Using Toys to Model Appropriate Behavior with Kids

We’re sharing tips on how to turn “No David” by David Shannon into “Yes David” with your child. Playful ways to make a YES Book using toys to role model appropriate behaviors with kids.

Each month we spotlight a new author for the Virtual Book Club for Kids. This month we’re featuring books by David Shannon. This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

David Shannon has written several books with a beloved character, David. Perhaps it’s because David was inspired by his own writing as a child children are drawn into the character of David. I think it’s great to take advantage of this natural interest and focus on social skills with these books.

Using Toys to Model Appropriate Behavior

We’ve been having a few issues at home with listening and making safe choices at our house with our year old daughter.  You know climbing on chairs, running through the kitchen, hitting her big sister, sitting down to eat at the table for the whole meal… the simply things we all work with our children as they grow and mature on a daily basis. I decided to try a simple but game with her to see if she could easily identify the desired behaviors.

We sat down and read the books No, David! and David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon. Is this book David does various things around the home that he isn’t supposed to like knocking down furniture, breaking a window, refusing to eat, pulling the cat’s tail and several more. While we were reading it we discussed how it wasn’t ok to do those things. Plus it focuses on how David gets in trouble when he does those things and has to apologize for his actions at the end.

Make your Own Yes Story

Now it was time for our house and those behaviors I was hoping we could address through this story. Do you have any undesired behaviors at home with your child? So what we did was come up with our own Story that Includes a No and also a YES!

Did you know that children have a difficult time processing negative directions?

If you say Stop Running they will tend to hear “Running”.  If you say don’t hit your sister, they hear “hit your sister”. Over time as they repeatedly hear rules yes they do comprehend what you’re saying but it’s a whole lot easier for them to process a positive statement.

Instead of saying “Stop running” say “Walk” or “Walk Slowly”. If they are using their hands inappropriately instead of saying no hitting you could say “Use your hands gently” or “Hands off”. 

Focusing on giving positive expectations will help your child process what you are expecting of them.

We changed some of those undesired behaviors into the things that my daughter should be doing and shouted YES when she role-played them correctly. She’s two so sharing our expectations again and again is developmentally appropriate and what she needs to lay that solid foundation of understood behaviors. We even took pictures of her animals doing the right things and printed them out to make our very own YES Book.  

You could easily create it with images of your child too.

In our images we addressed bedtime, mealtime, sitting on furniture and caring for toys. I’m sure there are many other behaviors that we will add to our book. What will you focus on?

Teaching Ways of Expressing Empathy

The other game was to focus on Empathy and saying I’m sorry. We practiced role-playing with the dolls to demonstrate. Our Bunny, Doggy and Kitty were up to no good and we role-played the things that they should be doing and how to say I’m sorry.

If you want to use David for this role model activity here’s a Printable David Puppet from Kindergarten Kindergarten.  Check out below what some of our Virtual Book Club Hosts have created for you to go along with David Shannon’s Books.  Here’s a quick video of David Shannon himself!

Meet the Author David Shannon

David Themed Books by David Shannon

Now It’s your turn to share with us what you can create! Read a David Shannon Book and be inspired to create your own activities to go with your selected book! Join our Virtual Book Club for Kids. 

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