About Heart & Mind Matters
Helping Children Build the Skills for Life
At Heart & Mind Matters, we believe that social and emotional skills can be taught.
Children aren’t always born knowing how to read a room, understand what others may be thinking, manage uncomfortable emotions, navigate friendships, or choose the best way to respond in a situation. Just like academic skills, these are skills that can be broken down, explained, practiced, and strengthened.
That’s what Heart & Mind Matters is all about.
Through practical, child-friendly language, visuals, activities, and real-life examples, Heart & Mind Matters helps children better understand themselves, the people around them, and the social world they live in.
Our resources focus on building skills such as social awareness, perspective taking, emotional regulation, coping strategies, friendship skills, flexible thinking, and understanding how our actions affect the thoughts and feelings of others.
The goal isn’t simply to teach children what to do. It’s to help them understand why it matters—and give them tools they can carry with them into everyday life.
Meet Henny Moskovits
Hi, I’m Henny Moskovits, MSEd, CPC, founder of Heart & Mind Matters.
For more than a decade, I’ve worked with children who struggle with social, behavioral, and emotional skills. My work includes individual and small-group social skills coaching, behavioral support within the school setting, parent guidance, and professional workshops for educators, social workers, and agencies.
Over the years, I kept seeing the same thing: many children weren’t struggling because they didn’t want to do well. They simply needed someone to explicitly teach them skills that we often assume children already know.
How do I know what someone else might be thinking?
How do my actions affect the people around me?
How can I tell what is expected in one situation versus another?
What do I do when I’m feeling something uncomfortable?
How do I build and maintain healthy friendships?
These are big concepts. But when we break them into concrete, understandable steps, children can learn them.
That belief became the foundation of Heart & Mind Matters.
My Approach
My approach is skill-first. Rather than simply telling a child to “behave,” “calm down,” “be a good friend,” or “make a better choice,” I want to make sure they understand the skills behind what we are asking them to do.
I break broad social and emotional concepts into small, concrete, teachable steps. Children learn through clear language, visuals, examples, discussion, activities, and plenty of practice applying a skill to real-life situations.
A central part of my approach is helping children recognize the connection between actions, thoughts, and feelings. What we do can affect what other people think and feel—and what we think can influence how we feel and act. Understanding those connections gives children greater awareness of themselves and the people around them.
I also believe that emotions are something to understand, not fear. Children can learn to notice what their body is telling them, name what they are feeling, and then decide what they can do to help themselves through an uncomfortable emotion.
My approach incorporates principles of social-emotional learning (SEL), cognitive behavioral concepts, perspective taking, social awareness, and emotional regulation, while keeping the teaching practical, relatable, and developmentally appropriate.
Most importantly, the goal is not perfection. It is to give children the understanding and tools they need to notice, think, practice, and grow.
Why Heart & Mind Matters
I created Heart & Mind Matters to give parents, educators, therapists, and other professionals practical tools for teaching these skills in a way that is clear, relatable, and usable in real life.
Because when children understand what’s happening in their heart and mind—and learn to notice what may be happening in the hearts and minds of others—they are better equipped to navigate the world around them with greater awareness, confidence, and connection.
Recommended Books for Social & Emotional Growth
The right book can do more than just entertain. It can help you or your child navigate real-life challenges like friendships, confidence, emotional regulation, and behavior. Just like our curriculum is designed to build these skills in a practical, relatable way, the books in this list offer meaningful takeaways that can support growth, spark conversations, and make everyday situations a little easier to handle.
Below is a list of reading that can help strengthen these skills in a natural, engaging way.
My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother
Patricia's older brother Richard can do everything better than she can, he runs the fastest, climbs the highest, and even spits the farthest. But when Patricia makes a wish on a shooting star, everything changes.
This beautifully illustrated classic explores sibling rivalry in a way that feels real and relatable. It's not just a story about competition; it's about discovering that everyone has their own unique gifts and talents. Perfect for helping kids understand that they don't have to be better at the same things as their siblings, they just have to be themselves. A wonderful way to spark conversations about accepting differences and celebrating what makes each person special.
The Sibling Survival Guide: Surefire Ways to Solve Conflicts, Reduce Rivalry, and Have More Fun with Your Brothers and Sisters
If your child struggles with sibling conflicts, this book is a game-changer. Dr. Dawn Huebner speaks directly to kids ages 9-12 about the real challenges of living with brothers and sisters, the fighting, teasing, jealousy, and tattling, and, more importantly, gives them practical strategies to actually handle these situations.
What makes this guide so effective is that it's interactive and hands-on. Instead of just talking about problems, your child learns concrete skills they can use right now. With warm, witty writing and helpful illustrations, this book empowers kids to manage their feelings and improve their relationships with their siblings. It's the kind of resource that creates real change in the household.
Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be
This #1 New York Times bestseller from Dr. Becky Kennedy is a breath of fresh air for parents who feel overwhelmed by the weight of raising kids.
Good Inside isn't just another parenting manual, it's a compassionate guide grounded in practical strategies that actually work. Dr. Kennedy helps parents understand their child's behavior in a new way, breaking the cycle of reactive parenting so you can show up as the parent you want to be. Whether you're struggling with big emotions, challenging behaviors, or just feeling burnt out, this book offers real, implementable tools alongside the emotional support you need. It's wise, thoughtful, and written by someone who truly understands what it's like to be in the trenches of parenting.
Are Your Hands Full? #1, Ages 0-10
If you're looking for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to understanding and managing your young child's behavior, this book is worth its weight in gold.
Dr. S. Yaroslawitz, an occupational therapist and parenting expert, presents behavior management as a practical instruction manual rather than a theory-heavy textbook. She covers everything from typical developmental challenges to more complex behavior patterns, giving you concrete strategies for each situation. This isn't about quick fixes, it's about understanding the "why" behind your child's behavior and responding in ways that build their confidence and emotional resilience. Parents rave about how this resource has transformed their approach to discipline and connection with their young children.
Are Your Hands Full? #2 (Ages 10-18)
The adolescent years bring a whole new set of challenges, and this companion guide from Dr. Yaroslawitz is specifically designed for parents navigating them.
As children move into the tween and teen years, behavior management looks different, and this book gets that. Dr. Yaroslawitz provides the same step-by-step, practical approach as Volume 1, but tailored to the unique developmental stage of older children. She addresses everything from independence and identity-building to managing bigger emotions and more complex social dynamics. If you felt helped by Volume 1, this is an essential resource for staying connected to your child and supporting them through the changes ahead. Parents consistently praise this book for giving them a roadmap when things feel confusing or overwhelming.
Labels for Laibel
Laibel doesn't want to share anything with his little brother Yossi, until a clever plan goes wrong and he learns something important about generosity.
Written in engaging, catchy rhyme with vivid illustrations, this charming picture book introduces young children (ages 3-6) to the value of sharing in a way that feels natural and relatable. Laibel's story shows that sharing isn't about sacrifice, it's about connection. It's a perfect book for younger siblings to understand why "sharing is something all people must do," and a gentle reminder for older siblings about the joy of giving.
The Fantastic Elastic Brain
A great read for this week as we learn about our brain and thoughts.
It shows kids that their brain can grow and get stronger with practice—just like a muscle.
A simple, engaging way to learn more about the human brain and encourage children to develop a positive growth mindset.
Don't Be Afraid to Drop
This is a heartwarming story about courage, growth, and embracing new experiences. As Hopp the raindrop learns to let go of what feels safe and familiar, children discover that trying something new can lead to unexpected opportunities and personal growth. This engaging picture book is a wonderful way to introduce the concept of a growth mindset and encourage children to face change with confidence
The Dot
Vashti (the main character) doesn’t think she can draw. Not even a little.
Her art teacher gently encourages her to try something… anything.
So Vashti makes a tiny dot on the paper.
Instead of dismissing it, her teacher asks her to sign it, and proudly displays it at the class art show.
That small moment of encouragement changes everything.
That single dot becomes the beginning of Vashti’s journey into a confident, celebrated artist.
This story is such a beautiful example of how:
A caring adult can help a child step out of their comfort zone, and how celebrating small successes can unlock confidence and growth.
Strictly No Elephants
A sweet story about a boy whose pet elephant isn’t allowed to join the pet club.
What I love about this book:
The boy doesn’t get stuck on the rejection. Instead of focusing on “they didn’t let me,” he moves forward and creates his own group.
Such an important message for kids: if someone won’t include you, look for the people who will appreciate you for who you are.
The quiet message woven throughout the story—“because that’s what friends do”—models what real friendship actually looks like.
A simple, powerful way to help kids understand:
You don’t have to chase a group that doesn’t choose you.
The Little Engine That Could
This is a simple but powerful story that teaches kids the value of perseverance.
The little engine is faced with a big challenge—one that seems too hard—but instead of giving up, it keeps going while repeating, “I think I can, I think I can.”
That message sticks. It shows children that even when something feels difficult, believing in yourself and continuing to try can help you push through.
It’s a beautiful way to teach kids that success isn’t about being the biggest or the best—it’s about not giving up.
The Bullies: A kid's guide for dealing with people who are acting mean
I’d love to share a book that is truly worth purchasing—especially if your child often feels that others are bothering them or being mean.
This book can be a real game changer. It gives kids practical tools to empower themselves and respond in ways that can actually stop the meanness.
These are the kinds of skills that build real resilience.
I’m loving my copy and have already started using it with some of my students—with great results.
Bigfoot Gets Bullied: Empowering Kids to Manage Emotions and Stop Mean Behavior
Here’s another worthwhile book to help your child better understand why others can be mean.
Bigfoot Gets Bullied is a light read with a powerful message. It helps children make sense of unkind behavior—and more importantly, teaches them how to respond when they’re not treated nicely.
Short, clear, and straight to the point—yet packed with meaningful takeaways your child can actually use.
The Artscroll Children's Haggadah (ArtScroll Youth)
Looking for a way to keep your kids engaged and participating in the Seder?
ArtScroll is always a reliable go-to. The engaging pictures, clear translation, and meaningful divrei Torah really help bring the Haggadah to life for children (and adults!).
I honestly don’t remember a Pesach Seder without this Haggadah at the table—it’s been a staple for years.
The Artscroll Children's Tehillim
Looking for a meaningful way to encourage your child to connect with Tehillim?
The ArtScroll Children’s Tehillim makes the words approachable and meaningful, helping children understand what they’re saying while encouraging them to daven on their own.
It’s also a beautiful springboard for conversations about self-awareness, empathy, and thinking of others—helping children consider what they need, what others may be going through, and what they can daven for.
The Artscroll Children's Machzor
Looking for a way to make Rosh Hashanah davening more meaningful and engaging for your children?
The ArtScroll Children’s Machzor is a wonderful way to bring the tefillos to life while naturally teaching important skills like respect, responsibility, goal setting, and self-reflection.
Use it to set small davening goals together, spark conversations about emotions, and help your child connect to Rosh Hashanah in a way that feels meaningful and age-appropriate.
