For over 40 years, Smart Kidz Media has created, developed and produced one of the largest collections of children’s life skills book programs in the publishing industry.

The Smart Kidz Media Life Skills Library features books in 3 age-graded categories:

• Babies – Toddlers ages Birth – 3

• Nursery school – Preschool ages 3 – 6

• Elementary school ages 6 – 8

Rotary Literacy Advocates can order books from the Smart Kidz Bookstore at any time.

What is the Smart Kidz Life Skills Library all about?

The Smart Kidz Life Skills Library is all about giving children physical, hands-on books to read—books that inspire and motivate them to learn and practice valuable life skills in their daily activities.

Each program in this library teaches children vital life skills, encourages reading, and helps them gain an early understanding of the world that surrounds them. Parents are encouraged to reserve a special time each day, select a book, sit down, and read the book together with their child.

Ages Birth – 3: Baby Signs, Say & Play Program (12 titles)

The Baby Signs, Say & Play Program is based on over two decades of research, much of it funded by the National Institutes of Health, by Dr. Linda Acredolo and Dr. Susan Goodwyn at the University of California Davis. The research proves that encouraging pre-verbal babies to communicate via the simple, non-verbal signs featured in the Baby Signs, Say & Play Program significantly decreases frustration, improves the parent/child bond, facilitates learning to talk, promotes literacy, and leads to increased IQs in elementary school.

The Baby Signs, Say & Play Program feature the “Diaper Doodles.” These are 5 lovable characters that are featured throughout the Baby Signs, Say & Play Program. Inspired by Dr. Howard Gardner’s well-respected theory of “multiple intelligences,” each Diaper Doodle has a special talent and unique learning style. The Baby Signs, Say & Play Program celebrate the individual differences that make every child special.

Ages 3 – 6: The Good Behavior Builders Program (12 titles)

The Good Behavior Builders Program deal with some of the most challenging childhood problems that confront parents. The books in the program give the parent, an effective way to talk to their child about positive values and good behavior in a fun, caring way—rather than with the frustration of constant nagging no parent or child enjoys. Each book features a funny “Little Beasties” character that is involved in a behavioral situation that a child can easily identify with. Once the child understands the results or consequences of bad behavior, they will learn important positive behavioral skills—skills that build character and develop values that last a lifetime.

The Good Behavior Builders Program also give parents a proactive approach to parenting. Each book identifies a specific behavior that they can read and discuss with their child. The books offer methods and techniques that really work in changing bad behaviors into good behaviors. With these interactive books, parents can develop family relationships that are strong, caring and supportive.

Ages 3 – 6: The Parents’ Love Letters Program (12 titles)

All children want the reassurance that their parents’ love and acceptance runs deep and wide. The Parents’ Love Letters Program put the child in the spotlight. They capture all the fun ways a parent can describe to the child the unconditional, enduring and boundless love they hold in their hearts for them. When a parent and child sit down, cuddle and read a “love letter” together, it will not only implant the parent’s love into their child’s heart, but it will also become the child’s most special and memorable moment

Ages 3 – 6: Let’s Talk About Feelings Program (12 titles)

Young children can be overwhelmed by their emotions—often because they don’t understand and can’t express what they are feeling. This, in turn, can frustrate parents. How can parents help their child deal with a problem if the two of them don’t even share a common vocabulary?

The Let’s Talk About Feelings Program is designed to bridge this communication gap. With simple text, lively illustrations, and an interactive format, each book describes familiar situations to help children recognize a particular emotion. It gives them a vocabulary to talk about what they’re feeling, and it offers practical suggestions for dealing with those feelings.

Ages 6 – 8: The Ready-Set-Grow Program (12 titles)

How children relate to other people is crucial to what they are and what they will become.
The Ready-Set-Grow Program teaches children the personal skills they need to take care of themselves, the social skills they need to relate to others, and the coping skills they need to deal with day-to-day situations.

The Ready-Set-Grow Program is designed so a child can either read the book themselves or have the parent, read it to them. All the books in this program are interactive and specifically designed to involve a child in the concepts that are being taught. This is done by simply and carefully explaining each concept, illustrating a relatable example of the concept, and then asking questions that encourage a response from the child. By answering the questions, the child will be better able to personalize the concept, integrate into their thoughts, and practice it in their daily lives.

Importance of teaching basic life skills and creating a learning environment in the home.

Smart Kidz Media believes that parents are the first and most important teacher in a child’s life. And, as the first and most important teacher, parents need to begin equipping their children with basic life skills early on. With the right training and support from Rotary Literacy Advocates, parents can build a home library and maintain a life skills learning environment in the home.

The Smart Kidz Life Skills Library’s age-graded books give parents tools to create a home environment where children can learn new living skills while sharpening their reading skills more naturally and confidently. With the Smart Kidz Life Skills Library in the home, parents can feel confident that they are giving their child the best possible start in life!

Rotary Literacy Advocates are providers of the free books programs in the Smart Kidz Life Skills Library to the families they serve. While there are no eligibility requirements for parents to receive these free life skills books, they must first be sponsored by a Rotary Literacy Advocate. These partners are the only organizations that administer the Adopt a Classroom fundraising programs and then have the right to order the proprietary life skills books at a special discounted (printing cost +) price.