Bye-Bye Time is one of the board books in Elizabeth Verdick's Toddler Tools series. This one addresses the tough issue of separating from the parent when arriving at daycare, school, or even a babysitter.
The book clearly acknowledges the conflicting feelings of the child, who is scared to leave her parent, though happy about the activities in which she can now participate. It provides a sample "bye-bye" routine that parents and children can follow. Routine is very important to young children, as it helps them feel secure in knowing what comes next. It shows the child some options for self-calming, such as breathing deeply, crying, and going to a quiet corner. My favorite illustration is the one of the other children trying to console the sad child, including offering a tissue, as we encourage our children to do this in my classroom.
As always, at the end of the book are strategies and tips for parents to follow. It's nice to see the words that come out of my mouth to parents being echoed in a book. Prepare the child for saying goodbye. Have a goodbye routine. Don't sneak out, as the child will become more nervous and agitated upon realizing you're gone. But go ahead and go, as the child usually does calm down within a few minutes.
This is a book that I am going to recommend to all of my new parents, and to those whose children are still having difficulty with goodbyes.
Purchase Bye-Bye Time (Toddler Tools)
I received a review copy of this title from the publisher, Free Spirit Publishing.
That sounds like a very helpful book. I will have to reccomend it to my friends with toddlers. Thanks!
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