Books for Kids Starting Preschool
No one can believe it. No one is ever fully ready. But here are a few books that might help kids (and their grown-ups) feel a little more prepared.
What to Do When You're Not Sure What to Do
When you're little, life is full of new experiences, and few are more significant than starting school. This Australian import is like 'Life's Little Instruction Book' for the preschool set. Spare text and serene watercolors present a variety of situations — waiting your turn on the swings, jumping into the pool — along with tips for how to navigate them with empathy and courage. Bell doesn't talk down to kids, giving just enough advice to let them fill in the rest of the picture themselves.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Great Barrier Reef sees record coral bleaching
Great Barrier Reef sees record coral bleaching According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), parts of the Great Barrier Reef suffered their biggest-ever declines last year after a marine heatwave bleached vast swaths of hard coral. 00:55 - Source: CNN Vertical World News 16 videos Great Barrier Reef sees record coral bleaching According to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), parts of the Great Barrier Reef suffered their biggest-ever declines last year after a marine heatwave bleached vast swaths of hard coral. 00:55 - Source: CNN Tornado hits Inner Mongolia Footage shows a tornado hitting Inner Mongolia on Monday. No casualties were reported from the incident, according to a state media report. 00:29 - Source: CNN Why Asia is one of the fastest-warming places in the world CNN's Hanako Montgomery reports from Tokyo and explains why Asia is warming faster than the global average, as Japan endures its hottest day ever recorded 01:03 - Source: CNN Satellite images show damage to Russian submarine base after tsunami Satellite images captured after the 8.8 magnitude quake show damage to a floating pier at Russia's submarine base in Rybachiy and raise questions about fleet readiness. 01:18 - Source: CNN 'I thought, do or die': How a Ukrainian soldier cycled to safety after Russian assault After a Russian assault left all three of his fellow soldiers dead and himself wounded, Andriy, stationed near Siversk, Ukraine, thought his life was over. But back at his command bunker, they hatched a plan. Armed with determination, a will to live - and a bike - he was able to escape. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports. 01:12 - Source: CNN Moscow residents on Trump-Putin relationship As the relationship between President Trump and President Putin continues to deteriorate, with Trump threatening harsher sanctions on Russia if a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine is not reached, CNN's Frederik Pleitgen talks to Moscow residents about their thoughts on the tensions between the two countries. 02:02 - Source: CNN Desperation grows in Gaza as aid is airdropped CNN footage on Monday captured the desperation of hundreds of Palestinians in central Gaza as people rushed towards aid boxes that many rely on, as the hunger crisis continues. Six countries were involved in dropping 120 aid packages in total, according to the Israel Defense Forces. 00:34 - Source: CNN Hear from Israeli hostages' families after meeting with Witkoff Steve Witkoff, the United States' Special Envoy to the Middle East, held a nearly three-hour meeting with the families of those still being held in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, telling them that the US' 'first priority' is getting the hostages back to Israel, the forum said. Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. CNN has reached out to Witkoff's team to confirm that he made these comments. 01:16 - Source: CNN Young Catholics flock to Rome for Youth Jubilee Pope Leo XIV received a rock star's welcome and led a prayer vigil with young people participating in the Jubilee of the Youth in Rome. CNN's Christopher Lamb reports. 01:23 - Source: CNN Witkoff visits controversial Gaza aid site US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff spent over five hours in Gaza, and visited the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid site. He said the purpose of the visit was to give Trump 'a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza.' CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports. 01:53 - Source: CNN United Nations' Relief Chief: If anyone can shift Israeli Government, 'It's of course, the Americans' UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour that if anyone can shift the Israeli government, it's the US, and addresses reports of how food aid is being intercepted. 02:09 - Source: CNN Amusement park ride splits in half in Saudi Arabia At least 23 people were injured, three of them critically, when a fairground ride buckled in Saudi Arabia, sending passengers crashing to the ground, according to state media. 00:33 - Source: CNN Soldiers in Ukraine battle Russian drones CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports from the frontlines of Ukraine, where soldiers rush to bring in the wounded as drones constantly look for a target. 01:38 - Source: CNN US diminished a key weapons stockpile fighting Iran The US used about a quarter of its supply of high-end missile interceptors during the Israel-Iran war, exposing a gap in supplies, and raising concerns about US global security posture. CNN's Tamara Qiblawi reports. 01:35 - Source: CNN Carney says Canada will recognize Palestinian state Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has joined France and Britain in announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations, as international pressure builds on Israel over the ongoing war and starvation crisis in Gaza. President Donald Trump reacted to the announcement by threatening to derail trade talks with Canada. 00:30 - Source: CNN
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
When Your Kid Swears: What to Say (and What Actually Helps)
How to respond when your child swears, with calm, clarity, and real-life perspective So… your child just dropped a swear word out of nowhere. Maybe you froze. Maybe you laughed. Maybe you looked around thinking, Where on earth did they hear that? It usually happens when you least expect it. You're loading the dishwasher, chatting at preschool pickup, or visiting Grandma, and suddenly your child blurts out a swear word. Do you ignore it? Laugh? Correct it? If your child has started experimenting with curse words, you're not alone. Swearing often surprises parents, but it's not actually a behavior issue. It's a language-learning moment. Here's how to understand what's behind those words, and how to respond in a way that actually sticks. Why kids swear Young children are constantly learning how language works. They copy words, test reactions, and try things out. Especially if they've picked up on something with shock value. Maybe they heard an older cousin mutter something spicy. Maybe they overheard an adult in a stressful moment. Maybe it was you… stepping on a Lego. Swearing can happen for a few different reasons: Imitation: Kids repeat what they hear, even if it's a word they don't fully understand. Big feelings: Words often come out when they're frustrated or overwhelmed. Attention-seeking: If swearing gets a reaction, they might try it again just to see what happens. Even if you never swear at home, your child is still going to hear these words somewhere. The key isn't to panic, it's to make the moment less exciting and more understandable. When kids learn that certain words have a time, a place, and a purpose, they're much less likely to repeat them just for shock value. How to respond in the moment When your child swears, your instinct might be to gasp, laugh, or scold. But the best move? Stay calm and neutral. Big reactions give those words more power. And for toddlers and preschoolers, realizing they've found a 'power word' can be irresistible. If it seemed like a one-time curiosity, you might just move on without comment. If it happens again, try calmly saying: 'That's a word some people use, but we don't say it that way.' Simple. Clear. No fuel added to the fire. If your child is clearly using it for attention, skipping a reaction altogether can make it less fun. When a word stops getting laughs or gasps, it quickly loses its shine. What if you swear at home? Plenty of parents use curse words occasionally. If your child repeats something they've heard at home, you don't need to pretend you've never said it. Instead, explain context: 'Some words are okay at home, but not at school.' 'Mommy and Daddy might say that word in private, but we don't say it around other people.' Framing language in terms of time, place, and audience helps kids understand that words have social meaning. It's not about labeling them as 'bad,' it's about teaching boundaries. And when you explain calmly, it removes the mystery. Kids are less likely to repeat something when it's not wrapped in secrecy or shame. What if they're swearing out of frustration? Sometimes swearing isn't about copying or being silly, it's about big feelings. When your child yells 'This sucks!' or blurts out something stronger in the middle of a meltdown, it's usually not about the word itself. It's about trying to express frustration, disappointment, or overwhelm, and not yet having the language to match what they're feeling. This is where we can help, not by punishing the word, but by teaching the skill behind it. Instead of 'We don't say that,' try: 'That's really frustrating. You can say, 'Ugh, this is so hard!'' 'That surprised you, huh? Try saying 'Oh no!' next time.' You're not just stopping the word. You're giving them something else to say. A way to still get the feeling out, but in a way that fits your values and helps them grow their emotional vocabulary. When swearing becomes hurtful If your child starts using swear words to insult or hurt someone, it's time to set a clear boundary. This isn't about curiosity, it's about behavior. And it's okay to be firm and kind at the same time: 'It's okay to be mad, but we don't call people names.' 'You can tell me you're upset, but it's not okay to speak to me like that.' The goal is to separate the feeling from the behavior. You're letting your child know that all feelings are valid, but certain actions cross the line. The bottom line At the end of the day, swearing doesn't mean your child is 'bad.' It means they're learning about words, emotions, boundaries, and how people react. They're picking things up from the world around them and figuring out what sticks. And with a calm, consistent response, you can help them understand that certain words carry weight, and they're not always okay to use. You don't need to panic, shame, or lecture. Teach them how and when to use words appropriately. Because in the end, this is less about language... and more about learning.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Voices: Of course I'd be happy for a trans employee to fit my daughter's first bra
I remember going to get measured for my first bra in the 1990s. It was in Marks and Spencer, of course, the retailer has had a firm hold on that particular market for decades, and I absolutely cringed with embarrassment. Honestly, I nearly died. I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed self-consciously; I counted down the minutes until it was over and acted every inch the recalcitrant teenager who hated both the experience and everyone around me, including my mum. Fast forward 30 years, and when I recently took my daughter for her first bra fitting, I was peculiarly gratified to see that she acted pretty much the same way I did. Teenagers may have smartphones and TikTok and all the tech and street smarts we didn't, but some things really do never change. The one thing that has changed, on the whole, is Gen Alpha's greater understanding and empathy towards those around them. And so much the better. Half of my daughter's friends school the adults around them in the right pronouns to use for their peers. 'They/them' is second nature to most of these kids. Us dinosaur millennials and Gen X-ers, meanwhile, should stand happily corrected (and make an effort to get it right when we slip up). Which is why, when I read the story about M&S – the same M&S who boast about being 'Your M&S,' which presumably includes their own employees – reportedly apologising for 'distress' over a trans member of staff asking a teenage customer if she needed any help in its bra section, I only had one question: what on earth were they apologising for? The mother of the teenager in question, who complained to the store, said the retail assistant was 'polite', but that her daughter felt 'uncomfortable' with the experience. M&S told her: 'We deeply regret the distress your daughter felt during her visit to our store,' and that 'We understand how important this milestone is for her, and we are truly sorry that it did not go as you had hoped.' To which all I have to say is: show me a teenager who doesn't feel uncomfortable in the lingerie section of Marks & Spencer, and I'll show you a miracle. Of course, there's more going on here – a lot more. The mother apparently blamed the reason for her daughter's discomfort on the fact that the staff member seemed to be 'a biological male' – at 6ft 2in, it was 'obvious', she is reported to have said. To that claim, I will now quote my friend and colleague Kat Brown, who wrote after the Supreme Court ruled on the legal definition of a woman in April: 'This ruling also means that any woman who doesn't resemble some mythical feminine ideal also risks being challenged in loos and changing rooms' – and indeed, this has already happened to Kat, who stands at a statuesque 6ft 1in. We don't know whether the staff member who reached out to offer assistance to this 14-year-old child was trans, and it doesn't even appear that they were offering to fit bras for her. But even if she were trans, she was just doing her job, and doing it well, by all accounts. Doesn't every one of us deserve to be able to do that without discrimination or prejudice, let alone an apology from our employer related to us simply existing? Had the person offering to help my 13-year-old daughter in the M&S undies department been trans, I would have had no problem with it – and crucially, neither would she. How do I know? I asked her. My daughter's exact response (with the inevitable bit of exasperated sighing) to being helped, or even fitted, was: 'I'd hate anyone measuring me, Mummy. Why would it make any difference if they were trans?' When I explained the nuances of this particular situation, she added a cutting: 'Why is this a story?' I understand those defending personal choice. In an ideal world, nobody would feel uncomfortable – especially children. But isn't it our job, as parents (and members of society at large) to unpick this discomfort and name it for what it really is: prejudice. And to teach our children, just as we teach them to treat others equally, to be kind through our example. What would you say if you heard, for example, that a person of colour working in M&S had approached a teenage customer and politely offered assistance, only for the teenager to feel uncomfortable, the parent to be outraged and complain about their 'distress' – and the store to write an apology? In 2025, trans people are under fire like never before. The most recent data from the Home Office shows that offences motivated by hostility or prejudice against transgender people or people perceived to be transgender have risen; at the same time that trans people have effectively been banned from using public spaces, including toilets, thanks to the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex. There's only one person that M&S has let down here – and it's not a customer. It's their employee.
