Resources for Parents
The following books and resources address social and emotional learning, mental health, and positive identity development for children, teens, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges by Dennis McGuire, PhD and Brian Chicoine, MD
Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality By Terri Couwenhoven
Boyfriends & Girlfriends: A Guide to Dating for People with Disabilities by Terri Couwenhoven
Positive Discipline For Children With Special Needs By Jane Nelsen, ED. D, Steven Foster, and Arlene Raphael
Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child The Heart of Parenting by John Gottman, Ph.D. , Joan Declair
How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen By Joanna Faber & Julie King
No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Out-Of-Control Behavior 1st Edition by Jed Baker, Ph.D
100+ Social-Emotional Skills IEP Goals Positive Action has created a long list of social-emotional skills that can be added to your child's IEP to ensure they have the skills they need to recognize and regulate their emotions and build the socials skills they need to access education and build a strong foundation for success the rest of their life.
Books to Read to Children
Emotional and Social Education Books for Children
Children's books on social and emotional education are becoming more common and can be found in almost all libraries, bookstores, and online. Add books that describe emotions and coping strategies to your regular book routines and strengthen language and emotion skills and bonding at the same time!
Free Spirit Publishers offers a huge collection of mental health and social skills books for young children through teen and young adults. These books are great to read to your child to help them develop emotion skills. https://www.freespirit.com/
Guides for Young Adults and Self-advocates
These are some self-help workbooks for teens, young adults, and self-advocates. You may read them and complete the workbooks on your own, or you may work with a friend, parent, or someone you trust to help you.
Practice Regularly. For them to be helpful, you must read them and complete the activities on a regular basis. Set aside a regular time to do them and schedule that time in your calendar. It can be helpful to use a phone to set reminders to do them.
A Little Bit At a Time. Don't try to read the entire book at once, or do all the worksheets. Do one section at a time. Remember to practice as much as you can before moving to the next section.
Reward Yourself. Plan to reward yourself each time you complete an activity by doing something special. Some examples of self-rewards might include watching a movie, calling a friend, going for a walk, playing a game, and taking a bubble bath. Choose something fun to reward yourself for your hard work!
BOOKS
Dating and Relationships
Boyfriends & Girlfriends: A Guide to Dating for People with Disabilities by Terri Couwenhoven
Anxiety
Name and Tame Your Anxiety: A Kid’s Guide by Summer Batte
Depression
The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens: Activities to Help You Build Confidence and Achieve Your Goals (Instant Help Book for Teens) BY LISA M. SCHAB LCSBeyond the Blues: A
Workbook to Help Teens Overcome Depression (Teen Instant Help) by Lisa M. Schab LCS
Anger
Bully Free Kids® Free Spirit Publishing’s innovative line of bullying prevention resources just for kids.
Self-injury
Stopping the Pain: A Workbook for Teens Who Cut and Self Injure by Lawrence Shapiro PhD
Grief, Loss, and Change
Violet the Snowgirl: A Story of Loss and Healing by Lisa L. Walsh
What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies? by Trevor Romain
Guides for Young Adults and Self-advocates
These are some self-help workbooks for teens, young adults, and self-advocates. You may read them and complete the workbooks on your own, or you may work with a friend, parent, or someone you trust to help you.
Practice Regularly. For them to be helpful, you must read them and complete the activities on a regular basis. Set aside a regular time to do them and schedule that time in your calendar. It can be helpful to use a phone to set reminders to do them.
A Little Bit At a Time. Don't try to read the entire book at once, or do all the worksheets. Do one section at a time. Remember to practice as much as you can before moving to the next section.
Reward Yourself. Plan to reward yourself each time you complete an activity by doing something special. Some examples of self-rewards might include watching a movie, calling a friend, going for a walk, playing a game, taking a bubble bath. Choose something fun to reward yourself for your hard work!
BOOKS
Dating and Relationships
Boyfriends & Girlfriends: A Guide to Dating for People with Disabilities by Terri Couwenhoven
Anxiety
Name and Tame Your Anxiety: A Kid’s Guide by Summer Batte
Depression
The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens: Activities to Help You Build Confidence and Achieve Your Goals (Instant Help Book for Teens) BY LISA M. SCHAB LCSBeyond the Blues: A
Workbook to Help Teens Overcome Depression (Teen Instant Help) by Lisa M. Schab LCS
Anger
Bullying
Free Spirit Publishing’s innovative line of bullying prevention resources just for kids.
Self-injury
Stopping the Pain: A Workbook for Teens Who Cut and Self Injure by Lawrence Shapiro PhD
Grief, Loss, and Change
Violet the Snowgirl: A Story of Loss and Healing by Lisa L. Walsh
What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies? by Trevor Romain