Ouch Moments
When Words Are Used in Hurtful Ways
Microaggressions or “ouch moments,” as they are referred to in the story, are brief exchanges where an indignity, insult, or slight is expressed—whether intentionally or not—from one person to another.
For instance, when children use words like “lame” or “gay” to mean that something is bad, weird, or different, they communicate a message that having a disability or being part of LGBTQ+ community is equal to being bad, weird, or different. Children likely are not trying to be hurtful; they may just be repeating words that they have heard in the past and may not realize the discriminatory connotations.
Young people have a wonderful capacity to care about each other. However, they need guidance, mentoring, and modeling from adults to understand the impact of their words and behaviors.
A Note to Parents and Caregivers by Kevin L. Nadal, PhD, provides more information about microaggressions and strategies for talking to children about hurtful language, discrimination, and bias.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
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978-1-4338-1961-2
On pre-order until 01/01/2025
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$7.49 |
| Interest Level | Grade 1 - Grade 3 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 3 |
| Genre | Picture Books |
| Category | SEL: D Relationship Skills, SEL: E Responsible Decision-Making, Social Emotional Learning |
| Copyright | 2015 |
| Publisher | American Psychological Association |
| Imprint | Magination Press — American Psychological Association |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 32 |
| Publication Date | 2025-01-01 |
Author: Michael Genhart
Michael Genhart, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco and Mill Valley, California. He lives with his family in Marin County.
Illustrator: Viviana Garofoli
Viviana Garofoli was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. A graduate of Escuela National de Bellas Artes Pridiliano Pueyrredon with a degree in fine arts, she has illustrated more than 70 children’s books, including Peek-A-Boo Passover and the board book series A Jewish Holiday is Coming!