We Check In with Each Other

Book excerpt: Help young children understand that it’s okay to establish personal boundaries and change their minds. Physical and emotional awareness are key foundations of consent. We Check In with Each Other gives children a vocabulary to understand that they can change their minds at any time, develop and communicate personal boundaries, and build their social and emotional skills. The second book in the We Say What’s Okay series, We Check In with Each Other follows Harrison as he checks in with himself and with his classmates throughout the day to see if they’re still having fun and feeling safe. Using the book as a read-aloud, educators and families can model the language Harrison’s teachers use to support children as they learn to listen to their body signals and respect the personal boundaries of others. The author, who hosts workshops and trainings on teaching consent for families and early childhood educators around the country, offers additional activities in the back of the book. Digital content includes a song from Peaceful Schools with downloadable audio files and sheet music. We Say What’s Okay Series Teach the building blocks of consent in a child-friendly and developmentally appropriate way. Centered on a class of preschoolers, this series helps teach young children the social and emotional skills they need to understand the complexities of consent. Each book covers a consent theme, such as how to recognize the physical sensations that emotions create, look for body language cues, ask for and listen to choices, and know that our bodies have value. With believable, everyday situations and diverse characters, children can see themselves and others reflected in each story—and develop a vocabulary to communicate consent and feelings. Every book in the series is accompanied by a song from Peaceful Schools with downloadable audio files and sheet music.