But when I was a teacher for first grade, I read a book to the kids in my class and suggested it to my parents that seemed to help ease this transition. It was a great book to remind the children that mommy and daddy still love them even though they are not around. The book is called "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn. It is about a Raccoon who goes to school for the first time and is a little anxious about it. His Mom eases the tension by kissing his palm and tightly folding his fingers back over that kiss so it won't escape. If he gets sad, he can take his palm and place it to his cheek like a kiss from mommy to remind him that Mommy loves him.
You can do the same thing after reading this story to your children and then take it a step further. Trace your kids hands on paper and cut them out. Draw a heart in the center of the hand or put a heart sticker. Have them fold the fingers down over the palm. This is now their Kissing Hand. They can keep it at home or even take it to school with them. It is a great reminder of the ever lasting love of Mommy!
Mommy may want to make one with your hand as well and have your kids kiss it. You may need it in the lonely times before they return to you safe and sound!
Do you have other ways to ease this transition time? Write your comments below! We would love to hear from you!!
Sarah
MOPS Co-director
2010-2011
We actually cut out the hand and put it in my daughter's backpack. She loved it! I also cut out a red heart and put it in her lunch box.
ReplyDeleteWe really made going to Kindergarten a fun event. We made pizza the night before, she picked out what she wanted for lunch and helped me make it, she picked out her school supplies and she knew after she was done with her first day of school we were going to celebrate with her favorite meal.
Our transition went really well.