Starting school for the first time is a large step into the unknown for your little ones. Not surprisingly, this can cause lot of “first day of school” butterflies for them (and for mum and dad). We have come to your rescue armed with a list of 8 books that can help your little ones understand why they are feeling anxious about their first day at school and possibly turn those butterflies into small jitters of excitement.
Books are such a powerful tool that parents can use to connect with your children and calm them down. They can build memories, strengthen bonds and create an important love of reading and communicating. So find a book and work through the anxiety you and your little ones may feel together, and both enjoy that first day of school.
- The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing
- Clifford Goes to Kindergarten by Norman Bridwell
- First Day by Andrew Daddo
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
- Starting School by Jane Godwin
- Llama Llama Misses Mamma by Anna Dewdney
- Wombat Goes to School by Jackie French
- The Don’t Worry Book by Todd Parr
The Night Before Kindergarten
The Night Before Kindergarten is an uplifting take off on the classic Christmas poem “The Night Before Christmas”. It’s the first day of school and the kids are preparing for kindergarten, packing school supplies, posing for pictures, and the hardest part of all-saying goodbye to Mum and Dad. But maybe it won’t be so hard once they discover just how much fun kindergarten really is.
The rhyme and the beautiful illustrations of this book will both help to take your child’s mind of their nervousness. It will instead get them excited and involved in the process of getting ready for school.
Clifford Goes to Kindergarten
Emily Elizabeth is starting Kindergarten and she’s a little nervous. Good thing that the teacher sent a note home that says each child can bring something from home to make the transition a little easier. But the teacher didn’t bet on a child bringing something or someone as big as Clifford!
The humor and cuteness that Clifford always brings can easily be remembered by your little one when they are having a moment of nerves. Maybe they can bring a smaller version of Clifford along with them in their school bag on their first day.
First Day
Are you ready? It’ll be fun! You’ll make new friends. New BFFs! You might have to be a bit brave … It’s the first day of school, but who is the most nervous about the big day?
This is a cute book for all those mums that are just as nervous as their little ones about their first day of school. A book that will reassure both of you that this is the just one of the many exciting “firsts” that you will share together.
The Kissing Hand
Chester, a young raccoon, is anxious about leaving his mother, his toys, and his friends on the first day of school. Lovingly, his mother shares a secret that will help him cope with his new world.
This is beautiful book about the reassurance a mother gives to her child that she is always with them. This is a perfect book for those who children suffer from separation anxiety. It gives you a simple exercise you can use or adapt to help your child cope with their “first day of school” anxiety.
Starting School
Tim, Hannah, Sunita, Joe and Polly are all off to school for the first time. Would you like to meet them and see how they go? There are new friends to make, fun ways to learn, and lots of different things to discover.
This book perfectly illustrates how everyone has a different experience at school because we are all different. Some children are more nervous because its a new school, or because mum can’t stay or simply because they have to eat out of a lunchbox for the first time. But you all have one thing in common, school can end up being so much fun in different ways.
Llama Llama Misses Mama
It’s Llama Llama’s first day of preschool! And Llama Llama’s mama makes sure he’s ready. They meet the teachers. See the other children. Look at all the books and games. But then it’s time for Mama to leave. And suddenly Llama Llama isn’t so excited anymore. Will Mama Llama come back?
This is heart warming story is perfect for your little ones if they are worried about leaving mum and her not coming back. Llama ends up having a great time with his new friends and realises he loves his mum AND school.
Wombat Goes to School
When Mothball discovers a new hole, it unexpectedly leads her to the local school. The children learn that wombats love carrots and grass, while Mothball learns that lunch boxes contain very few carrots, that sports sheds can be a good place to have a nap, and that when you’re brown and round, it’s not a good idea to get too close to a ball …
This is a cute and funny book that will put a smile on your little’s ones face. It’s about Wombat accidentally going to school but its funny, cute and easy to read. A great distraction and reminder that school can be fun.
The Don’t Worry Book
This book beautifully illustrates and reassures kids everywhere that even when things are scary or confusing, there’s always something comforting around the corner.
This is a perfect picture book that is simple to follow and help your little set those first day of school worry’s aside for a while. The lesson of the book can be even taught to older kids who may have the tendency to worry too much.
Let us know what your favourite book is that you like to read with your little ones about their first day. Leave a comment below or join the conversation in the Melville Mums Facebook group.
You might also like:
- 4 Skills that Set Your Little One Up to Have a Good First Day at Kindergarten
- Benefits of Reading to Your Child at an Early Age
