Day 95: The Please and Thank You Book

My son received this as a gift from his grandmother when he was two and it was an immediate hit!  The Little Golden Please and Thank You Book contains fifteen little tales about manners that are perfect for preschoolers.  The rhymes are short -- more like poems, at times -- so are quick and fun to read.  They also address topics that are particularly relevant to the preschool demographic, such as sharing, playing fair, and how to be a polite guest. Ironically, none of the verses is specifically about saying "please" or "thank you," but the book does a great job of reminding children of the proper ways to (and not to!) behave.  Ricky Raccoon provides a perfect example of how to act when playing at a friend's house, "the Ox always knocks before opening a door," and "thoughtful elephants always remember to wipe their muddy feet" before coming inside. Leopards always wait for the light and stay to right when crossing the street. Then there is my son's favorite, "Don't Be Grabby, Gorilla," a title we find ourselves repeating to our son when he forgets to ask politely for something.  Of course, we also encourage him to be like the rabbit twins and try new foods when he is at the table -- "Funny or runny or something new, they try at least a bite or two" -- though he is not always as adventurous.  Does your little one have the tendency to slam doors?  You'll love "Not So Wild, Cats!"  "Wildcats make their mother roar, the way they slam the kitchen door.  If they would close it quietly, they'd see how pleased their mom would be."  Now that I think about it, my son actually likes the stories about how not to act the most ("Terrible Tigers" is another favorite.)  Hmm..... Regardless, this cute collection is a great way to remind our little ones about the importance of good manners while making them smile in the process.

Day 88: Potty Animals

Now that my son is successfully potty trained, I can breathe a big sigh of relief.  I was really hoping he would be comfortable and confident about using the potty before beginning preschool this fall, but there is another whole element to potty training that I never thought of before finding this great book on the library shelf:  public potty etiquette.  Sure, we've got him pretty well trained to wash his hands and turn off the bathroom light when he is done, but what about all of the other potty manners he'll be expected to practice at school and elsewhere?  There's an awful lot to remember!  Knock first, shut the door, be sure to flush, know that others might be waiting for their turn... Fortunately, there's a great book to help with all of this.  Potty Animals:  What to Know When You've Gotta Go! is a fun, informative, age appropriate way to teach and reinforce proper potty etiquette to young children.  Hope Vestergaard was brilliant to write this kind of story, and I would imagine it is a favorite of preschools everywhere.  Her rhyming, rolling lyrics and Valeria Petrone's cute illustrations combine to create a charming, practical potty book.  My son loves all the of the animals at Sycamore Preschool, and more importantly, has learned a lot about their all-too-common potty mistakes.  Freddy is afraid to flush.   Helga lollygags.  Ziggy forgets to do up his zipper.  Farley doesn't close the door.  Arnold's aim could use a little work.  Benji is a barger.  The characters' forgetfulness offers friendly reminders about the right thing to do in a way that is cute and informative, not punitive or accusatory.  The many lessons taught throughout are all reviewed at the end of the book: "Plan ahead.  Don't wait too long.  Go potty before you sleep.  Excuse yourself.  Knock first.  Be sure to lift up the seat.  Close the door.  Don't lollygag. Never forget to wipe.  Wash your hands.  Zip and flush.  Always turn out the light!"  If you're looking for a fun way to teach these manners that will really resonate with your child, we highly recommend Potty Animals.  There's a lot to know when you've got to go, and this book definitely helps!