Social-emotional learning for kids by an early childhood and elementary education expert
Resources for Helping Children Grow, Connect & Cope
Explore practical resources for social-emotional learning, grief, change, connection, and resilience.
Carolyn’s books are designed to open conversations about the feelings and experiences children are already navigating — friendship, change, loss, forgiveness, confidence, belonging, and more. These companion guides are designed to help educators, counselors, therapists, caregivers, and families turn Carolyn Cutler Hughes’ stories into meaningful conversations and activities.
Social-Emotional Learning Educator Guide
Bring Carolyn’s stories into the classroom with ready-to-use lessons and activities for children in PreK through Grade 3.
The guide includes discussion questions, reflection prompts, creative activities, and printable worksheets that help children explore:
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Emotions and self-awareness
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Friendship and connection
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Empathy and kindness
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Resilience and change
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Honesty and trust
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Forgiveness and confidence
Designed for classroom read-alouds, counseling sessions, small groups, and home use.
Grief, Loss & Change Resource Guide
Help children explore grief and change through stories, conversation, drawing, writing, and hands-on reflection.
The guide can support children navigating experiences such as loss, separation, deployment, moving, family changes, and other transitions.
Activities include:
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The Storm Page
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My Control Circles
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Remembering a Loved One
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My Living Tree
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Guided reflection and conversation prompts
These resources create space for children to express what they are feeling without suggesting there is one “right” way to experience grief.
See What's Inside
Simple, child-friendly activities help turn each story into a conversation, reflection, or creative experience.
Recognize your strengths & growth
Give big feelings somewhere to go
Explore what you can control
Remember what love leaves behind
Select Single Book Guides
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Flutterfly SEL Guide
Helping children understand change, transformation, and what we carry forward.
Use Flutterfly to help children explore change in a way that feels concrete, creative, and reassuring.
This guide includes:
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Discussion questions tied to the story
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Activities for exploring change and transition
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Reflection on what remains with us as things change
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Creative prompts that help children express what they are feeling
Forgiveness SEL Guide
Helping children understand hurt, repair, empathy, and letting go.
This guide builds on Forgiveness to help children talk about what happens when someone gets hurt, what forgiveness can mean, and how relationships can begin to heal.
This guide includes:
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Story-based discussion questions
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Activities focused on empathy and perspective
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Reflection on apologies, repair, and letting go
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Simple tools for talking about difficult feelings
The Living Tree SEL Guide
Helping children recognize their roots, strengths, memories, and continued growth.
Inspired by The Living Tree, this guide helps children think about the people and experiences that have shaped them, the strengths they carry, and the ways they continue to grow.
This guide includes:
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Guided conversation and reflection
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A tree-based activity exploring roots, strengths, growth, memories, and legacy
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Drawing and writing prompts
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Activities that help children identify what they have received and what they can give to others