One of my favorite children’s books for helping children understand the reading comprehension concept of cause and effect is a book called That’s Good, That’s Bad by Margery Cuyler. 
In this book, a young boy, starts his visit to the zoo when his parents get him a shiny red balloon.
Oh, That’s Good!… No That’s Bad! because…
He is suddenly lifted high above the zoo. He loved flying high above the zoo so he could see all the animals below him.
Oh That’s Good!… No That’s Bad! because…
His balloon popped on a tall prickly branch, he fell into a swamp. Luckily he was able to ride to shore on a roly poly hippo
Oh That’s Good!… No That’s Bad! because…
Ten baboons were fighting at the river bank and they chased him…
The story goes back and forth between bad and good outcomes until the boy ends up plopping back into his parents arms when a stork carries him across the zoo. This book helps to open up a discussion with children about how each event in story has an impact on the whole storyline. When they understand this they begin to realize they can control the storyline in their own writing by shifting positive and negative events and outcomes.
What does this have to do with parenting?????
Wouldn’t it be great if we could help our children connect to the cause and effect of their behaviors and in turn, help them see that their actions affect the storyline of their day.
Here’s an example:
“Hey Mom!” said the little boy as he walked in the door after school, “I was able to go outside for recess today because I made good choices during center time.”
Oh That’s Good… No that’s Bad! because
“It was 32 degrees outside and everyone was freezing. I had a heavy coat on and was running around with my friends to keep warm. We got really excited.”
Oh That’s Good…No That’s Bad ! because
“ I got so excited that I felt like punching my friend in the stomach. I calmed down after I hit him.”
Oh That’s Good… No That’s Bad! because
“My friend didn’t like it and he cried all the way over to the teacher. The teacher helped him feel better.”
Oh That’s Good… No That’s Bad! because
“When the teacher saw him crying she made me go talk to the principal, and I have to stay in from recess the rest of the week and That’s Bad!”
Helping our children experience the real life logical consequences to their behavior can help them see that they have power in their choices and when they make positive choices they can have the “good life”.