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Preparing your children for back to school

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Some children feel triumphant, some feel disappointed and some feel anxious. Yes, it is that time again. School will be starting and from the youngest preschooler to the oldest grade school student, school will take up most of their time and attention.

“What to Expect at Preschool” is a factual book with simple explanations to answer the questions of the inexperienced. “What is a teacher?” “What if I have to go potty?” This book is written by Heidi Murkoff, the co-author of “What to Expect When You're Expecting” and is just as thorough in her treatment of preschool topics as she was about pregnancy and childbirth. The illustrations are by Laura Rader.

Children like to know what to expect, so this book will help if this is your child's first experience with school. You might try just reading a page or two at a time. Even if your child doesn't want to sit through this book it will give you some simple ways to explain things that may seem obvious to you but not so for your child. You can visit you children's future school after reading this book to get a taste of what it will be like. Show them the important things like the location of the bathroom and where they will eat.

“Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” is written and illustrated by Nancy Carlson. Henry the mouse goes to kindergarten after much preparation and overcomes his fears, one by one. Henry is an endearing character most children will relate to.

This book can give you a chance to talk about this big step in a child's life. You can make a Henry puppet out of a toilet tissue roll. Just add two ears, a tail, and draw on the face. You make a classroom for Henry out of a shoe box so that he can go to school when your child goes.

“Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth” is a fun opportunity to laugh and learn that not everything everyone tells you is true. In this story by Alison McGhee with illustrations by Harry Bliss, a second grader scares a first grader with stories about a teacher who steals teeth. The gullible first grader keeps her mouth shut all day in an attempt to prevent the theft.

This book gives you a chance to talk about fears and scary stories with your child. You can have fun making up an equally silly story about school. What if you had to carry all your books on your head? What if your teacher couldn't read and you had to read everything for him?

“Ramona Quimby, Age 8” by Beverly Cleary is an old book that is still a grade school favorite. This is about life in third grade complete with friendship, surprises, homework and the awkward mistakes of a normal child.

Share some of your own memories about school with your child. You know, the one about how you had to walk five miles through the snow uphill both ways. Or was that your grandfather's story?

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