Getting Tots Ready for Their First Day of School
RSSBy Gail Junion-Metz
One the niftiest ways parents can get their tots ready for their first day of school, or preschool, is to watch some school-related videos together and then discuss them. So where can you find these videos? On the Sesame Street website, that's where. Here you'll find more than 100 short, web-based school videos for adults and tots to choose from-enough to handle just about any concern or topic that tots or parents may have. Start by checking out the 17-minute video "Elmo's World-School." Elmo answers many of the questions and addresses many of the concerns that youngsters have about going to school. Next, take a look at "Teeny Little Super Guy-School" in which Eugene learns that going to school is fun. In "Abby Starts School" the Muppets sing a welcome song for Abby who's new in class. One of my favorite videos is "Professor Grover-School" in which Grover (my very favorite Muppet) explains what school is. If tots are afraid of going to school, be sure to watch "Kermit News - First Day of School" in which the Cookie Monster is afraid of being in school. If that video doesn't do it, play kids "Count's First Day of School" in which the Count sings a song sure to delight and gets kids less fearful about their first day. One of the quirkiest, and shortest, videos is "School Stop Action" in which objects (like chairs and desks) enter an empty classroom and move around on their own. It does a great job of demystifying the objects that kids will find in their classroom that first day. Finally, don't miss the "School Game Quiz Show," hosted by Guy Smiley, who asks Muppet kids questions about school. Going to school can be fun! These videos will help get tots excited about school and provide anxious parents with a way to make sure their youngsters are ready for their big day.
www.sesamestreet.org
