How to Teach CVC Words at Home | 5-Minute Phonics Routine

How to Teach CVC Words at Home | 5-Minute Kindergarten Phonics Routine

How to Teach CVC Words at Home: A Simple 5-Minute Kindergarten Routine

If your child knows many of their letter sounds but still struggles to read simple words like cat, sun, hat, or bun, you may be wondering what to do next.

This is a very common stage in beginning reading.

Knowing individual letter sounds is important, but children also need to learn to blend those sounds to form words. One of the easiest places to begin is with CVC words.

The good news is that you do not need long lessons, complicated materials, or an expensive reading program to begin practicing CVC words at home.

A few focused minutes each day can go a long way.

In this post, I’ll show you a simple 5-minute CVC word routine for kindergarten that you can use at home, during homeschool lessons, or as extra reading practice after school.

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What Are CVC Words?

CVC stands for:

Consonant – Vowel – Consonant

A CVC word contains three letters arranged in that pattern.

Examples include:

• cat
• bat
• hat
• sun
• bun
• dog
• pig
• bed

Because these words usually contain short vowel sounds and follow a simple pattern, they are often among the first words children learn to sound out independently.

For example, a child learning to read the word cat can identify each sound:

/c/ – /a/ – /t/

Then the child blends those sounds together:

c-a-t → cat

That seemingly small skill is an important step toward independent reading.

---

When Is a Child Ready to Begin CVC Words?

Before focusing heavily on CVC words, your child should recognize many common letter sounds.

Read: The Benefits of Using Flashcards to Teach the Alphabet to Children

They do not necessarily need to have every letter and sound perfectly memorized before beginning.

A child may be ready if they can:

• Recognize most uppercase and lowercase letters
• Produce many common consonant sounds
• Recognize short vowel sounds
• Hear the beginning sound in simple words
• Attempt to blend two or three sounds together

If your child still needs more practice identifying sounds, begin there.

Then slowly introduce simple three-letter words.

The goal is not to rush.

The goal is to help the child understand that the sounds they already know can be combined to form words.

More Beginning-Sound and Alphabet Practice

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A Simple 5-Minute Routine for Teaching CVC Words at Home

You can adjust this routine depending on your child's attention span and reading level.

Five minutes is not a magic number. The point is simply to keep practice short, focused, and manageable.

Here is one easy routine.

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Step 1: Review One Short Vowel Sound

Start with one vowel rather than trying to practice every short vowel at once.

For example, begin with short a.

Say:

“A can say /ă/, like apple.”

Then ask your child to repeat the sound.

You might quickly name a few words and ask whether they hear the short-a sound:

• apple
• cat
• hat
• map

Keep this portion brief.

You are simply reminding the child of the vowel sound they will need when reading the words that follow.

---

Step 2: Practice Hearing the Beginning Sound

Next, choose a few familiar objects or pictures.

Ask your child to identify the first sound.

For example:

“What sound do you hear at the beginning of cat?”

Your child answers:

/c/

Try another:

“What sound do you hear at the beginning of bat?”

/b/

This helps strengthen phonemic awareness while connecting sounds to letters.

If your child has trouble, stretch the beginning sound slightly:

“C-c-c-cat.”

Then ask again.

---

Step 3: Build One CVC Word

Now choose one simple word.

Let's use:

cat

Write or display the three letters separately:

c a t

Point to each letter while your child says the sound:

/c/

/ă/

/t/

Next, move your finger underneath the letters from left to right while slowly blending the sounds:

caaaaat

Then say the word normally:

cat

Have your child try.

It may take several attempts before blending feels natural. That is perfectly fine.

Beginning readers often understand individual letter sounds before they can smoothly blend them into a recognizable word.

---

Step 4: Practice a Word Family

Once your child can blend one word, change only the beginning sound.

For example:

cat

Change c to b:

bat

Then:

hat

Now your child is practicing several words while keeping the -at ending the same.

This is one reason word families can be useful during early phonics practice.

Your child begins to recognize that changing one sound can create an entirely new word.

Try other simple word families as your child progresses:

-AT Words

• cat
• bat
• hat
• mat
• sat

-UN Words

• sun
• bun
• fun
• run

-IG Words

• pig
• wig
• dig
• fig

-OP Words

• hop
• mop
• top
• pop

You do not need to practice all of these in one lesson.

Choose one word family at a time.

How to Teach CVC Words at Home | 5-Minute Kindergarten Phonics Practice

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Want Some CVC Practice Already Made for You?

If you would rather skip creating your own activities, I made a FREE 5-Minute Phonics Mini Pack with three simple kindergarten phonics activities.

The free printable pack includes:

• Beginning sound practice
• CVC word-building practice
• -AT word family practice
• -UN word family practice

The activities are designed for quick reading practice with minimal preparation.

Get the FREE 5-Minute Phonics Mini Pack here.

Get the FREE 5-Minute Phonics Mini Pack here.

---

Step 5: Ask Your Child to Change One Sound

Once your child becomes comfortable blending CVC words, make the activity slightly more challenging.

Say:

“Build the word cat.”

After your child builds or reads cat, say:

“Now change cat to hat.”

Ask:

“Which sound needs to change?”

The child should eventually recognize that only the beginning sound changes:

c → h

You can do the same thing with:

hat → bat

or:

sun → bun

Activities like this encourage children to pay attention to individual sounds within words rather than simply memorizing the appearance of the entire word.

---

Step 6: Let Your Child Read the Word Without Help

After practicing several words together, give your child an opportunity to try independently.

Point to:

bat

Wait.

Try not to immediately supply the answer.

If your child struggles, guide them back through the sounds:

/b/ – /ă/ – /t/

Then encourage them to blend the sounds.

The goal is not speed.

At this stage, accuracy and understanding matter much more than how quickly the child reads the word.

Fluency comes with practice.

---

Step 7: Stop While Practice Is Still Going Well

This step is easy to overlook.

You do not have to finish an entire worksheet or practice twenty words simply because your child is doing well.

Sometimes it is better to stop after five successful minutes than to continue until your child becomes frustrated.

You want beginning reading practice to feel achievable.

A simple daily routine might look like this:

Minute 1: Review a vowel sound
Minute 2: Identify beginning sounds
Minutes 3–4: Build and blend CVC words
Minute 5: Read two or three words independently

Done.

Tomorrow, you can practice again.

---

Why Short Phonics Practice Can Work So Well

Young children do not necessarily need long reading lessons to make progress.

They need consistent opportunities to practice the right skill.

Reading Rockets also explains how explicit phonics instruction helps beginning readers connect letters with sounds and decode words.

A short phonics session can help you focus on one specific objective without overwhelming your child.

One day might focus on:

short A

Another day:

the -AT word family

Another:

short U

Another:

the -UN word family

Small skills eventually begin fitting together.

If you would like more ideas for keeping reading practice short and manageable, read:

5-Minute Phonics for Kindergarten: Easy Reading Activities That Actually Work

That post includes additional simple ways to practice phonics without turning reading time into a long lesson.

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What If My Child Keeps Guessing Instead of Sounding Out the Word?

Guessing is common among beginning readers.

If your child sees cat and guesses car, calmly bring their attention back to the letters.

Ask:

“What sound does this first letter make?”

Then:

“What vowel sound do you see?”

Then:

“What sound comes last?”

Finally, blend the sounds together.

Try to avoid giving the word immediately whenever possible.

You want your child to develop the habit of looking at the letters and using the sounds rather than relying entirely on pictures, context, or guessing.

---

What If My Child Cannot Blend the Sounds?

Some children can easily say:

/c/ /ă/ /t/

but still cannot turn those sounds into cat.

If your child has trouble blending, start with a word that begins with a sound you can stretch, such as sun. Say the sounds smoothly together: ssssuuunnn → sun. As blending becomes easier, move on to words that begin with stop sounds, such as cat or top.

You can also model the process yourself several times before asking your child to try.

There is no reason to rush.

Blending is a new cognitive skill, and some children simply need more repetition before it clicks.

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Use Simple Phonics Worksheets for Independent Practice

Once your child understands what to do, printable phonics worksheets can provide useful repetition.

The key is choosing worksheets that focus on a specific skill rather than presenting too many concepts on one page.

That is why I designed my 5-Minute Phonics: Beginning Sounds & CVC Words activities around individual skills.

The full printable pack includes practice with:

• Short A
• Short E
• Short I
• Short O
• Short U
• -AT words
• -IG words
• -OP words
• -ET words
• -UN words

You can work through the pages in order or choose the skill your child currently needs.

Ready for more practice?

Shop the complete 5-Minute Phonics: Beginning Sounds & CVC Words printable pack here.

Shop the complete 5-Minute Phonics: Beginning Sounds & CVC Words printable pack here.

---

You Don't Need to Turn Phonics Into a Long Lesson

Teaching a child to read can sometimes feel overwhelming—especially when you start thinking about phonemic awareness, phonics, blending, decoding, sight words, fluency, comprehension, and everything else children eventually need to learn.

But today's lesson does not have to teach everything.

Today's lesson can simply be:

“Let's learn how to read cat.”

Tomorrow you can build on that.

Five focused minutes of practice today, another few minutes tomorrow, and another short lesson the day after that can gradually build skills and confidence.

Keep it simple.

Practice one skill.

Celebrate progress.

Then come back and practice again.

---

Get Your Free Kindergarten Phonics Activities

If your child is beginning to practice letter sounds and CVC words, download my FREE 5-Minute Phonics Mini Pack.

You'll receive three printable phonics activities you can use at home, in your homeschool, or in the classroom.

Get the FREE 5-Minute Phonics Mini Pack

Print the activities, grab a pencil, and spend a few focused minutes practicing together.

Sometimes five minutes is all you need to take the next small step toward reading.

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How to Teach CVC Words at Home | Simple 5-Minute Kindergarten Routine

Fun & Educational Kindergarten Easter Worksheets: Math, Literacy, and Creative Writing Pack!

Kindergarten Easter Worksheets Bundle

Fun & Educational Kindergarten Easter Worksheets: Math, Literacy, and Creative Writing Pack!

Spring is almost here, and Easter is just around the corner! I know that keeping young learners focused during holiday seasons can be a challenge. That’s why I am happy to announce my Easter-Themed Kindergarten Activity Pack!

This collection of educational worksheets is designed to harness all that holiday enthusiasm and turn it into meaningful learning moments. If you are looking for engaging kindergarten Easter activities that require zero prep, I have something just for you.

Why Holiday Learning Matters for Little Minds

Using seasonal themes, like Easter bunnies and decorated eggs, isn't just about fun. It's a great tool for engagement. When children see familiar images on their worksheets, their intrinsic motivation increases, making them more receptive to learning new skills and reinforcing foundational ones.

Here is why this specific Easter packet will benefit your child:

• Boosts Fine Motor Development: Between coloring within the lines, practicing handwriting, and cutting out the rhyming eggs, children are strengthening the small hand muscles crucial for writing and everyday dexterity.

• Develops Critical Phonics Skills: Matching rhyming words (like cat and hat) is essential for reading readiness. My interactive egg-matching activity helps build phonemic awareness in a hands-on way.

• Builds Strong Number Sense: Through beautifully illustrated counting and addition worksheets, kids practice one-to-one correspondence and gain confidence in basic math operations (sums up to 10).

• Inspires Creative Expression: Early narrative writing can be intimidating. My "My Easter Story Adventure" prompts scaffold the process by giving them a fun scenario and space to draw before they write, allowing their imaginations to soar.

• Improves Confidence and Independence: These sheets are designed with clear instructions and friendly graphics, allowing many children to work through them independently once shown how. This builds a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

Kindergarten Easter Worksheets Bundle

A Sneak Peek Inside the Packet

We’ve packed this bundle with a variety of activities to target essential kindergarten curriculum standards:

1. "My Easter Story Adventure" Narrative Prompts

I have included five different story starters featuring the Easter Bunny on adventures—from finding glowing eggs to discovering a secret map! Students read the prompt, use the dedicated box to "First, draw your story picture here," and then use the primary writing lines to "Next, tell us what happened." This is fantastic practice for sequencing and early storytelling.

2. Egg-cellent Math Practice

Mathematics becomes a springtime game with these sheets. Included are:

• Count & Match: Kids count sweet items like chicks and jelly beans and draw lines to match the numbers.

• Easter Addition: Simple, visual addition equations using Easter eggs, baskets, and bunnies to help visualize sums up to 10.

3. Rhyming Egg Matching Activity

Phonics meets puzzle time! This interactive sheet encourages kids to color nine patterned eggs, cut them in half (or parents can do this beforehand), and then match the top half of each egg to its rhyming bottom half (e.g., pup/cup, red/bed, tall/fall). It's a perfect literacy center activity.

4. Festive Coloring Pages

Keep those fine motor skills sharp during quiet time with our bold-lined coloring sheets. Children can color classic designs like decorated eggs, a friendly bunny, and even a bunny driving a spring tractor! These are great for improving concentration and artistic expression.

Perfect for Teachers, Homeschoolers, and Parents

This no-prep PDF is designed for ultimate versatility. Here are just a few ways you can use this packet this April:

• April Morning Work: Set these out to settle students quickly as they arrive in the morning.

• Independent Literacy & Math Centers: Laminate the rhyming eggs and counting pages for durable, reusable station activities.

• Quiet Time or Rainy Day Fun: Keep one printed and ready to go for when you need a moment of quiet focus.

• Easter Table Activities: Print a set for the kids' table at your Easter gathering to keep little hands occupied before dinner.

Ready to Hop Into Learning?

Don't let the holiday season derail your learning goals. Embrace the season with activities your kids will actually love!

Easter Themed Kindergarten Activity Pack

You can find the Kindergarten Easter-Themed Activity Pack available for instant download in our store now.

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Kindergarten Easter Worksheets Bundle

We wish you and your little ones a happy, hopping, and very educational Easter season!

How Phonics Worksheets Benefit Young Learners

Benefits of Phonics Worksheets For Early Readers

How Phonics Worksheets Benefit Young Learners

Watching your child sound out their very first word is a magical milestone. But if you are teaching reading at home or supporting your kindergartener's classroom learning, you might be wondering what tools actually work best. Between flashcards, apps, and games, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.

While hands-on play is incredibly important, simple, well-designed phonics worksheets remain one of the most effective tools for early literacy. Learning to read should feel like a natural, gentle progression rather than a stressful chore.

Here is a look at why adding high-quality phonics printables to your daily routine can make a world of difference for your young learner.

1. They Solidify Letter-Sound Connections

Reading is essentially decoding a secret visual language. Phonics worksheets help children bridge the gap between recognizing a letter (like "A") and associating it with a sound (like "ah" for apple). When a child is asked to look at a picture of a cat and choose the correct starting letter, they are actively practicing that crucial letter-sound correspondence. It gives them the repetitive, focused practice their brains need to make those connections permanent.

2. They Build Fine Motor Skills

A great phonics activity isn't just about reading; it's about physical development, too! The best worksheets seamlessly integrate fine motor practice.

• Coloring: Shading in the correct letter bubble strengthens grip and hand endurance.

• Cutting and Pasting: Snipping out letters and gluing them next to corresponding pictures develops hand-eye coordination and scissor skills.

• Drawing Lines: Tracing paths or drawing arrows to match a picture to a sound helps build the exact muscle control needed for handwriting later on.

Key Benefits of Phonics Worksheets for Early Readers

3. They Foster Independent "Quiet Time" Learning

Let’s be honest—parents need a few moments of peace during the day! One of the greatest hidden benefits of phonics worksheets is that they encourage independent learning. Once a child understands the basic directions (like "color the picture that starts with this letter"), they can often complete the page on their own. This builds their confidence, teaches them how to focus on a single task from start to finish, and gives you a chance to prep lunch or enjoy a hot cup of coffee.

4. They Provide Visual Discrimination Practice

To an untrained eye, a lowercase "b" and a lowercase "d" look exactly the same. Worksheets train a child's eyes to notice tiny details and differences. When they have to hunt through a row of images to find the one that starts with a specific letter, they are developing visual discrimination—a vital skill for eventually distinguishing between similar-looking sight words.

5. They Give Parents a Clear Roadmap

When you are trying to teach phonics at home, it is easy to accidentally skip steps. Worksheets provide a structured, bite-sized way to review specific concepts. You don't have to overthink your lesson plan; you can just print a page that targets beginning sounds, hand over some crayons, and know that your child is getting valuable, focused practice.

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Looking for a stress-free way to practice these skills at home?

If you want to bring the benefits of phonics practice into your home without any complicated prep work, check out my Playful Alphabet Sounds Activity Bundle in the Abundant Family Living shop!

This 4-page digital download is packed with engaging, low-mess activities including color-the-sound bubbles, snip-and-stick letter matching, and picture hunting. Just print the pages, grab a few crayons and a glue stick, and watch your little one's reading confidence grow!

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Benefits of Story Sequencing Activities for Young Kids | Early Literacy Skills

The Benefits of Story Sequencing Activities for Young Kids

Story sequencing is a foundational literacy activity that helps young children understand how events unfold in a logical order. Whether they are arranging picture cards, retelling a familiar story, or describing steps in a simple process, sequencing builds critical thinking, language, and comprehension skills that support early academic success. For preschool and kindergarten learners especially, these activities provide a meaningful bridge between play and structured learning.

Builds Strong Comprehension Skills

One of the most important benefits of story sequencing is improved reading comprehension. When children learn to identify what happens first, next, and last, they begin to understand how stories work. This awareness helps them follow plot lines, anticipate outcomes, and recognize cause-and-effect relationships. Even before children can read independently, sequencing pictures or retelling stories orally trains their brains to organize information in a logical, connected way.

As children grow, this skill directly supports their ability to summarize texts, answer comprehension questions, and recall key details—essential components of early literacy development.

Story Sequencing Activity for Preschool and Homeschool | Early Literacy Learning

Strengthens Language and Vocabulary Development

Sequencing activities naturally encourage children to use transition words such as first, next, after that, and last. These words help young learners express ideas clearly and communicate events in an organized manner. As children describe what is happening in each step of a story, they practice using complete sentences, descriptive vocabulary, and narrative language.

This type of structured storytelling helps expand expressive language skills, which are crucial for both classroom participation and everyday conversation. Children who can clearly explain a sequence of events often feel more confident sharing ideas and engaging in discussions.

Develops Critical Thinking and Logical Reasoning

When children sequence a story, they must analyze each image or event and determine how it connects to the others. This process requires problem-solving, prediction, and reasoning. For example, a child deciding whether watering a seed comes before or after planting it is using logic to understand real-world processes.

These early critical thinking skills lay the groundwork for more advanced reasoning tasks in later grades, such as sequencing historical events, solving math problems step-by-step, and writing organized narratives.

Supports Memory and Attention Skills

Story sequencing also improves working memory and attention span. Children must remember the story's details and focus carefully to place events in the correct order. Repeating sequencing activities strengthens their ability to hold information in their minds and manipulate it meaningfully.

This practice is especially beneficial for young learners who are still developing self-regulation and sustained focus. By engaging with colorful visuals and familiar scenarios, sequencing keeps children motivated while gently building important cognitive skills.

Sequencing Puzzle Cards for Kids | Story Sequencing and Early Literacy Learning Activity

Encourages Understanding of Real-Life Processes

Many sequencing activities reflect everyday experiences—planting a seed, getting dressed, baking cookies, or brushing teeth. These familiar routines help children connect stories to real life, deepening their understanding of how actions lead to results. This connection makes learning more meaningful and helps children transfer sequencing skills beyond the classroom.

As they begin to recognize patterns in daily routines, children develop a stronger sense of independence and predictability, which contributes to emotional security and confidence.

Promotes Early Writing and Storytelling Skills

Sequencing activities are also a natural stepping stone to early writing. When children understand the order of events, they are better prepared to create their own simple stories. They learn that stories have a beginning, middle, and end—an essential concept for narrative writing.

Even simple oral retellings help children organize thoughts before putting them on paper. Over time, this practice supports stronger sentence structure, clearer storytelling, and improved overall communication.

Makes Learning Engaging and Hands-On

Young children learn best through interactive, hands-on experiences. Sequencing activities often involve colorful pictures, movement, and discussion, making them both educational and enjoyable. Because children actively participate in arranging and explaining events, they remain engaged and motivated to learn.

These activities can be easily adapted for individual practice, small group work, or whole-class discussions, making them a versatile tool for both homeschool and classroom settings.

Story sequencing is much more than a simple literacy exercise. It nurtures comprehension, language development, logical reasoning, memory, and storytelling skills—all while helping children make sense of the world around them. By regularly incorporating sequencing activities into early learning routines, parents and educators can provide young children with a strong foundation for future reading and writing success.

If you are looking for a ready-to-use sequencing activity that supports these developmental skills in a fun and engaging way, a printable story sequencing lesson plan for preschool and kindergarten can be a helpful addition to your learning toolkit.

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Benefits of Story Sequencing Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten | Early Literacy Skills

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Ways for Children to Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday on March 2nd

Ways for Children to Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday on March 2nd

March 2 marks a special day for children and book lovers everywhere—Dr. Seuss' birthday! The beloved author, known for his whimsical characters and rhyming texts, has entertained generations and inspired a love for reading. Here are some creative ways for children to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday while sparking their imaginations and encouraging their love for books.

Host a Dr. Seuss Themed Reading Hour

Set aside an hour for children to dive into the colorful world of Dr. Seuss. Gather a collection of his most popular books, such as "The Cat in the Hat," "Green Eggs and Ham," and "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" Create a cozy reading corner with blankets and cushions. Encourage kids to take turns reading aloud or even reenacting their favorite scenes. This not only promotes reading but also boosts their confidence in speaking in front of others.

Create Seuss-Sical Art Projects

Unleash creativity with some Seuss-inspired art projects! Encourage children to illustrate their favorite characters or create their own whimsical creatures using various art supplies like construction paper, markers, and glue. They can design their own "One Fish Two Fish" scenes or draw a landscape from "The Lorax." Host an art exhibit to showcase their creations, allowing kids to explain their work, fostering both creativity and communication skills.

Organize a Dr. Seuss Costume Parade

Bring the stories to life by organizing a costume parade! Children can dress up as their favorite Dr. Seuss characters—be it the mischievous Cat in the Hat, the sneaky Lorax, or even the colorful Yertle the Turtle. This event can be a fantastic way to have fun while promoting reading, as kids share who they are dressed as and the story behind that character. Capture the moment with photos and even award fun prizes for the most creative costumes!

Make Green Eggs and Ham for Breakfast

What better way to start the day than with a breakfast inspired by one of Dr. Seuss' most famous books? Prepare a breakfast feast of green eggs and ham! You can use food coloring to create the green eggs, making it an exciting and fun meal. Involve the kids in the cooking process, letting them mix and stir while discussing their favorite Seuss stories. This interactive experience combines culinary fun with literary lessons.

Incorporate Seuss into Learning Activities

Make your educational activities fun by incorporating Dr. Seuss. You can create word games featuring rhyming words or organize a scavenger hunt based on characters from his books. These activities not only celebrate the author's legacy but also make learning enjoyable and engaging for children.

Dr. Seuss' birthday is not just a day to celebrate an author; it’s an opportunity to instill a love of reading in children. By engaging them in these fun and interactive activities, you help foster creativity, communication, and critical thinking skills. So, gather your kids and supplies and make this March 2 a memorable tribute to the wonderful world of Dr. Seuss!

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Ways for Children to Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday on March 2nd

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The Life Cycle of the Butterfly

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Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

 Jax's Tail Twitches

Jax's Tail Twitches is part of the Good News for Little Hearts series.  Each story in the series focuses on a real-life issue while entertaining children with cute animal stories of hope.  Jax's Tail Twitches is written to help children deal with anger.  Jax's tail twitches when he gets angry.

Jax's family is a family of squirrels living in their own tree.  It's time to gather acorns for winter, so the whole family needs to help.  

The day begins with Jax and his brother, Caspian, racing to the kitchen for breakfast.  Jax becomes angry at Caspian for tripping him so that he can beat Jax to the kitchen.  

Later on, while the family gathers the acorns from their tree, another squirrel family, the McNuffles, shows up and begins gathering acorns from Jax's family's tree.  Papa Squirrel doesn't want to share his acorns with the McNuffles because the rule book says that each squirrel family must gather acorns from their own family tree.  

While Papa and Mr. McNuffle argue over sharing acorns, Jax and Caspian race about.  Baby Jolie takes a leap and lands in Papa Squirrel's acorn bag, scattering the acorns all around.  Then Mama Squirrel remembers that her dinner is burning.  

When Jax's family returns to their nest home, they are all angry for different reasons. Jax realizes that they are all angry because they didn't get what they wanted.  

Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

Jax's family members agree that they are all angry over selfish reasons.  Papa Squirrel reminds his family that the Great Book says that anger does not produce the right and good life God wants us to have.  They all agree that they acted in ways that were not right and they need God to help them with their anger.  They need Jesus to forgive them and show them each where they were wrong.  Then, they bowed their heads to pray.

The story wraps up when both squirrel families meet again at the bottom of the tree to finish gathering food for the winter.  They admit to each other where they were wrong and they all ask for forgiveness.  Then, they share a meal and food for the winter.

Jax's Tail Twitches is a sweet story that teaches children that we all get angry from time to time, but when we do get angry, it is important to ask God to show us any place where we are wrong.  Then, we need to ask for forgiveness both from God and from the person we might have wronged in our anger.  

The back of the book offers two helpful resources for helping families help their children with anger.  There is a section called "Helping Your Child with Anger."  This section has 9 points of advice for parents to help them help their children with anger.  

Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

At the very end of the book, there is a section of pocket Bible verse cards that children can cut out and carry in their pockets.  When they feel angry, they can pull the cards from their pocket and read them for encouragement through times of trouble when they might feel angry.

Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison

You can get your copy of Jax's Tail Twitches here.

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Jax's Tail Twitches by David Powlison