We Check in with Each Other - (We Say What's Okay) by Lydia Bowers (Hardcover)

About the Book

Help young children understand that it's okay to establish personal boundaries and change their minds.

Book Synopsis

Help young children understand that it's okay to establish personal boundaries and change their minds.

Physical and emotional awareness are key foundations of consent. We Check In with Each Other gives children a vocabulary to understand that they can change their minds at any time, develop and communicate personal boundaries, and build their social and emotional skills.

The second book in the We Say What's Okay series, We Check In with Each Other follows Harrison as he checks in with himself and with his classmates throughout the day to see if they're still having fun and feeling safe. Using the book as a read-aloud, educators and families can model the language Harrison's teachers use to support children as they learn to listen to their body signals and respect the personal boundaries of others. The author, who hosts workshops and trainings on teaching consent for families and early childhood educators around the country, offers additional activities in the back of the book.

Digital content includes a song from Peaceful Schools with downloadable audio files and sheet music.

We Say What's Okay Series
Teach the building blocks of consent in a child-friendly and developmentally appropriate way.
Centered on a class of preschoolers, this series helps teach young children the social and emotional skills they need to understand the complexities of consent. Each book covers a consent theme, such as how to recognize the physical sensations that emotions create, look for body language cues, ask for and listen to choices, and know that our bodies have value. With believable, everyday situations and diverse characters, children can see themselves and others reflected in each story--and develop a vocabulary to communicate consent and feelings. Every book in the series is accompanied by a song from Peaceful Schools with downloadable audio files and sheet music.

Review Quotes

"I really love the repetition of the messaging and the many examples the story offers to express the importance of checking in and communication that supports ongoing consent and body boundaries. And the informative breakdown in the back for caring adults is such a valuable support."--Melissa Pintor Carnagey, LBSW, founder of Sex Positive Families

"I'm so thankful for this book that teaches the concept of checking in; this is an important step for consent. Lydia has once again created a diverse, inclusive, and easy to understand children's book that tackles an incredibly complex topic in a way that will make it tangible for children of all ages. I plan on using this book often with families, parents, and children to explore the topic of consent. Well done!"--Heather C. Thompson, MS, LPC, RPT, A Safe Place to Grow Counseling

"Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or teacher, We Check In with Each Other is a three-for-one when it comes to helping children learn foundational lessons in consent! Throughout his school day, Harrison checks in on his feelings, checks in on his peers' interests, and accepts his peers' choices, even when that means there's a change in plans. This colorful book is foundational to some of the most important nuances that help kids develop healthy relationship skills they can use now and in the future."--Sarah Casper, founder of Comprehensive Consent

About the Author

Lydia Bowers is a speaker, consultant, and trainer who happily exists in the Venn diagram overlap between early childhood and sex education.

After spending almost two decades working directly with children as a classroom teacher and a parent, she is passionate about reframing sexuality conversations. Lydia now teaches families and educators how to talk to children about subjects like gender, reproduction, and abuse. When she's not traveling around the country for conferences and speaking engagements, she lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two children and adds to her growing collection of children's book character tattoos as often as she can.

Follow her on TikTok @lydiatalksconsent.

Isabel Muñoz's dream was to paint for a living, and now she's proud to be the illustrator of several children's books.

She works from a tiny and colorful studio in the north of Spain.