Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild!
on Goodreads (944)
What’s inside...
Harriet doesn't mean to be pesky. Sometimes she just is. And her mother doesn't mean to lose her temper. Sometimes she just does. But Harriet and her mother know that even when they do things they wish they hadn't, they still love each other very much.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
2-6
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Harriet felt when she made a mess? Can you share a time when you made a mistake and how you felt?
Why do you think Harriet's mom reacted the way she did? How do you think she could have reacted differently?
What does this story teach us about making mistakes and forgiveness?
How would you have helped Harriet clean up her messes?
What can we do together when we feel overwhelmed or upset, just like Harriet and her mom?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use empathetic listening when discussing Harriet's feelings, affirming that it's okay to make mistakes as everyone does.
Explore emotions together by asking your child how they’ve felt in similar situations, promoting a deeper connection with Harriet.
Encourage critical thinking by discussing different ways the characters could have handled their emotions or actions.
Reinforce the lesson of patience and forgiveness in the story, relating it back to everyday situations your child might encounter.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding and managing emotions
Explanation: In 'Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild!', Harriet's accidental messes lead to her mother's frustration escalating until she yells. This demonstrates the natural emotional responses to stressful situations.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to recognize their feelings and understand that it is normal to feel frustrated or upset at times. This can help them in managing their reactions and expressing their emotions healthily in daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Forgiveness and reconciliation
Explanation: After the mother yells, she quickly apologizes, demonstrating remorse for her reaction. The story highlights the importance of seeking forgiveness when wrong and reconciling after conflicts.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of apologizing and making amends, reinforcing positive social behaviors and fostering healthy relationships with friends and family.
Example Lesson: Consequences of actions
Explanation: Harriet's actions, although accidental, lead to messy outcomes which progressively upset her mother. This illustrates that all actions, intentional or not, have consequences.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to be more mindful of their actions and consider the potential effects they may have on others and their surroundings.
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: The mother's initial patience with Harriet's mishaps portrays the virtue of tolerance despite repeated challenges.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to practice patience in frustrating situations, a skill that is beneficial in school settings and in mastering new tasks or hobbies.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The story provides perspective on both Harriet’s and her mother's feelings, fostering understanding from both viewpoints.
Real-World Application: Understanding different perspectives helps children develop empathy, aiding them in social interactions and in building compassionate relationships.