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