There are many ways you can prepare your child to face the challenges of entering kindergarten. Providing kindergarten-themed books is one of the most effective. Scholastic, Inc. provides the following tips and book suggestions for preparing children for the new adventures of kindergarten:
- After the school supplies have been bought and your soon-to-be kindergartner has picked out his or her first-day outfit, the countdown begins. Kindergarten books that deal with the last days of summer in a gentle and comforting way include Alison McGhee’s Countdown to Kindergarten, about a little girl who has heard all there is to know – from a 1st grader, no less – about the first day of kindergarten. Her jitters remain, but McGhee’s lighthearted story will settle your child’s nerves.
- Many kindergarten books address what happens on the big day. For an insider’s look at how a teacher and her students might prepare for class, try Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten. For a hilarious and high-energy look at one troublemaker’s first day, you can’t go wrong with David Goes to School. And show the worrywart in your family that she’s not alone fretting about the first day with Wemberly Worried.
- For the young one who has trouble letting go, reassure them that you’ll be lovingly waiting at home with kindergarten books about the enduring love of parents. Francesca Rusackas’s I Love You All Day Long will comfort the kindergartner who suffers from a case of separation anxiety.