Let’s Explore Back to school

For those of you heading back to mainstream school settings, here are the books we used to support the kiddos as the first day of school approached.

Most back-to-school books introduce and amplify school jitters and anxiety. So if you’re hoping to address any unspoken concerns while amping kids up for the new year, these are the least fear-mongering books that got the Earthquakes excited.

1. Read:
   1. The Kissing Hand (Ages 2.5+) For kids with separation anxiety
   2. Maple & Willow Apart (ages 3-6) Helpful for siblings who will be separating after sticking together 24/7
   3. Nimoshom and His Bus (ages 3-5) For kids about to ride the bus for the first time
   4. School’s First Day of School (ages 4.5-7) For kids a little hesistant about the first day of school
2. Additional resources to dig deeper into this topic:
   1. Calming School Bus Anxiety
   2. Fear-Free First Day of School: Most kids’ books about the first day of school center fear and anxiety. If your kid isn’t expressing nerves and you don’t want to introduce the idea that school is something to be nervous about, these are the books for you. However, some of them do address anxiety in a roundabout way. Reading these together gives kids who have unexpressed fears the opportunity to open up about them, without dragging out the stories suggesting school is something to be afraid of.
   3. Books to help kids process separation Anxiety & Parting Grief
   4. Equity, Education, and Validating Frustration with ‘On The Day You Begin’ for kids returning to school, nervous about spotlighting and discomfort that comes from being ‘the only one’ in class with a targeted identity.
   5. Kids Books For Unschoolers
   6. Unschooling, Alt-Schooling & Kid-Directed Learning Stories
   7. Socially Inclusive ABC Kids Books
   8. Inclusive Kids Books About STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Mathematics
   9. Forest School