National Center for Youth Issues

Teach Kids to Believe in Themselves and Work Hard to Achieve Their Goals In Songbird, author @TheTeacherNextDoor encourages kids to believe in their dreams – even when no one else does. With delightful illustrations and an inspiring message, this book shows kids what it looks like to set a goal and work hard to reach it. While most birds dream of being seed gatherers or nest builders, Sydney Sparrow has a dream that is a little bit out of the ordinary. She wants to be a great conductor with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra! But when the other birds start questioning her dream, Sydney wonders if she has set her sights too high. With a little courage and determination – and a whole lot of practice – can Sydney Sparrow turn her dream into a reality? ncyi.org/songbird #chaseyourdreams #workhard #dreambig

🤔 Food for thought : Are we sometimes punishing children for simply being human? This quote hits home. Let's reflect on the expectations we place on kids and remember that they, too, have grumpy days, big feelings, and imperfect moments – just like us. #ChildDevelopment #EmotionalRegulation #Empathy #Education

Libraries are dynamic hubs fueling student success! This National Library Week, let's celebrate everything they offer beyond their amazing book collections. From makerspaces that foster innovation to digital archives for deep research dives, and programs that spark new interests – libraries provide invaluable hands-on learning experiences. They are essential for building critical thinking, digital citizenship, and a lifelong love of learning in our students. #NationalLibraryWeek #NLW2025 #StudentEngagement #BeyondBooks #FutureReady #EdTech #TeacherTips #LibraryLove #Education #SchoolLibrary #PublicLibraryPower

📢 Big Savings on Inspiring Reads! Grab these two fantastic books on sale now and spark big dreams and healthy emotions in kids! 🐦 Songbird: Follow Sydney Sparrow's heartwarming journey to chase her extraordinary dream of conducting the orchestra! ✨This delightful story celebrates believing in yourself, hard work, and never giving up, even when others doubt you. 🧠 Felix and the Feelings Formulas: Join Felix and his stuffed rat Hank as they navigate everyday challenges with his amazing notebook of Feelings Formulas! ✨Learn practical ways to cope with big emotions, build courage, and boost self-esteem. Don't miss out on these empowering stories! ncyi.org/sale #KidsBooks #Sale #DreamBig #EmotionalIntelligence #ChildrensLiterature #ReadingForKids

Help Kids Protect Boundaries and Build Confidence! In "I Can Say No", Jenny Simmons teaches children the power of the word “no.” Whether it’s saying no to bullying or someone invading their personal space or simply to playing with a friend when they need some alone time, children learn that they can use their voice to stand up for what is good in the world, and good for themselves. “I learned a little word, And even though it’s small, When I use it with authority, I’m the strongest of them all!" “NO. That’s right. I can say NO." “I can say no to a movie I don’t like. I can say no if I’m not into riding bikes. I can say no if I want to be alone, Or I’m feeling kind of tired and would rather stay at home.” As parents and educators, we often teach children to use the word “no” when they are in danger or when someone is trying to harm them. But “no” is powerful in other areas of life, as well. Learning to say “no” without feeling guilty or needing to explain themselves gives children the power to protect their boundaries, energy, convictions, and time. Saying “no” also allows them to create space for saying “yes” to the things that matter most. By teaching children how to use this small but mighty word, they will be able to face life with confidence, independence, and a positive sense of self-worth! ncyi.org/icansayno #healthyboundaries #buildconconfidence #confidentkids #selfesteem #selfworth #independence

When children experience co-regulation over and over with safe adults, they learn the pathways to self-regulation. And wouldn't we say the world could use more self-regulation these days? 😆 #selfregulationskills #CoRegulation

It's what makes us different that brings good to the world. We've spent too many years seeing our differences as a negative, rather than celebrating them. This year, we're looking at diversity in all it's many forms as something to embrace and champion! #WorldAutismAwarenessDay #autismawareness

Looking forward to another great month! #april2025

In any area where who we are and how we present to the world causes judgment or limits opportunity, we must speak up. That is the only way the children we support now will have the opportunity to be seen, valued, and respected, no matter how . #dontneedtobeperfect #SpeakUp

Empathy is a superpower. One that not only benefits the receiver, but also the giver. We've all had instances where someone thought we were going to have a negative reaction to a situation and then shows surprise (and often tears) when we instead show up with empathy. We get to be people who do this every day. 🫂 #showempathy