A Must Read Book For Toddlers Before Starting School

“Llama Llama Warm in Bed
Wakey Wakey Sleep Head
Llama School Begins Today
Time to Learn and Time to Play”

These are the opening lines of the book “ Llama Llama goes to School” by Anna Dewdney, a book I highly recommend for children who will be going to preschool from this academic year. Starting school for your toddler is an important phase for you as a parent and for your child too. This phase can become very stressful and frustrating if not handled well. It is very painful for parents to see their child cry when going to school. If you think that one fine day you will get up and leave your child in school without any transition issues then you need a reality check.

One of the key factors that can help children transition better to school is reading books. Reading books to children from a young age has its own long term benefits. Children especially up to 5 years of age believe in what they see and hear. Pictures in books and small stories can instill awareness and help them connect with real world better.

Why do I recommend this book for preschoolers?

• This book is about Llama’s day in school. It tells about how he gets up in the morning, does all his chores and goes to school with his mother.

It is important to get your child in a routine much before you start his school. Following this routine consistently is very important. This is the first step to transition. It also tells the child clearly that going to school is a routine.

• The book talks about how Llama gets all nervous when his mother drops him to school and bids goodbye.Llama is hesitant to make friends or eat his lunch.

Separation anxiety is normal in children. It will make them feel nervous, cry or feel depressed. Reading a book like this regularly can be a good way of preparing your child’s mind.

• The entire narration is in a fun and poetic manner.

Reading books which have a fun and poetic tone along with relevant pictures  help children get imaginative and absorb better. It also increases their attention span.They are able to connect with real world with ease and comfort.

• The story slowly moves in the direction where Llama eventually settles down and enjoys his day with his new friends, fun activities and outdoor games.

Always give a virtual or physical tour of school to your children. It helps them anticipate what to expect from their learning center and helps them settle faster. Always talk positive about school and the entire need of learning.

• The story concludes Llama’s day in school with his momma coming to pick him and how he greets her with excitement while showing an interest to return back the next day.

The entire story instills in a child’s mind that if mom leaves him in school and goes away, she also comes back in the day to take him home. This is a very comforting emotion for a child and plays a vital role in reducing separation anxiety.

I started reading this book to my children when they were 2 years old and the character Llama and this story made a very positive mark in their mind about the whole concept of going to school. Transitioning them to school became an easy affair since they knew what to expect from their routine. Wait no long.  Just get hold of this book now and start reading it out to your toddler. And yeah don’t forget those expressions when reading!

Also read: 4 Books You Should Read to Your Children

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