Jul 28 2008
Off to preschool with Motherhood Uncensored
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I’m going to be chatting LIVE on with Kristen Chase on the Motherhood Uncensored Show about books and activities to prepare your little ones for their first year of school, whether it’s preschool, pre-K, or kindergarten. The show is on Wednesday, July 30 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. You can listen to it live at blogtalkradio or you can call in at 646-915-8634 and chat with us.
If you missed it, you can listen to the archived show here.
For a lot of kids the first day of school is scary. Reading books and talking about school can help calm their fears. Here are some books and activities you can do with your child to get the discussion started.
Books
Kevin Goes to School(Kane/Miller) – Belgian author Liesbert Slegers’s character Kevin and his friend Ali help make the transition to school less frightening.
- Something for School
(Available in August 2008 from Kane/Miller Book Publishers) It’s the first day of kindergarten, and Yoon’s new teacher and classmates mistake her for a boy. Oh no! This book is about starting school and making friends instead of assumptions. By Korean author Hyun Young Lee.
- Little School
(Kane/Miller) Australian author Beth Norling gives readers a realistic account of preschool life so your preschooler knows exactly what to expect when they start.
- Tibili: The Little Boy Who Didn’t Want to Go to School
(Kane/Miller) French author Marie Léonard set a story of a reluctant first-time school-goer in Africa. Also available in Spanish and French.
First Day Jitters(Charlesbridge) Author Julie Danneberg’s character Sarah Jane is scared and doesn’t want to start over at a new school. With prodding from her father, Sarah Jane reluctantly goes off to school. She is quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton, who helps calm her nerves. Also available in Spanish.
- Kindergarten Countdown
(Random House) By Anna Jane Hays and illustrated by Lind Davick. A little girl named Lucy counts off the days by naming what she’ll do in kindergarten, what she’ll wear, and what she’ll learn. (Read my review of Kindergarten Countdown.)
For more book ideas see my post Back to school book roundup.
Activities
Here are some links to articles that can help you prepare your child for that scary first day of school:
First-day jitters: starting preschool by Isadora Fox, Ilisa Cohen and Diane Debrovner of Parents.com- Cures for First-Day Jitters - by the American School Counselor Association
- Preparing for the First Days of School by Ellen Booth Church of Scholastic Parent
- 10 Steps for a First Trip to School from Scholastic Parent
- Click here for some school lunch ideas.
electric fireplace
My grandson’s first day of kindergarten last fall was pretty special–it was the day his baby brother was born! My daughter had planned to take him in for that special first day, but it wasn’t meant to be as she and her hubby headed for the hospital at 4 AM that morning. It was a good thing she’d asked me to go to the pre-kindergarten meeting with her so I’d know where the school was and where to take him. Life doesn’t always work out the way you plan it!
But at least Granny was able to step in and help out.
Do you have any links that prepares the parents? Although my little Boston is only 6 months, the thought of school makes me nauseated!!!
Keep It Classy, Jen
What a wonderful list of books. My children are college age now but I remember their first day of school very warmly and clearly. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Great list! Another suggestion is to plan a back-to-school neighborhood party for the first day of school.
We started this several years ago, with a flyer invitation to all the homes with kids in our neighborhood to a simple breakfast of bagels and milk on my doorstep. The first year it was just a few kids, but now it’s an annual tradition that draws the entire neighborhood.
We share breakfast and a photo opp before putting all the kids on the bus. Even though we’re homeschooling now, we go to the party.
And, the new kids - whether Kindergarteners or just new-to-the-school - get to go to school with a bunch of friends.
@Sandra - That would work great except half the kids in the neighborhood don’t go to the neighborhood school, LOL. My kids and several others go to charter schools. Many are homeschooled, and the big kids go to the middle school or the high school.
But I love your idea!
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