Helping Young Refugees, Immigrants And Kids Who Have Been Bullied - Smart Tools For Life Announces Fundraising Campaign

Smart Tools for Life provides memorable and engaging books and music for young children that enhance their “smarts” for problem-solving, empathy, and compassion, and sink deeply - for life - into children's hearts and minds.

Every day 44,000 people become refugees due to climate change, war, etc. Half are children. Incredibly, many people don't care. When fear-mongering is rampant, and hatred of “the other” is being modeled from the highest levels of government, what are we teaching our kids?

Creating a compassionate point-of-view toward others and stimulating kind actions by children is a clear solution. One organization, Smart Tools for Life, has a unique and powerful way to implement that solution. Their new kids' book, 'Immigrant, Refugee, & Stranger -- The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer', inspires kindness toward newcomers, including the new kid in school, as well as immigrants, and refugees.

"Whether or not people are warmly welcomed in a new location or maligned and mistreated, fundamentally comes down to the attitude of each individual they encounter," stated Julie Penshorn, author of the new book. "These attitudes are formed as children learn and grow, and become laws when they are decision-makers. Hate and indifference have no place in our complicated world. Our work is to provide resources that change hearts, minds, and ultimately future governments, by educating children in empathy, compassion, and more today."

"Since attitudes of adults are difficult to change, we provide guidance for young kids, both residents, and those coming to our country. They learn to interact with others with kindness as a prerequisite, not an afterthought. This learning sinks deeply into their hearts and minds, and will influence their behaviors as culture-creating teens and adults."

Penshorn's new children’s book addresses the challenges that newcomers have when entering communities and classrooms. Readers are moved toward thoughtful and compassionate action. Embracing and accepting new people has complications. This story guides children to explore the questions around this topic. There are many opportunities for deep thinking and finding ‘compassion-smart’ solutions.

Thought-provoking questions are asked in the Parent and Educator Guide at the end of the book. The 'Conversation Starters' and 'Activities' provide several lesson-plans based on the conundrums provided by the story."

The Global Giving fundraising campaign will help accomplish all of these goals in a number of ways, including providing no-charge print books and ebooks, readings at libraries, classroom visits and a number of marketing/outreach programs. The Global Giving campaign is available at https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/compassion-smart-education-immigrants-refugees.

“This book is a great resource for families and teachers looking for materials that enhance decision-making. It supports teachers dealing with a new child in class, or perhaps immigrants, or refugees. We think these are critical discussions to have in today’s world,” said Rebecca Janke, M.Ed., the book’s content editor.

Penshorn's previous children's book about peace, 'I Can See Peace', won the Human Relations Peace Book Of The Year Award in 2018.

She encourages those seeking more ideas to visit her website: http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com. The Smart Tools for Life products include kids’ books and music, conflict resolution cubes to help children express their feelings, and wearables. There is also a free, downloadable coloring page for kids, based on the flagship children's book, 'The Barnyard Buddies Stop For Peace.'

Penshorn also makes her books and music available for corporate sponsorships and as fundraising tools for like-minded schools and preschools. She asks that anyone who would like to learn more contact her by email.

Julie is a the Director of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace and champion of its Smart Tools for Life project. Penshorn co-authored a preK-3 curriculum on conflict resolution, complete with hands-on-learning tools, that is in use in over 13,000 locations. She now focuses her unique talents on children’s books and music and a blog-based approach to supporting peace literacy and building a culture of peace.

Penshorn is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at julie@smarttoolsforlife.com. Donations are being accepted at https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/compassion-smart-education-immigrants-refugees. More information about the books, music and other products, including a video about the campaign, is available on the Smart Tools for Life website at https://www.smarttoolsforlife.com.

About Smart Tools for Life:

Smart Tools for Life is an ongoing project of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace. It provides memorable and engaging books and music for young children that enhance their “smarts” for problem-solving, empathy, and compassion, and sink deeply -- for life -- into children's hearts and minds. It makes it easy to bring social skills for peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, to young children, thereby encouraging more harmonious, sustainable relationships with others and the planet.

The organization’s materials are designed to develop peace literacy as they educate, entertain, and empower all those involved to strengthen families, classrooms, and neighborhoods. They also provide other teacher and parent education to support and maintain a culture of peace.

Contact:

Julie Penshorn
julie@smarttoolsforlife.com
https://www.smarttoolsforlife.com
http://www.growingcommunitiesforpeace.org

Leia Mais…

New Children’s Book About Peace, 'I Can See Peace' By Author Julie Penshorn, Wins Human Relations Peace Book Of The Year Award

The book will be officially be released on International Peace Day, September 21, 2018. Penshorn is the Director of Smart Tools for Life which provides memorable and engaging books and music for young children that enhance their “smarts” for problem-solving, empathy, and compassion, and sink deeply - for life - into children's hearts and minds.

'I Can See Peace,' the new children’s book, by Minnesota author Julie Penshorn, recently received the Director’s Choice Award from the Human Relations Indie Book Awards committee.

Susan Peterson, the Human Relations Indie Book Award organization’s representative commented, “We recently selected the outstanding children’s book, ‘I Can See Peace’, published by Growing Communities for Peace: Smart Tools for Life, as Human Relations Peace Book of the Year 2018. It was judged against the entries in all categories, not just children’s books. The focus of the Human Relations Indie Book Awards is to recognize outstanding indie authors who write on human relations topics.”

The illustrations, by California illustrator Jeanine-Jonee Keith, depict multicultural children seeking peace, even when they are struggling with conflict, illness, family arguments, and disability.

'I Can See Peace' is Penshorn’s second children’s book. The first, 'The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace' (2017) was awarded the Gold Award for Family Human Relations Children’s Indie Book. It guides families in learning a simple, four-step conflict resolution process. In the same category 'I Can See Peace' won a Silver Award. Both books hold Readers’ Favorite 5-star seals.

A Gold Award also was awarded to 'I Can See Peace' in the Health category. The book supports children’s mental health by providing a way forward toward a positive outlook when things are not going well. It also offers some inspiration and tools for children with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) including childhood trauma and depression.

“Peace is always around us,” said Penshorn. “The challenge is that peace is not the only thing that’s around us. In this book children and families discover that by focusing attention on nature, and the wonderful and peaceful things in their lives, they are building the muscles to see and experience more peace. This is helpful for the mental health of anyone. By starting with young children this approach to life becomes a habit.

“Childhood trauma can have lifelong negative impacts. Our nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace, created the Smart Tools for Life project to provide memorable and engaging children’s stories so learning about peace and nonviolence could be fun and impactful. Since whoever tells the stories creates the culture, our organization seeks to build a culture of peace beginning with children’s stories. We include music because it helps the skills sink into the hearts and minds of children for life,” commented Rebecca Janke, Montessori teacher trainer and GCFP co-founder and current board member.

Penshorn added, “We spend a lot of time discussing the best ways to protect our children from gun violence in their schools, or strangers on our streets. As important as these discussions are, raising peaceful, compassionate kids is the best way to protect future generations.”

Smart Tools for Life will celebrate the release of 'I Can See Peace' on September 21st, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Carondelet Village at 525 Fairview Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. The program will include book reading, interactive dialogues, singalong and original songs of peace and justice, including the debut of Penshorn’s newest song, 'I Can See, I Can Be, I Can Wage Peace.'

Penshorn also will be a participant in an author-roundtable at Eat My Words Books, 214 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis on Friday evening the 28th of September.

Both events are in conjunction with Twin Cities Nonviolent and its Ten Days Free From Violence Campaign. Find out more at www.twincitiesnonviolent.org.

Penshorn encourages those seeking more ideas to visit her website: http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com. The Smart Tools for Life products include kids’ books and music, conflict resolution cubes to help children express their feelings, and wearables. There is also a free, downloadable coloring page for kids, based on the flagship children's book, 'The Barnyard Buddies Stop For Peace.'

Penshorn is now making this book and music, and other unpublished books like 'I Can See Peace,' (currently available in Kindle only) available for corporate sponsorships and as fundraising tools for like-minded schools and preschools. She asks that anyone who would like to learn more contact her by email.

Author Julie Penshorn, MBC, is a the Director of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace and champion of its Smart Tools for Life project. Penshorn co-authored a preK-3 curriculum on conflict resolution, complete with hands-on-learning tools, that is in use in over 13,000 locations. Now, she’s focusing her unique talents on children’s books and music and a blog-based approach to supporting peace literacy and building a culture of peace.

Penshorn is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at julie@smarttoolsforlife.com. More information about the books, music and other products is available on the website at http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com.

About Smart Tools for Life:

Smart Tools for Life is an ongoing project of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace. It provides memorable and engaging books and music for young children that enhance their “smarts” for problem-solving, empathy, and compassion, and sink deeply -- for life -- into children's hearts and minds. It makes it easy to bring social skills for peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, to young children, thereby encouraging more harmonious, sustainable relationships with others and the planet.

The organization’s materials are designed to develop peace literacy as they educate, entertain, and empower all those involved to strengthen families, classrooms, and neighborhoods. They also provide other teacher and parent education to support and maintain a culture of peace.

Contact:

Julie Penshorn
julie@smarttoolsforlife.com
http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com
http://www.growingcommunitiesforpeace.org

Leia Mais…

Refugee Children: Why We Should Care And How We Can Help All Children - Julie Penshorn, Children's Book Author And Director Of Smart Tools For Life, Issues Statement

Smart Tools for Life provides memorable and engaging books and music for young children that enhance their “smarts” for problem-solving, empathy, and compassion, and sink deeply -- for life -- into children's hearts and minds.

Refugee children are now at the forefront of our reality. Every country struggles with what to do with the burgeoning numbers of people crossing borders to flee some sort of misery. Fundamental problems of governance and resource distribution create challenges far beyond the attention spans of most of us, as we navigate our busy lives.

So why should we care about these immigrants and/or refugee children? Even if a moral argument doesn’t sway us, it’s in our own self-interest to care. Logic leads to the simple conclusion that it’s much more expensive to treat illnesses than to prevent them.

While many Americans believe they are powerless to help with this problem, it is in fact within the grasp of every one of us to make a real difference - regardless of our location, education, economic status or political affiliation. Julie Penshorn, children's book author, Director of Smart Tools For Life, and expert in conflict resolution and anger management skills for children believes the answer lies in long-term efforts at building healthy communities with the capacity for empathy.

Building healthy communities starts with our own children, as the basic skills we teach to small children are essential for interactions throughout their lives. These skills can routinely be practiced in the home, the classroom, the workplace, and on the international level, to create trust, transform conflict, and enhance relationships.

Penshorn recently issued a statement on her website that offers these six simple suggestions for growing healthy communities:

1. Hold your child or grandchild in your lap and read a bedtime or daytime story. Pick an educational book like “The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace” or our new book “I Can See Peace”.

2. Demonstrate compassion as your child learns. Listen to them! Create realistic boundaries for behavior, and correct children in respectful ways when they make mistakes.

3. Listen when people that have different points-of-view try to convince you they are right and you are wrong. Don’t automatically shut them down. Listen with real open ears. Say, “I’ll have to think about that.” It’s very honoring to the other person to know they encouraged you to think. Don’t dismiss people out-of-hand because their opinions are different. Try to avoid unfriending them!

4. Watch and read diverse media. A singular media diet can become addictive and unhealthy, just like only eating one food!

5. Read books yourself and with your children that include multicultural and diverse individuals. That way the foreign becomes the familiar.

6. Learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences and their comprehensive consequences. Recent research shows how critically children are suffering in this country from the consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs contribute to tremendous long-term suffering and health issues for both immigrants and our own population.

Penshorn encourages those seeking more ideas to visit her website: http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com. The Smart Tools for Life products include kids’ books and music, conflict resolution cubes to help children express their feelings, and wearables. There is also a free, downloadable coloring page for kids, based on the flagship children's book, “The Barnyard Buddies Stop For Peace.”

Penshorn is now making this book and music, and other unpublished books like 'I Can See Peace,' (currently available in Kindle only) available for corporate sponsorships and as fundraising tools for like-minded schools and preschools. She asks that anyone who would like to learn more contact her by email. 'I Can See Peace' will also be available as a print book on International Peace Day, September 21, 2018.

In Penshorn’s first children’s book, “The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace,” the Barnyard Buddies start with the letter S – which stands for STOP and breathe, and then go through a complete conflict resolution process using the letters S-T-O-P.

This process, which works equally well for adults, according to Penshorn, continues to an examination of feelings and concerns of each party, through brainstorming solutions and ends with making a plan. The stated goal is to enhance relationships, develop creativity, and recognize that conflict doesn’t have to be a win/lose proposition.

Author Julie Penshorn, MBC, is a the Director of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace and champion of its Smart Tools for Life project. Penshorn co-authored an preK-3 curriculum on conflict resolution, complete with hands-on-learning tools, that is in use in over 13,000 locations. Now, she’s focusing her unique talents on children’s books and music and a blog-based approach to supporting peace literacy and building a culture of peace.

Author Julie Penshorn is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at julie@smarttoolsforlife.com. More information about the books, music and other products is available on the website at http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com.

About Smart Tools for Life:

Smart Tools for Life is an ongoing project of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace. It provides memorable and engaging books and music for young children that enhance their “smarts” for problem-solving, empathy, and compassion, and sink deeply -- for life -- into children's hearts and minds. It makes it easy to bring social skills for peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, to young children, thereby encouraging more harmonious, sustainable relationships with others and the planet.

Their materials are designed to develop peace literacy as they educate, entertain, and empower all those involved to strengthen families, classrooms, and neighborhoods. They also provide other teacher and parent education to support and maintain a culture of peace.

Contact:

Julie Penshorn
julie@smarttoolsforlife.com
http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com
http://www.growingcommunitiesforpeace.org

Leia Mais…

World Leaders Can Stop Conflicts By Following Guidelines For Children - Julie Penshorn, Children's Book Author And Director Of Smart Tools For Life Issues Statement

Smart Tools for Life specializes in books and music to guide children to peace literacy through social emotional learning and conflict resolution skills during their formative years

The United States and North Korea appear to be on a collision course. The rhetoric escalates day after day, reminiscent of those schoolyard situations that start with name-calling or sand-kicking and often escalate to something worse. This is nothing new. What is new is that these two nations are not threatening to use sticks or stones or fists - the threat includes the use of nuclear weapons.

Julie Penshorn, children's book author and CEO of Smart Tools For Life, is an expert in conflict resolution and anger management skills and techniques for children. She recently issued a statement that demonstrates that the basic skills we teach to small children are essential to adult interactions. These skills can routinely be practiced in every aspect of life: the home, the classroom, the workplace, and on the international level, to create trust, transform conflict, and enhance relationships.

"As we watch with worry the escalating rhetoric between the United States and North Korea, it’s easy to see that the two leaders involved are not working to gain the trust of each other," Penshorn stated. "They are refusing to become conflict 'partners' committed to working out their disagreements in a way that preserves the dignity and safety of each party/nation.

“Neither President Trump nor Kim Jong Un demonstrate that they know how to stop and  breathe, the first step in our simple conflict resolution process, detailed in the new children’s book, 'The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace.' Instead, they are putting untold numbers of people at risk,” continue Penshorn.

Writing for CNN last week, Adam Mount, a senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists, said, ". . . If the Trump administration can cease its careless threats, the US and its allies could begin a real conversation" about ways to improve the situation.

Penshorn said it doesn’t matter what your politics are; conflict is non-partisan. Life is much more peaceful when people use an effective conflict resolution process.

"We all have experienced the unhappy, frightening, or even dangerous situations resulting from conflicts where one, both, or all parties is clearly dangerous. If we reflect on those times, they usually are very similar: someone won’t stop his or her actions long enough to breathe and honestly examine how emotions like fear and anger are taking control from intelligent thought.

“Harvey Weinstein reportedly was asked many times to ‘Stop!’ Many of the women saying ‘me too’ also asked their accosters to stop,” Penshorn reminds us.

A new NBC News and Wall Street Journal poll shows that 48 percent of currently employed women in the United States say that they have suffered an unwelcome sexual advance or verbal or physical harassment at work.

“These actions are foreign in an atmosphere of caring and mutual respect such as we seek to develop in our classroom communities and our larger world,” said Penshorn. “Social and emotional learning is becoming an accepted part of preschool and elementary schools precisely so that we can learn to interact more successfully with others.

“So, while emotions give us important information and should not be discounted, they should not be acted upon without a period of thoughtful reflection and ‘cooling off,’ or, stopping,” summarized Penshorn.

In Penshorn’s new children’s book, “The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace,” the Barnyard Buddies start with the letter S – which stands for STOP and breathe, and then go through a complete conflict resolution process using the letters S-T-O-P.

This process, which works equally well for adults, according to Penshorn, continues to an examination of feelings and concerns of each party, through brainstorming solutions and ends with making a plan. The stated goal is to enhance relationships, develop creativity, and recognize that conflict doesn’t have to be a win/lose or, as in the case of Korea and the US, a lose/lose proposition.

The full statement can be viewed at http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com.

Author Julie Penshorn, MBC, is a co-director of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace and director of its Smart Tools for Life project. Penshorn co-authored an earlier curriculum on conflict resolution, complete with hands-on-learning tools, that is in use in over 13,000 locations. Now, she’s focusing her unique talents on children’s books and music and a blog-based approach to supporting peace literacy and building a culture of peace.

The Smart Tools for Life products include kids’ books and music, conflict resolution cubes to help children express their feelings, and wearables. There is also a free, downloadable coloring page for kids, based on the flagship children's book, 'The Barnyard Buddies Stop For Peace.'

Penshorn is now making this book and music, and other unpublished books available for corporate sponsorships and as fundraising tools for like-minded schools and preschools. She asks that anyone who would like to learn more contact her by email.

Author Julie Penshorn is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at julie@smarttoolsforlife.com. More information about the books, music and other products is available on the website at http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com.

About Smart Tools for Life:

Smart Tools for Life is an ongoing project of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace. It serves parents and educators by providing children’s books and children’s music, and makes it easy and engaging to bring state-of-the-art social skills like peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, to young children, thereby encouraging more harmonious, sustainable relationships with others and the planet.

Their materials are designed to develop peace literacy as they educate, entertain, and empower all those involved to strengthen families, classrooms, and neighborhoods. They also provide other teacher and parent education to support and maintain a culture of peace.

Contact:
Julie Penshorn
julie@smarttoolsforlife.com
http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com
http://www.growingcommunitiesforpeace.org

Leia Mais…

Parents, Grandparents And Teachers Can Celebrate World Peace Day On September 21, 2017, By Sharing Smart Tools For Life With Young Children

Smart Tools for Life specializes in books and music to guide children to create peace through social emotional learning and conflict resolution skills during their formative years. Its campaign, “I STOP for Peace,” compiles and celebrates the individual acts children do to make the world a better place.

September 21 is the day schools and homes across the world will sit down with their children and talk about peace. According to the United Nations website, the International Day of Peace this year ". . . will focus on engaging and mobilizing people throughout the world to show support for refugees and migrants."

“Those who are not suffering from a war-torn environment can sometimes push aside this day as irrelevant for them. However, so many of our actions have world-wide implications. We need to remember we can do something in all communities to bring people together and enhance their safety and dignity,” said Julie Penshorn of Smart Tools for Life. “For young children, we can introduce them to child-friendly conflict resolution and peacemaking materials.”

The Smart Tools for Life project, “I STOP for Peace”, focuses on drawing attention to the peaceful conflict resolution techniques and acts of kindness and caring already present in the child’s world. It invites children to share a story of how they worked out a problem with someone, or spent time playing with the new child in school, or had a child from a different country or background over to their house, or brainstormed a solution to a problem that worked for all.

Celebrated across the globe every year as the International Day of Peace, the goal of World Peace Day is to bring nations and people together. The theme for 2017 is "Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All". The upcoming book, the second in the Barnyard Buddies series, “The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Refugee” will make this topic relevant to all young children as they watch the unhappy, lonely dog find acceptance and purpose in the group of Barnyard Buddies.

At the Smart Tools For Life website, people can find out more about this book and others, and submit their children’s stories. Smart Tools for Life is compiling them and will share them in an upcoming book. Those contributing to the book will be sent a free copy.

World Peace Day is especially timely and relevant this year, because the subject of immigration and the refugee crisis have become a political battleground in the US, effectively splitting the population into two camps - those for and those against. It is urgent that we, as a society of global citizens, learn to resolve our conflicts, on this topic and others, in ways that enhance dignity, respect, and safety for all involved, rather than pursue ways that divide us.

But how do we do that? As Gandhi said, “We must begin with the children.” Smart Tools for Life creates children’s books, children’s music and other state-of-the-art resources that teach children how to problem solve in creative, respectful, and peaceful ways. They provide practical and inspiration tools rooted in the latest concepts in neuroscience, social and emotional education, and environmental education. The materials are catchy and fun, and are a great way to introduce young learners to the idea that developing these skills and caring for themselves, others, and the planet, is not only fun and engaging, it’s a normal part of their learning process.

By sharing these tools with children, influencers help kids become the leaders of tomorrow, capable of co-creating a culture we all want to live in.

“The children easily grasp the skills for conflict resolution and anger management when they are presented in an engaging story like 'The Barnyard Buddies STOP For Peace'. They will refer to the Barnyard Buddies long after the story is read in the classroom or home,” said Penshorn.

“I heard a wonderful story from a parent who told me they went to the zoo after reading the book and the four-year-old child said, ‘Oh look! The zebras are not sharing their shelter! They need to have Mrs. McCloud (the peacemaking owl in the story) help them learn to be peacemakers.’

“Everybody remembers the Dr. Seuss stories they read to their children, or heard as children,” continues Penshorn. “That’s because this type of story sinks deeply into the hearts and minds of kids, often for life. At Smart Tools for Life, we create similar stories: fun, engaging, rhyming, with great art, that have a message. We recognize it's not just what we teach that matters, but how we teach.”

Author Julie Penshorn, MBC, is a co-director of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace and director of it’s Smart Tools for Life project. Penshorn co-authored an earlier curriculum on conflict resolution, complete with hands-on-learning tools, that is in use in over 13,000 locations. Now, she’s focusing her unique talents on children’s books and music and a blog-based approach to supporting peace literacy and building a culture of peace.

Smart Tools for Life's product line includes kids books and music, conflict resolution cubes and wearables. There is also a free, downloadable coloring page for kids, based on the flagship children's book, “The Barnyard Buddies Stop For Peace”.

Author, Julie Penshorn is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at julie@smarttoolsforlife.com. More information about the books, music and other products is available on the website at http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com.

About Smart Tools for Life:

Smart Tools for Life is an ongoing project of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace. It serves parents and educators by providing children’s books and children’s music, and makes it easy and engaging to bring state-of-the-art social skills like peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, to young children, thereby encouraging more harmonious, sustainable relationships with others and the planet.

Their materials are designed to develop peace literacy as they educate, entertain, and empower all those involved to strengthen families, classrooms, and neighborhoods. They also provide other teacher and parent education to support and maintain a culture of peace.

Contact:

Julie Penshorn
julie@smarttoolsforlife.com
http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com
http://www.growingcommunitiesforpeace.org

Leia Mais…

Smart Tools for Life Announces Release Of New Children's Book, 'Barnyard Buddies', With Companion CD And Kids’ Music for Peace

Smart Tools for Life specializes in products that help children navigate their world during their formative years.

Smart Tools for Life has announced the release of a new children's book, “The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace.” They have simultaneously released two companion CDs, “I STOP for Peace,” and “Songs for Peace.” The tools help children learn anger management, conflict resolution, and many more social skills they term “peacemaking skills.” All products are available at Amazon and other retailers and on the company’s website.

Parents, grandparents, and teachers want many things for their children. They must guide, support, and hold their hands as they learn about the world. That is no small job, but it is perhaps the most important job in the world. Sadly, we live in a world in which children as young as 8 have committed suicide as the result of bullying.

“We provide resources that we call, ‘Smart Tools for Life,’” said co-director Julie Penshorn, “because they are useful tools for guiding children to be as safe, capable, joyful, and self-confident as they can be. That’s smart. Because they are memorable and engaging, they sink deeply into children's hearts and minds -- often for life.”

Their books, music, blog, and other state-of-the-art resources, provide practical and inspiration tools rooted in the latest concepts in neuroscience, social and emotional education, and environmental education. The children’s materials are catchy and fun, so they are a great way to introduce young learners to the idea that developing skills for anger management, effective conflict resolution, and for caring for themselves, others, and the planet, is a normal part of their learning process.

“What young children learn through repetition, in rhyming stories and music, sinks deeply into their hearts and minds, and becomes a way of life. The skills become as normal as brushing their teeth.” said co-director Rebecca Janke.

By sharing these tools with children, influencers help kids become the leaders of tomorrow, capable of co-creating a culture we all want to live in. Sesame Street, Dr. Seuss and others like them are beloved because they look at the world from the child's perspective as they teach important lessons. With a similar approach, Smart Tools for Life also recognizes it's not just what we teach that matters, but how we teach.

Author Julie Penshorn, MBC, and content editor, Rebecca Janke, M.Ed are co-directors of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace, As evidenced by their extensive resumes and experience, Rebecca and Julie are thought leaders within the children's peace education field. They have had a fascinating journey, beginning with a curriculum on conflict resolution, complete with hands-on-learning tools, that is in use in over 13,000 locations. Now, they are introducing their unique children’s books and music and blog-based approach to support peace literacy and to support a culture of peace.

"This is a comprehensive program for teachers and families and it's so easy," stated Julie Penshorn. "No one has to add to their workload -- just read the book to the kids, then share the book and music repeatedly. The learning is taken care of. Overwhelmed teachers do not need to panic at another additional item on their 'to do' list. Rather, introducing these tools at the beginning of the year helps set the classroom tone and makes their job easier. With the help of our blog, teachers can infuse peacemaking skills into every aspect of children’s lives, to have a friendlier classroom that provides a safer, more satisfying, and more educational environment for children's learning. Parents encountering these materials can share them with teachers as well as use them at home."

Rebecca Janke and Julie Penshorn are available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at julie@smarttoolsforlife.com. More information is available on the website at http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com.

About Smart Tools for Life:

Smart Tools for Life is an ongoing project of the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace. It serves parents and educators by providing children’s books and children’s music, and makes it easy and engaging to bring state-of-the-art social skills like peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, to young children, thereby encouraging more harmonious, sustainable relationships with others and the planet.

Their materials are designed to develop peace literacy as they educate, entertain, and empower all those involved to strengthen families, classrooms, and neighborhoods. They also provide other teacher and parent education to support and maintain a culture of peace.

Contact:

Julie Penshorn
julie@smarttoolsforlife.com
http://www.smarttoolsforlife.com

Leia Mais…