Childrens' books about starting pre-school

I'm planning on taking Julie to a "pre"-pre-school, especially for 2 1/2
to 3 year-olds who are just a little young for regular pre-school this
fall. It's only for one hour and fifteen minutes, twice a week, and is
billed as a "first time away" class, so I'm hoping they'll be well
prepared for very unhappy children and know how to comfort them. It
starts in two weeks, so I would like to start getting her used to the
idea now, and books have been a good way of doing that in the past. So
does anyone know of some good books about pre-school for a 2.5 year old?
TIA.
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 6 mo.
And new arrival, Jaden

Cleaning the house while your children are small is like
shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing.

"Sue" wrote in message
...
The Kissing Hand is a really good book about going to school. As a matter
of
fact, Kara (1st grade) and I still do the hand kissing thing every day.
Other than that one, I can't think of any off hand.

Why do you necessarily think she will be unhappy?

--
Sue (mom to three girls)
I'm Just a Raggedy Ann in a Barbie Doll World...


Yeah I don't get all this over preparing and assuming there will be
problems. Do they make a book for everything or what these days anyway?

Read the "lack of interest in preschool" thread. Some kids in Charlotte's
and Patrick's classes would cry and have fits. And it got worse if moms
hung around, stayed late, picked up their kid early. I say be matter of
fact and not emotional, tell her how she'll make friends and have fun. If
you can find out her teachers' names, start talking to her about them now
(about how much fun she'll have in Miss So-and-So's class, etc...).

--
Sophie -
TTC #4

Sue wrote in message
...
The Kissing Hand is a really good book about going to school.
As a matter of fact, Kara (1st grade) and I still do the hand
kissing thing every day. Other than that one, I can't think of
any off hand.

Thanks, I'll look for that one. That's really sweet that you and Kara
have that ritual.

Why do you necessarily think she will be unhappy?

Based on past experience with leaving her, especially with people she
doesn't know well. ;-)
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 6 mo.
And new arrival, Jaden

Cleaning the house while your children are small is like
shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing.

Sophie wrote in message
...
Do they make a book for everything or what these days anyway?

Yeah, they do. ;-)

Read the "lack of interest in preschool" thread. Some kids in
Charlotte's and Patrick's classes would cry and have fits.
And it got worse if moms hung around, stayed late, picked
up their kid early. I say be matter of fact and not emotional,
tell her how she'll make friends and have fun.

I know I need to be very positive about it and that will make it more
likely for her to enjoy it. But, even when I am there, she does not
like to be around lots of kids she doesn't know. Today, we went to our
playgroup for the first time since before Jaden was born. Even though
she used to be OK (but not thrilled to be) around those particular kids,
it's been so long since she's seen them that today she didn't want to
have anything to do with them and kept wanting me to pick her up.
That's why I want her to go to this class before she starts real
pre-school next fall.

If you can find out her teachers' names, start talking to her about
them now (about how much fun she'll have in Miss So-and-So's
class, etc...).

Thanks, that's another really good way to help prepare her. At least
the teachers will seem somewhat familiar then.
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 6 mo.
And new arrival, Jaden

Cleaning the house while your children are small is like
shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing.

"Cheryl S." wrote in message
...
Sophie wrote in message
...
Do they make a book for everything or what these days anyway?

Yeah, they do. ;-)


Lol. Thanks for taking it how it was intended



I know I need to be very positive about it and that will make it more
likely for her to enjoy it. But, even when I am there, she does not
like to be around lots of kids she doesn't know. Today, we went to our
playgroup for the first time since before Jaden was born. Even though
she used to be OK (but not thrilled to be) around those particular kids,
it's been so long since she's seen them that today she didn't want to
have anything to do with them and kept wanting me to pick her up.
That's why I want her to go to this class before she starts real
pre-school next fall.

If you can find out her teachers' names, start talking to her about
them now (about how much fun she'll have in Miss So-and-So's
class, etc...).

Thanks, that's another really good way to help prepare her. At least
the teachers will seem somewhat familiar then.
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 6 mo.
And new arrival, Jaden



I hope she'll be okay and enjoy it. I think it's good for kids to go to
groups like that.

Sophie

Cheryl S. wrote in message
...
I'm planning on taking Julie to a "pre"-pre-school, especially for 2 1/2
to 3 year-olds who are just a little young for regular pre-school this
fall. It's only for one hour and fifteen minutes, twice a week, and is
billed as a "first time away" class, so I'm hoping they'll be well
prepared for very unhappy children and know how to comfort them. It
starts in two weeks, so I would like to start getting her used to the
idea now, and books have been a good way of doing that in the past. So
does anyone know of some good books about pre-school for a 2.5 year old?
TIA.
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 6 mo.
And new arrival, Jaden
Don't know if you can get it in US but dd loves "Anna goes to Preschool". I
can't remember who it's by (and it's in dd's room and she's asleep!) but I
think it's published by Usborne. Anna is a little girl starting pre-school
and suddenly thinks she won't go, and mummy says "you'll love it when you
get there". She goes and finds all the fun things to do, and then mummy goes
home. She then makes a friend (Tom, who's on his first day too) and they go
off and play... and mummy comes back at the end, which really is the
important bit!
It helped prepare dd for pre-school, and she still likes reading it and
comparing it to "her's".

My experience was that the first day was no problem, but the second morning
was much more traumatic!
Just make sure that you have the 1.25hrs free so you can stay if necessary.
I find that makes me much more relaxed about her clinging, and so she's
better.
Debbie

"Sophie" wrote in message
...

Yeah I don't get all this over preparing and assuming there will be
problems.

I'm not a big fan of overpreparing either. In my experience with Matthew,
the less of a deal I make of it, the better off he is. "Keep it Simple" is
my motto.

Do they make a book for everything or what these days anyway?

lol

--
JennP.

mom to Matthew 10/11/00
remove "no........spam" to reply

The Kissing Hand is a really good book about going to school. As a matter of
fact, Kara (1st grade) and I still do the hand kissing thing every day.
Other than that one, I can't think of any off hand.

Why do you necessarily think she will be unhappy?

--
Sue (mom to three girls)
I'm Just a Raggedy Ann in a Barbie Doll World...

Cheryl S. wrote in message
...
I'm planning on taking Julie to a "pre"-pre-school, especially for 2 1/2
to 3 year-olds who are just a little young for regular pre-school this
fall. It's only for one hour and fifteen minutes, twice a week, and is
billed as a "first time away" class, so I'm hoping they'll be well
prepared for very unhappy children and know how to comfort them. It
starts in two weeks, so I would like to start getting her used to the
idea now, and books have been a good way of doing that in the past. So
does anyone know of some good books about pre-school for a 2.5 year old?
TIA.
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 6 mo.
And new arrival, Jaden

Cleaning the house while your children are small is like
shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing.

Cheryl S. wrote in message
Thanks, I'll look for that one. That's really sweet that you and Kara
have that ritual.

That book really saved us because like I said in the other post about
preschool, she really took a disliking to going to school.

Based on past experience with leaving her, especially with people she
doesn't know well. ;-)

Well then it might take some time, but I would still keep postive about it.
If you are apprehensive at all and she picks up on it, it will be worse for
you. I have always been able to tour the room and meet the teachers before
they have to go and it has helped a lot. Also, find out if you can stay in
the class if she shows any signs of not wanting to be there by herself. Good
luck. I think this will be a good experience for her, especially since she
is very reluctatnt with other kids.
--
Sue (mom to three girls)
I'm Just a Raggedy Ann in a Barbie Doll World...

Sue wrote in message
...
Good luck. I think this will be a good experience for her,
especially since she is very reluctatnt with other kids.

Thanks - I hope so! One of the worst things about being a parent, for
me, is this type of thing that I know is in her best interest long term,
but in the present I feel like I am torturing her.
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 6 mo.
And Jaden, 1 month

Cleaning the house while your children are small is like
shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing.