Telling Isn't Tattling

Overview

Many children and adults occasionally have trouble differentiating between “telling on someone” and tattling. This resource presents 13 typical examples of children telling or tattling, and asks young readers to judge whether the characters are “tattling” or “telling.” Ultimately, it helps children learn when to tell an adult that they need help and when to deal with a problem themselves, and it teaches adults about when to pay attention to kids’ requests for help, especially in possible cases of abuse. Alternatives to tattling and additional suggestions for telling round out each story.

Author Biography

Kathryn M. Hammerseng is a former director of a child care program. She lives in Minneapolis. Dave Garbot is the illustrator of 365 Wacky, Wonderful Ways to Get Your Children to Do What You Want, Taking No for an Answer, Telling Isn't Tattling, and Temperament Tools. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio.