Category: Homeschool Health

We received Evan Moor Social Skills for Ages 8-9 for our honest review from Timberdoodle Co.

As homeschool parents, we want to nurture not only our children’s academic growth but also their social and emotional development. In a home-based learning environment, teaching social skills can sometimes feel like a challenge. That’s where Evan Moor Social Skills for Ages 8-9 comes in! This resource has been a game changer in our homeschool, especially for those little ones who need extra guidance in navigating social situations.

Who Would Benefit from This Book?

Evan Moor Social Skills for Ages 8-9 is an excellent tool for:

• Students who struggle with social interactions – If your child finds it hard to make friends, follow social cues, or manage emotions during play, this book offers step-by-step lessons to help.
• Introverted or shy children – If your child tends to withdraw in group settings, this resource provides gentle encouragement to practice their social skills.
• Neurodivergent learners – Children on the autism spectrum or those with ADHD may find this book particularly helpful because it breaks down social situations into manageable, easy-to-understand parts.
• Homeschoolers in multi-age families – If you have a mix of ages at home, the activities and lessons in this book can serve as an anchor for discussion and group learning, allowing siblings to model positive behaviors for one another.

Why is This a Great Resource for Homeschoolers?

Teaching social skills in a homeschool setting can sometimes be tricky since homeschooled kids may not have the same daily peer interactions as their traditionally schooled counterparts. Evan Moor Social Skills for Ages 8-9 bridges that gap with:

• Structured Lessons: Each lesson is clearly organized, providing a systematic approach to teaching social skills. Lessons are broken down into manageable topics such as sharing, listening, cooperating, and understanding feelings. This structure allows for easy integration into any homeschool routine.
• Practical Activities: The book doesn’t just tell children what to do, it gives them practical, real-world scenarios where they can apply their social skills. Through role-playing exercises, discussions, and hands-on activities, children learn how to act in different situations.
• Fun and Engaging: The activities are designed to be enjoyable and engaging. They keep students interested and open to learning, with relatable examples like how to join a game, handle frustration, or apologize after making a mistake.
• Reinforcement for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Social-emotional development is a key part of a well-rounded education, and this book seamlessly incorporates SEL concepts, giving your child the tools they need to grow into an empathetic and confident individual.

In-Depth Look at the Book

The Evan Moor Social Skills for Ages 8-9 workbook is divided into 10 thematic units, each focused on an essential aspect of social development. Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect:

1. Understanding Feelings: Helps children identify their emotions and recognize how others might be feeling, a key first step to developing empathy.
2. Listening and Following Directions: Teaches children how to be active listeners and follow instructions, both important for academic success and social interactions.
3. Joining In and Cooperating: Offers practical advice on how to become part of a group and work cooperatively, helping kids navigate tricky social situations like recess or playdates.
4. Respecting Personal Space: Guides children to understand the importance of boundaries and respect for others’ personal space.
5. Using Manners and Kind Words: Reinforces the use of polite words and actions in daily interactions, which helps foster positive relationships.
6. Dealing with Disappointment and Frustration: Provides tools to manage tough emotions like frustration and disappointment, skills that are essential for emotional resilience.
7. Apologizing and Forgiving: Focuses on the power of a genuine apology and the importance of forgiveness, helping children handle conflicts in a healthy way.
8. Sharing and Taking Turns: Emphasizes the value of sharing and waiting for your turn, which are foundational social skills.
9. Building Friendships: Offers strategies for making and maintaining friendships, including how to recognize a good friend.
10. Resolving Conflicts: Provides a step-by-step approach to resolving disagreements peacefully, helping kids learn to communicate effectively during conflicts.

Each unit contains 3-5 lessons with activities and reflection questions, making it easy to spread out over weeks or even months, depending on your pace. There are also reproducible worksheets that can be used multiple times if you have more than one child or if you want to revisit a lesson.

Why This is a Must-Have for Homeschooling Families

If you’re a homeschooling parent with a child who struggles with social skills, Evan Moor Social Skills for Ages 8-9 will provide the guidance and structure you need to help your child thrive. Not only does it introduce essential social concepts, but it also gives children the chance to practice and apply them in real-life situations. The lessons are clear, approachable, and flexible enough to fit into any homeschool curriculum.

Evan Moor Social Skills for Ages 8-9 is a gem for homeschool families, offering practical and engaging ways to teach children critical life skills. If you want to support your child in becoming more confident and socially aware, this book is the perfect starting point! Evan Moor Social Skills for Ages 8-9 is a part of the Timberdoodle Co 3rd grade curriculum kit.