Calm-Down Time (Toddler Tools®) by Marieka Heinlen

Calm-Down Time (Toddler Tools®) Reviews

• 
  Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams

  This book is so chuck full of ideas on how to feel better when you feel sad or upset. I think it would help young children, children, teens and even adults.
  
  ** Talking Points: What makes you sad? What makes you mad? What do you do to work through and release those more difficult emotions? Who are the sad people in your life? Who are the mad people in your life? Who are the happy people in your life?
  
  ** Essential Oil Pairing Tip: I'd roll on doTERRA's Calmer essential oil blend that is made especially for children (although adults love it too). It works just like the name says!
• 
  L.K. Chapman

  I bought this for my 19 month old who has started having tantrums sometimes. He's too young to understand it properly yet, but the tips at the back for parents are useful and he enjoys flicking through it looking at the pictures. As he gets a bit older I feel that the idea of doing a breathing exercise to calm down should be simple to understand, as well as the idea of talking about a problem or asking for a hug. Overall I'm pleased with this book and I think it will be a really helpful tool for my toddler in the future.
• 
  Baby Goode

  Mom liked the parent tips at the end better than the book itself, but I was interested in the rhythm of this book.
• 
  Cindy Petzoldt

  My favorite book about feelings to share with young children. My Ready Readers preschoolers (2-5 year olds) follow along with solemn empathy as children of multiple races share how sometimes they feel sad, mad — and then the book empowers the reader to take a “deeeeep breath” and count to 3 — “I’m taking care of me!” I read this book multiple times to one classroom, and at the end of the school year I presented each child with their own copy to take home. One little boy turned around and hugged me, and later he told the teacher that this is his favorite book because now he can count 1-2-3 and breathe in and out, and feel better. Elizabeth Verdick and Marieka Heinlen created a classic here — every home, every library, and every young child should have a copy of this book for their very own. I think it’s out of print — please, Free Spirit Publishing, bring it back!
• 
  Britney

  1.) Calm-Down Time
  2.) Social/Emotional Skill: The skills being taught here are self control and self regulation emotionally.
  3. I would use this book in a cozy corner of the classroom to help the children to see that sometimes when we are upset we need time to just relax and to calm down to breathe. This book will help the kids to see that their are healthy ways to cope with stressful situations. I liked that this book was very soothing when I read it and that it can be a useful tool for teachers or parents. This book is a great tool to help children realize that even when we get upset we need to cool off and use self-control.
• 
  Edshara

  Since we’ve had this checked out, I’ve read it to the little ones twice. It’s simple enough that we can implement the calm-down routine in our daily lives. It’s also, surprisingly(to me anyway) one of the few books that keeps their attention from start to finish. I love that they like it and I’m sure I’ll read it a few more times before we return it.
• 
  Eystein

  Our 2 year old loved this book, but then all new books/presents are great. I'm not sure if it will have the desired affect yet, but I'm often reffering to "calm down" and taking a deep breath, and I think with time, they will too.
• 
  Caitlinleah

  I love this series is called “toddler tools.” We are big Elizabeth Verdick fans around here. Not quite as catchy as Daniel tiger songs, it’s great used in conjunction. I think we need to own this one.
• 
  Karen

  Too bad my son won't listen while I read this book to him.
  At the end of the book there are tips for adults, although if you watch Daniel Tiger you'll already know them.
• 
  Dana

  Helpful for children who need help monitoring their behaviors. Wonderful parent tips at the end of the book. More liniment in parenting style with the tips than some parents would choose.
• 
  Giselle Ates

  A great reinforcement for dealing with tantrums.
• 
  Ms. Arca

  This was super spot on.
  
  Wish the art was different but it also totally worked.
  
  
• 
  Jack

  Some good pointers here.
• 
  Mayra Harrison

  this is a great book to read to children to remind them of great ways to calm down. this is an amazing self-soothing guardian book and a great early reader book.
• 
  Kaitlin O'Connor

  Simple, clear, accessible to kids.
• 
  Desaimonali

  A kids book which is relevant for adults too. We all need calm down time in our lives! :)
• 
  Epifania Rita Gallina

  Great resource for kids and parents
• 
  Elliot's Mama

  I love this book that teaches toddlers to emotionally regulate/calm down when upset. Labeling the emotion (sad, mad), taking three deep breaths, going to a quiet space to take a break, asking a parent to hug them, giving themselves a squeeze, listening to music and rocking side to side, and using words to express their feelings are all explained in easy-to-understand language with simple illustrations. There is an excellent two-page list of tips for parents and caregivers at the end for further helping families learn these skills. We will definitely use this a lot and keep it in his calm-down corner in his room once he starts having tantrums.
  
  *Read-aloud to Elliot at 1.5 years old
  
  
  
• 
  Sarah

  A great book for toddlers (or really anybody) who needs to figure out what to do when they're overwhelmed by frustration and anger. As my child approaches age two, tantrums are a part of our daily life, but Verdick calmly and simply explains several different ways for young children to express their feelings in less destructive ways, including the ever popular, "use your words". The back pages slso lay out ways patrons can encourage their toddler to express their feelings in a calmer manner.
• 
  Russell

  Another masterpiece in the indoctrination of social norms series.
  
  The only minor thing that would have punched it up a notch: if the lesson had been to count to five, instead of three. One day, when I introduce my children to Jack Shephard's lesson to count to five? I'd like them to associate that with Elizabeth Verdick's work instead of Matthew Fox's tattoo he got in honor of his time on Party of Five.
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  Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken

  Really loved this one. My little lady is two and has some BIG emotions sometimes, so this is wonderful to reinforce the idea of calming ourselves down - this a phrase I have used before nap and bed, saying, "Now it is time to calm down", so she is already familiar with it. I liked the idea too of reinforcing counting to calm down also. Great book!