Words Are Not for Hurting is written for a time of growing vocabularies and increasing awareness of how much kind words matter. Children learn that their words belong to them: They can think before they speak, then choose what to say and how to say it.
This book makes the connection between hurtful words and feelings of anger, sadness, and regret. It also reinforces the importance of saying “I’m sorry,” two little words that can be a big help.
Children are known for speaking their minds. We can’t expect them to watch every word, but we can help them understand that their words affect other people. We can gently guide them to choose words that are helpful instead of hurtful, and to say two very important words—“I’m sorry”—when hurtful words come out before they can stop them.
