lion in advocating for the rights of people with Down syndrome and sharing the impact of inclusion. Down Syndrome International encourages advocates to share their story and/or what inclusion means on social media using the hashtags #WorldDownSyndromeDay and #InclusionMeans.
Follow Guion The Lion on Facebook and Instagram as we take part in advocating for Down syndrome.
Parents and teachers agree that social emotional learning (SEL) makes a difference. Research proves that students participating in SEL programs displayed improved classroom behavior, an increased ability to manage stress and depression, and better attitudes about themselves, others, and school. Social emotional skills, like recognizing and managing emotions, practicing kindness and empathy with peers, making decisions and communicating effectively, are simply invaluable. Wondering how to integrate SEL at home or in your classroom? Like art, music can be used as a social emotional learning tool.
Music is a language people of all different ages and backgrounds speak. Just consider how a certain tune can take us back to special moments and memories…
Research continues to uncover benefits that music lessons provide to young, developing minds. For instance, one study noted that “music improves cognitive and non-cognitive skills more than twice as much as sports, theater and dance” and that “kids who take music lessons have better cognitive skills and school grades and are more conscientious, open and ambitious.” Another study concluded that young babies who listened intently to melodies became more sensitive to the rhythms of spoken language, and also improved their abilities to focus. Music really has the capacity to touch every soul, especially children with special needs.
Music offers endless opportunities for creative interaction making it a powerful teaching tool for children with special needs, like Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, childhood apraxia of speech, cerebral palsy or other learning disabilities. For many children with special needs, words and expression can present an enormous challenge. Music, however, has the power to bridge this gap. Hans Christian Anderson said it best, “where words fail, music speaks.” Music allows children with special needs to share their emotions and communicate without the burden of using words.
For instance, my son Guion typically listens to “happy” music either because he’s in a good mood and wants to stay that way or he’s feeling down and the music helps lift him out of a mood. Right now, his top three go-to happy songs are Happier by Marshmello, Glorious by Adam Friedman, and Fancy Like by Walker Hayes. When I drive Guion to school, he is the DJ and sings and dances in his seat all the way there. It definitely makes for a fun ride!
All in all, the power of music cannot be underestimated as a teaching tool. It enhances cognition, provides comfort, improves memory, helps with mood regulation, and can even reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Let’s put the power of music to work in our homes and classrooms!
Because music is such an effective tool for the mind and emotions, music and SEL go hand-in-hand. Here are a few simple activities to integrate music as a social emotional learning tool in your home or classroom.
Whether tapping out beats with wooden spoons, clapping hands, singing along to a song, or playing rhythmic instruments, group music-making encourages kids to work with others as an “ensemble.” It presents an opportunity to work together toward a common goal, which fosters important social skills, like empathy, respect and collaboration. When making music, children are challenged to watch their peers for subtle cues to timing, volume and expressiveness – the same cues we use for reading others' emotions and expressions in social settings.
As mentioned above, songs tend to evoke certain emotions and memories. Select a song, play it aloud, and ask the children to explain or draw how the music makes them feel or what it reminds them of. This is a simple musical activity that can be integrated into any classroom lesson, at home and even in the car!
Need an easy way to help little ones get the wiggles out while also teaching them how to self-regulate? Play musical stop and go! It can be an indoor, outdoor or virtual learning activity. Play a song and let the kids move and dance around until you stop the music. This teaches kids cues to start and stop their bodies while having fun expressing themselves through dancing. Plus, research shows that for children with special needs, dancing to music without instructions can improve their overall gross motor development and mobility.
You can never share multicultural tunes too early! Children may not fully put the pieces together until they are older, but cultural awareness starts much earlier. Music can be a fun way for kids to explore other cultures and customs. By learning about different musical traditions, students learn to accept differences in others and celebrate diversity.
Music is universal – just like the message in the children’s book Guion The Lion. That’s why we brought Guion’s story to life through a song! From reading to listening to music, children learn in many different ways. The Guion The Lion song is the perfect accompaniment to the book and serves as an additional outlet for exploring and learning about ourselves and the world we live in. Download the lyrics and listen to the Guion The Lion song here!
Love is in the air! While Valentine's Day is traditionally celebrated as a day for romance and love for couples, it is also a great holiday to teach children about love, empathy and compassion for others. Teaching children about these social emotional concepts helps them to develop healthy relationships with friends and family members.
Children who struggle with socializing often find Valentine’s Day to be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. These kid-friendly, Valentine’s Day-themed activities are sure to win the hearts of your children and students while providing meaningful social emotional learning opportunities.
This timeless activity doubles as a creative craft and an opportunity for kids to share words of affirmation with classmates or their parents and siblings. Arts and crafts are great tools for social emotional learning. This activity can build kids’ self-confidence and give them an opportunity to be generous and kind to other children.
Have your children make a personal “mailbox” for collecting Valentines from others. Next, have each child make a card for each of the other children in the classroom or family. Depending on the age of your children, you can provide different prompts for what to write on the cards.
Conversation hearts are one of the most popular Valentine’s Day candies, and they can be used as intentional conversation starters to turn family time into fruitful conversation or help students get to know each other better.
Grab a bag of conversation hearts (or more depending on the number of kids playing) and pour a handful into a bowl or cup for each participant. Create a list of questions to correspond with the most common conversation heart phrases. Here are some example questions for inspiration:
You may have to be creative depending on the conversation hearts you purchase. Have the kids take turns picking out a heart from their bowl/cup and reading what it says and answering the corresponding question.
Brainstorm with your children and/or students to come up with acts of kindness that they can complete in their homes, school or community. This is a great way to cultivate kindness in your home or classroom. Spark conversation about why the things they come up with are kind or loving, have them write the acts down on a heart-shaped piece of paper, and encourage your kids to try to complete all of the random acts of love by the end of the month.
Storytime! Children’s books can be great tools for teaching kindness, love and empathy. Reading books that show love and kindness in action help children understand and grow in these social emotional concepts. Need some book recommendations? Library Mom recently rounded up 9 New Valentine’s Day Books for 2022.
I have found children’s books to be particularly helpful in my son Guion’s, who happens to have Down syndrome, social and emotional development. In fact, Guion inspired me to write
Guion The Lion, which presents a message of kindness and empathy to young readers.
Guion the Lion is a children’s book about an imaginative little lion who sees things differently from his friends. Using colorful illustrations and charming animal characters, the story portrays that new perspectives and appreciating differences can open the door to unexpected fun.
Order a copy of Guion The Lion here. Follow Guion the Lion on Facebook or Instagram to join the adventure!
