Lead by Example- dog inspires bully prevention book

Summertime is almost here.

Just because summer is here doesn't mean that bullying on the playground ceases to exist for a couple of months. Bullying can happen in summer camps and summer programs.  Summer is a time that families often have more quality time together. Why not take the opportunity to bully proof your children. 

My friend Dr. Ganz Ferrance said that one of the frustrations express by many of the parents he works with are that they want to do something about bullying but don't know what that something is.  Dr. Ganz suggests that parents should first define bullying for their children. Often children will ignore or even get used to the negative and hurtful behaviours of their peers because it hasn't been named.  When children have a reference point for what defines good behaviour and what is considered bullying, they are more likely to act in a way that protects themselves or helps them stand up for others. when parents  put words to feelings it allows the important conversations with your children to occur, these conversations will serve them now, and in the years to come. 

After you define bulling, Dr. Ganz suggests you use dinner and drive time as the window of opportunity to have conversations with your children.  These are low key times to ask your children questions, explore how their day went, and to get insight into any challenges they might be facing. This can also be a great time to teach assertiveness and healthy behaviours.

Recently Dr. Ganz and I were on CTV News talking about this very topic...bullying.  I also suggested the importance of teaching your children a script, something like "Hey, that's not okay". These four words can often be enough to steer a bully away or have others stand up.  My new book Toby the Pet Therapy Dog Says Be a Buddy Not a Bully provides tangible and practical tips for children and their parents to deal with bullying.  Practising the script helps build confidence, and communication skills. It will help your child act appropriately in a crisis or threatening situation.

 

 

Another tip we explored was to lead by example... children pick up on everything, they are always listening, and looking. Teaching your children by example is important to help them develop the necessary life and friendship skills that will last a life time. teaching children about kindness, responsible and loving pet care, and unconditional acceptance are lessons you can also practice and model with your family pets.

The book provides questions for parents, caregivers and educators to use in conversation with children, and it also provides activities that children can do to learn more about kindness and being a good friend.

Team Toby- PAWsitively improving lives by teaching kindness, acceptance and respect. 

CritterKin- helping kids learn the joys of petcare

Our guests on PAWsitive Radio- all things pets was    CritterKin

And what a PAWSOME conversation it was!


Jena Ball, the writer and illustrator and Creative Director with Startled Cat and CritterKin talked about the inspiration for CritterKin, which actually dates back to when she was a young child.  Jena grew up passionate about wanting to prevent animals from being returned to shelters, and to teaching the importance of choosing the best pet for your family, and making certain families have the education, tools and resources to have their pets be FOREVER (or shall I say.... FURever) pets.  They are part of our family.

Jena Ball

The CritterKin Mission is "help children (and through them their families) learn the invaluable life lessons that pets can teach. These include respect for all life, an understanding of and appreciation for difference and diversity, empathy, responsibility, and anawareness of our role as the species that has the greatest impact on the planet." (Source: CritterKin).  CritterKin is closely tied to and very supportive of animal shelters, and the important work they do!

Marty Keltz talked about the importance of stories, and that stories connect people. An Emmy Award-winning producer he was the co-founder and president of Scholastic Productions, Inc. (1978-1995) and a Senior Vice-President in charge of New Media at Scholastic Inc., the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books. He led the teams that created The Magic School Bus on PBS.

Martin Keltz

CritterKin Moments are beautiful stories, photographs and music about the lessons we learn from animals, and the many beautiful ways in which they make the world a better place. I was thrilled, and honored to learn CritterKin featured our dog Toby in one of their CritterKin Moments ( http://critterkin.com/moments.html)./   Scroll down and you will see PAWS with Purpose and a wonderful photo of Toby surrounded by children. What a legacy our pets leave. 

All the CritterKin dogs have their own personality, and their own story to share. One our interview Jena shared a few with the listeners.

The next phase of the CritterKin project is their Kickstarter launch in late April. This is a fundraising campaign to hire the animators, designers, engineers, and programmers needed to transform the humane education plan and Jena’s illustrations and stories into a mobile application. 





And there is one more member of the pack....
A veteran brand strategist, Thompson brings more than 20 years of experience in market research, brand positioning, advertising, design and digital media to Startled Cat. In 1998, he formed Remedy Communications, Inc., a full service agency with clients that included Fortune500 companies like Johnson & Johnson (Tylenol), AstraZeneca, and the U.S. Dept. of Defense. Thompson is both a co-founder of Startled Cat and the founder of the Academy of Bright Ideas (AOBI) Ltd.

Doug Thompson

So how can you help? What can you do?  First, listen to the radio show to hear Jena and Marty talk about CritterKin and the many ways in which the project will help create forever homes for animals. And, make sure you visit their website www.critterkin.com and their facebook and Twitter pages to help share their message.

You can listen to the show here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chammond/2013/04/10/guests-jena-ball-and-marty-keltz-from-critterkin


Read a great article in the Examiner about CritterKin:

Team Toby - Making PAWsitive Change

Eight local Edmonton businesses join the pack, Team Toby, to sponsor books for children that stay at Ronald McDonald House Edmonton. To kick off this initiative, these eight sponsors provided books for the children attending the Ronald McDonald House Story Book Ball.

Toby was a therapy dog, and while he didn't have the chance to volunteer at Ronald McDonald House... this was on our bucket list.  

This is part of the Million Acts of Kindness .... Toby's Global Mission. 

You can watch as Charmaine Hammond, author of Toby The Pet Therapy Dog & His Hospital Friends thanks the sponsors for their support, and welcomes them to the pack....Team Toby!

Talking about dogs and books to read to children!

When you go to Amazon to order a book, or to your local bookstore, besides someone telling you “you gotta get this book!” how else do you decide what book about animals to put on your “must buy” list?

This review alone, by Beautiful Books for Children, on our book Toby The Pet Therapy Dog so far has received 729 reads!

http://www.beautifulbooksforchildren.com/book-review-toby-the-pet-therapy-dog-and-his


This is great exposure, but best of all, the feedback for reviews help others make their buying decision or recommend the book to others. And, reviews also help organizations choose books that will support and further their cause. For example, Toby The Pet Therapy Dog & His Hospital Friends was the back to school recommended book by Alberta SPCA, and we were able to find sponsors to buy some of these books for the Alberta SPCA classroom programs that teach children about kindness to animals and how good it feels to help others, and the community.

Next time you buy a book, about animals or any other topic, you can help others, and the author by posting a review on Amazon, or sending it to the author. Believe me! We do appreciate it.
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