SCHOOL- HEALTH COORDINATING SEBVICE
STATE DEPABTMENT OF PUBLIC INBTBUOTION AND STATE BOABD OF HEALTH
RALEIGH, NOBTH CAROLINA
Presses of
OWES G. D U N N CO.
NEW urns, jr. C.
N. C. DOCUMENTS
CLEARINGHOUSE
DEC 2 1994
N. C. STATE LIBRARY
RALEiGH
BETTY JEAN IS READY
FOR SCHOOL
ROBERT M. FINK
Consultant in Mental Hygiene
A NOTE TO MOTHER A N D DADDY
Going to school for the first time is a
tremendous experience for a six or seven year
old. The success of twelve more years of school
and many more of life depends on learning to
be happy in school.
This little booklet tries to give you a few
ideas of some things you can do to help your
little boy or girl to be ready for the first year
of school.
Or like this
This is what we often tell children about the first grade
BETTY JEAN IS R E A D Y FOR SCHOOL
Soon Betty Jean is going to begin the first grade. She can't
wait until the first day. Betty Jean's brother, Richard, is in the
third grade. Sometimes she takes his books and plays school.
Betty Jean knows that she is going to like the first grade.
These are the things we ought to tell about
Mother and Daddy have been very wise. They know that going to
school for the first time will be a new and wonderful experience for
Betty Jean. They have been getting Betty Jean ready for the first
grade.
Mother remembers when Richard started to school. He was afraid.
He cried. He tried to run away from school. Sometimes he told Mother
that he was sick so that she would let him stay at home. Mother and
Daddy both worried about Richard. They told him that the truant
officer would get after him. That made him even more afraid. They
told Richard that the teacher would whip him, if he was bad. That
scared him to death. He knew he wouldn't like his teacher.
Richard was afraid he would get lost on the way to school. So
Mother took him the first few days. She sat in the back of the room.
Mother meant well, but she was in the way. Richard learned to depend
on his mother's presence. This made it hard for the teacher to help
Richard to get used to school life. Richard was afraid of the other
boys and girls. They called him a " sissy" because his mother brought
him to school.
School was a strange place
to Richard. There were so many
more people than he had ever
known. The furniture was different.
Eating was different at
school. Going to the toilet was
different. There were so many
new things to do— and so many
new ways of doing things.
Mother and Daddy worried a
lot about Richard. Finally, they
went to see Miss Rankin, the
first grade teacher. The three of
them had many talks. Soon they
began to understand some of the
Betty Jean played with lots
of boys and girls
reasons Richard didn't like school. Mother
and Daddy and Miss Rankin all agreed
on a plan to help Richard. And they
did help him. Now, in the third grade,
Richard likes school. He understands
school. His parents and his teacher meet
often so that they can continue to help
Richard.
Well, the hard time they had to help
Richard to learn to like school taught
Mother and Daddy a lesson. Daddy said,
" We must begin right now to get Betty
Jean ready for school." Mother agreed.
So, long before Betty Jean thought about
going to school Mother and Daddy were
getting her ready for this big, new experience.
Daddy and Betty Jean took
walks past the school
They made sure that Betty Jean played with lots of other boys
and girls. She learned to share and to get along well with other children.
Mother was careful to let Betty Jean solve many of her own •
problems so that she learned to be self- reliant.
Mother sometimes let Betty Jean walk along to the store. On the
way Mother taught her about traffic lights and safety. Now and then
Daddy took Betty Jean for a walk. Often they walked to the school-house
and back home. On these walks they played a little game.
Daddy would ask Betty Jean who her father and mother were. She
would tell him their full names. Then Daddy would ask where she
lived. Betty Jean learned her address. Another time Daddy would
ask Betty Jean to tell him her telephone number. She soon learned to
say it right. Sometimes Mother and
Daddy sent Betty Jean on little er-
^ £ J | | V rands so that she could learn to fol-
~ low directions. She also got used
to going places alone.
X » \ f Several times Mother took
Betty Jean learned about buses Betty Jean to a school assembly.
t
There she saw children laughing and enjoying a little play. It was
fun. Once, while they were at school, Betty Jean had to go to the toilet.
Mother showed her the way, explained how the various fixtures worked,
and showed Betty Jean how to wash and dry her hands.
Sometimes the mothers in the neighborhood packed little lunches
and Betty Jean and her playmates played school and ate their lunches
as a part of their play. They learned to clean up after eating.
In the spring Mother took Betty Jean to school for a physical examination.
Several days before they went Mother began preparing Betty
Jean so that she would not be afraid. Mother explained that the nurse
and the doctor would weigh her, measure her, and look at her eyes,
ears, nose, teeth, and throat.
Mother also explained why it was
important to have a " booster
shot" for the prevention of diphtheria
and whooping cough. She
told Betty Jean it would hurt a
little, but not as much as when
she had pinched her finger. One
evening Mother and Daddy played
doctor and nurse with Betty Betty Jean learned to wash
Jean. On the day of the clinic and dry her hands
Betty Jean was surprised to see that other girls were afraid of the
doctor. During the summer after the clinic Mother took Betty Jean to
the dentist, because the school doctor had told Mother that Betty Jean's
teeth needed attention. He also told Mother that Betty Jean was a little
underweight. So Mother went to her family doctor, who suggested an
improved diet for Betty Jean. She gained eleven pounds in two months.
In July Mother began to buy the things that Betty Jean needed for
school. Mother was careful to watch other children to see what kind
of clothes they wore. She did not want Betty Jean to feel " funny" because
her clothes were different. Mother let Betty Jean help to select
her clothes.
Mother and Daddy know that school will be exciting. They are
going to try to be especially calm while Betty Jean gets used to the first
grade. They have decided that they will try hard to say only nice things
about the school and the teachers. If something goes wrong, they will
say nothing to Betty Jean. They will talk to the teacher and the
principal.
Yes, Betty Jean is going to school soon. She can't wait. Neither
can Mother. Neither can Daddy. But they are not worried. Betty Jean
is ready for school.
ft,
Betty Jean can't wait until
the first day of school
When A Child Hurts Other Children
When A Child Is Destructive
When A Child Uses Bad Language
When A Child Won't Share
When A Child Still Sucks His Thumb
When A Child Still Wets
When A Child Masturbates
When A Child Has Fears
Single Copies $ .10
Packet of eight $ .75
These may be ordered from the New York City Committee on
Mental Hygiene, 106 E. 22 Street, New York 10, New York.
What Makes A Good Home?
What Makes Good Habits?
Single Copies $ .16
These may be ordered from the Child Study Association of America,
221 W. 67th Street, New York 22, New York.
Betty Jean Is Ready for School and Betty Jean Grows Up may be
ordered from the School- Health Coordinating Service. Price 10# each up
to 20 copies; 54 20 or more copies.
