🐾 CASEL-Aligned for Ages 4-7

Stories & Games About
Feelings

Interactive social-emotional learning activities featuring Wick, Maya & Benny

Wick
Wick
The Curious One
Maya
Maya
The Gentle One
Benny
Benny
The Brave One

New This Month

Fear vs. Danger Sorter, 10 new decision scenarios, and a printable Kindness Chain worksheet

Story Activities

One activity for each book in the Heart Dog SEL series

Premium Adventures 10+ Exercises

Deeper exercises, trackers, and tools for each CASEL skill

Feeling Thermometer

How big is your feeling right now? Tap to find out!

Wick
Wick says: "Sometimes my tail wags SO fast because my feelings are SO big! Let's check how big your feeling is right now."

Calm-Down Strategy Spinner

When feelings get too big, Benny has tricks to calm down!

Benny
Benny says: "When I hear a loud noise, I get scared! But I learned that taking deep breaths helps. Spin the wheel to find YOUR calm-down trick!"
🎡

My Pack Map

Every dog has a pack. Who's in yours?

Maya
Maya says: "My pack is my favorite! I love snuggling with everyone. Write the names of the people in YOUR pack!"

Decision Trail

Help our dogs make good choices!

Benny
Benny says: "At the park, I have to make choices all day! Should I chase the squirrel or stay with my family? Let's practice making good decisions together!"

Courage Meter

Being brave doesn't mean you're not scared. It means you try anyway!

Benny
Benny says: "Spiderhands, bag monsters, blanket snakes... I used to be scared of everything! But every time I was brave, my courage grew. Let's grow YOUR courage!"
Courage: 0%

Body Scan Check-In

Where do you feel your feelings? Tap a body part to explore!

Wick
Wick says: "When I'm excited, my whole body wiggles! My ears go up, my tail goes fast, and my tummy gets fluttery. Where do YOU feel things?"

Feelings Diary

Track your feelings every day, just like Wick!

Wick
Wick says: "Every day is different! Sometimes I feel wiggly-happy, sometimes I feel grumbly-tired. Let's keep track together!"

Breathing Buddy

Breathe along with Benny to calm your body down

Benny
Benny says: "When the bag monster scares me, I breathe in real slow... then breathe out even slower. Watch the circle and breathe with me!"
Ready?

Emotion Volcano

Feelings can start small and get BIG. Where are you on the volcano?

Benny
Benny says: "Sometimes a tiny thing makes me a little annoyed... then more things happen and I get MORE upset... then BOOM! Volcano! Let's learn to cool down before we blow!"

Kindness Chain

Every kind thing you do adds a link! How long can you make your chain?

Maya
Maya says: "I show kindness by snuggling, sharing toys, and giving gentle licks. What kind things can YOU do?"

Listening Ears Challenge

Good listeners make the best friends! Practice with Maya.

Maya
Maya says: "I tilt my head and listen SO carefully when my people talk. Can you practice listening too?"

Choice Tree Builder

Every choice leads somewhere. Build your tree to see where choices go!

Benny
Benny says: "Should I go left or right at the park? Each path leads somewhere different! Let's see what happens when we make different choices."

Consequence Explorer

What happens next? Explore how choices create ripples!

Wick
Wick says: "If I steal a treat from the counter... what happens next? Let's think about it BEFORE we do it!"

Brave Steps Ladder

Climb one step at a time. Every step makes you braver!

Benny
Benny says: "I didn't get brave all at once! First I looked at the bag. Then I sniffed it. Then I touched it. Step by step! You can be brave step by step too."

Fear vs. Danger Sorter

Some things are scary but safe. Some things are actually dangerous. Can you sort them?

Benny
Benny says: "The vacuum is SCARY but not dangerous. A busy road IS dangerous. Knowing the difference helps me be brave about the right things!"

Courage Journal

Write about brave things you did and earn stickers!

Benny
Benny says: "Every brave moment counts, even the tiny ones! Write them down and watch your sticker collection grow!"

Your Sticker Collection

Printable Worksheets

Print these activities for classroom or home use!

The Books

Five picture books, five CASEL skills, one very lovable pack

The Wiggles, the Woofs, and the Why
Book 1 · Self-Awareness
The Wiggles, the Woofs, and the Why
Why do I feel wiggly? Why do I feel grumbly? Wick, Maya & Benny discover that every feeling has a name.
$16.99 Buy on Amazon
The Spiderhands, the Bag Monster, and the Blanket Snakes
Book 2 · Emotional Regulation
The Spiderhands, the Bag Monster, and the Blanket Snakes
Benny is scared of EVERYTHING. But what if the scary things aren't so scary after all?
$16.99 Buy on Amazon
The Bark, the Snort, and the Squeak
Book 3 · Social Awareness
The Bark, the Snort, and the Squeak
Every dog communicates differently. Learning to understand each other is the first step to friendship.
$16.99 Buy on Amazon
The Park, the Lap, and the Pup Cup
Book 4 · Relationship Skills
The Park, the Lap, and the Pup Cup
A day in Charleston with their favorite human teaches the pack that the best moments are shared ones.
$16.99 Buy on Amazon
The Sparkle, the Snuggle, and the Song
Book 5 · Responsible Decision-Making
The Sparkle, the Snuggle, and the Song
When the first snow falls on Charleston, the pack learns that the best choices come from the heart.
$16.99 Buy on Amazon
See all books at chadtdyar.com →

For Parents & Teachers

What is SEL, why it matters, and how Heart Dog helps

What is Social-Emotional Learning?

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults develop the skills to manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and make responsible decisions. Research consistently shows that SEL improves academic performance, reduces behavioral problems, and builds the emotional foundation children need to thrive.

The CASEL Framework

CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) is the leading organization advancing evidence-based SEL. Their framework identifies five core competencies that every child needs. Each Heart Dog book targets one competency:

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Self-Awareness
Understanding your own emotions, thoughts, and values. The Wiggles, the Woofs, and the Why helps children name what they feel and understand why.
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Emotional Regulation
Managing emotions and behaviors in different situations. The Spiderhands, the Bag Monster, and the Blanket Snakes teaches calming strategies through Benny's fears.
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Social Awareness
Understanding and empathizing with others. The Bark, the Snort, and the Squeak shows how every dog communicates differently and that's okay.
🤝
Relationship Skills
Building and maintaining healthy relationships. The Park, the Lap, and the Pup Cup explores how the pack shows love in different ways.
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Responsible Decision-Making
Making caring and constructive choices. The Sparkle, the Snuggle, and the Song guides children through understanding that good choices come from the heart.

How Heart Dog SEL Works

Each book in the series tells a story through the eyes of three real dogs: Wick, Maya, and Benny. Children connect with these characters because dogs experience many of the same emotions they do: excitement, fear, jealousy, comfort, and joy.

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Read the Story
Each book introduces a CASEL skill through an age-appropriate adventure
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Play the Activity
Scan the QR code in each book to unlock a matching interactive exercise
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Practice & Grow
Premium activities, worksheets, and the Courage Journal deepen learning over time

For Classrooms

Heart Dog SEL was designed to fit naturally into morning meetings, reading circles, and counselor sessions. The printable worksheets work standalone or as book companions. Activities are calibrated for ages 4 through 7 and align with CASEL standards used by school districts nationwide.

For questions about classroom licensing or bulk orders, contact [email protected]