Great Books for Getting Kids Emotionally Ready for Kindergarten

Starting school is a big step for a little kid. Overcoming the separation anxiety, while grappling with new friends and new rules can be a lot for a child to deal with - not to mention learning all sorts of new things. Help your child be best prepared to start Kindergarten by talking about it with them, and reading with them books that will help them understand the change. Incorporate books about kindergarten into your reading routine.

I have chosen a handful of books that are excellent for helping your child with the transition to kindergarten. Chose a few to use with your child.

This is a wonderfully heartwarming book to help your child get through any feelings of loneliness and missing their family when kindergarten starts. It gives them the comfort that they are not alone, and that you can love them, even from afar. This is an excellent book to use as a bedtime story before the child starts kindergarten.

Watch a video of this book read aloud.

If this is a book you read with your little one, and you gave them a Kissing Hand, then perhaps you could put a cookie in their lunchbox as a surprise for them.

Kids like to hear things from other kids. There is a certain amount of trust kids have in other kids who have experienced the same thing. Peer pressure can do good things too!

It's a good idea to remind your child to be the friend they would want to have. This book is especially good for shy kids, kids who haven't gone to preschool, but a great reminder for any child about how to be a friend.

This is a great book that both teaches the ABCs and teaches them about school.

Watch a video of this book read aloud.

Chrysanthemum is a great book for kids to learn that what might seem weird is instead beautiful. It encourages kids to love what they are.

Watch a video of this book read aloud.

• Don't bombard your child with a bunch of books about kindergarten all at once. Sprinkle them into the books you are already reading. You don't want to overwhelm them.
• Talk with your child during and after reading with them. Listen to what they have to say.
• Compare things in the story to the reality that will happen. When you read about the teacher in the book, tell them the name of the teacher they will have. When you read about the bus, tell them about the bus they will ride. When you read about the playground, tell them about the playground at their school.

This book is great for helping kids become more open to change in their life by seeing that new doesn't mean bad.

This book discusses emotions and how you can have influence on them - your own emotions and other people's emotions. It is direct about how you can help make others feel good or you can make others feel bad, but if you make them feel good, you too will feel good.

Watch a video of this book read aloud.

• Be positive about the idea of starting kindergarten. When you talk about it, smile.
• Don't put fears into their heads. Ask them "what part of starting kindergarten seems the most scary?" not "are you scared they will pick on you at school?" They may be concerned about missing you (or you missing them), they might fear new places, or making friends, or getting lost, etc.
• Get them excited about school. For some kids, you need to really sell them the idea, and for others they jump right on board.
• Let them know you are confident in them. That you know they can do it, and they will be okay. Let them know you are proud of them.
• Encourage the love of learning.

The Charlie and Lola books are just adorable!