Back to School Can Be Scary!

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This holds especially true if your kiddo is going to school for the very first time, for Kindergarten! Just last summer I battled the confusing feelings of sending my little baby off to school with all of those bigger, older, more experienced kids. I was excited to see him take on new challenges and make new friends but I would be lying if I said we weren’t both a little bit terrified at first!

Starting School may not seem like a big deal but in the mind of a small child, it’s enormous! While Kindergarten may be the most anxiety-inducing time, since it is so new, it is definitely not the only grade that holds frightening worry and tons of questions in little minds. Each new year, especially in earlier grades, kids have new teachers, new classmates, sometimes even new principals or administrators. This can be pretty intimidating to young children, many of which likely just started to become really comfortable and trusting with their teachers, only for the year to end.

Books Are An Escape

In our household, we love to read. Not only because Mom likes to escape from a messy house, too many appointments, and screaming kids into a fantasy land of literature, but also because there is a way in which reality can be looked at that we often don’t see until we look through someone else’s eyes; an author’s eyes. Children’s books have always done such a fantastic job of intriguing their audience while teaching important life lessons and morals at the same time.

Related: Check out this list of must-read books that I swear by for moms!

The books I am going to talk about below are books that I believe create a great conversation between children and their parents. They paint a fantastic picture of the first day of school, classroom activities, friendships, and teachers! I love following up story time with a couple of light-hearted questions such as “What do you hope your teacher is like?” or things like “Did you see how nervous he was to start school in the beginning, but by the end of the story it was his favorite day ever?”. I find that doing this really helps kids to put themselves into the story and apply it to their own lives!

The Kissing Hand 

This adorable children’s book tells the story of Chester Raccoon getting ready for his first day of school. In order to make Chester feel better and less nervous for starting school, his mother, Mrs. Raccoon, tells him about a family secret to ease his fears.

First Day Jitters

This book tells the story of a little girl who is worried about starting out at a new school. She doesn’t know anyone and is worried about making new friends in a new place! Her mom convinces her to go and of course the story has a fantastic ending. This is a great one for any kid nervous about entering a new situation!

Llama Llama Misses Mama

This endearing story tells of a young Llama who is anxious to start preschool. On his first day, he misses his mama terribly when it’s time for her to go. Luckily, all of the other kids show him how much fun school is and reassure him that mama will come back!

Related: Make back to school simple by simplifying the weekly dinners with this stress-free list!

David Goes to School

This adorable and funny story tells the antics of David, a young boy with a ton of energy! The teachers and classmates have their hands full with this little guys crazy antics. This book is a hilarious and insightful look into going to school!

The Teacher From the Black Lagoon

This is a classic series that I will never forget from my childhood! It is a hilarious story of how rumors can spread among kids and lead our little ones to have anxiety fears over things that are completely unreal! After you check out this adorable book, try some of the others in the series!

The Principal From the Black Lagoon
The Gym Teacher From the Black Lagoon
The Class From the Black Lagoon
The Bully From the Black Lagoon

Pete the Cat – Rocking In My School Shoes

If you have an elementary age kid, it is likely you’ve heard of the infamous Pete the Cat! This is yet another one of those adorable books featuring Pete. This time, Pete is exploring and discovering all of the neat places and people in school! All the while, Pete is singing and dancing through the day. This is a great, uplifting book to read to nervous kids!

Related: Before Summer Break ends for good, try some of these End of Summer Must-Do’s!

The Night Before Kindergarten

Not only does this book include bright and beautiful illustrations, it shows just how fun Kindergarten is! From getting ready the night before, packing the backpacks and picking the perfect outfit, getting ready for the big day can be nerve wracking! This book reminds us how much fun it is once we get there.

Junie B. Jones and The Stupid Smelly Bus

We have all come to know and love that crazy Junie B. Jones! This time, we hear about Junie B. Jones feelings on riding the bus! Not only are the Junie B. Jones books great stories with wonderful illustrations, they are also PERFECT for encouraging those kids to read to you! In fact, if you have a Junie B. Jones fan around the house, this 4 book bundle is PERFECT for a back to school gift.

Includes:
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
Junie B. Jones and A Little Monkey Business
Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth
Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peaky Spying

I’d love to hear what books you love reading with your kids! Leave me your favorites in the comments below!