Thoughts for the Week:

Most children are naturally eager to learn and join the world of the "bigger kids" who go to school. But like other important times in our lives, starting school can bring mixed feelings. If going to school will mean leaving a familiar child care or preschool setting, at least for a large part of the day, the prospect of that separation may bring particular stress. When children feel uncertain about a new experience, they sometimes behave in ways they did when they were younger. They may cling more to parents and providers. Some may suck their thumbs again. Others may forget their toilet training now and then. At times like this, children often need some extra attention and reassurance. Encouraging children to talk about what they might be thinking and feeling is one of the best ways to help them prepare for the changes that will take place.

Summary of the Week:

This week is designed to help prepare young children for their first day of school. Mister Rogers explores the concerns children have about school -- what their teacher and new classmates will be like, how much they will have to know before they get to school, and who will take care of them there. There's a visit to a real school to meet with a kindergarten and a first-grade teacher, and a ride on a real school bus.

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Daniel Tiger, Prince Tuesday and Ana Platypus are preparing for their first day at school, and they have lots of different feelings about that. Daniel is worried that he doesn't know his ABC's, but he is assured that being someone who knows how to play and wants to learn is the best start of all!