To celebrate my oldest son turning two, we planned a trip to LEGOLAND in Carlsbad, California. This would be his first time flying on an airplane and I was concerned about how he would handle this unfamiliar experience. During my research online, I found a parenting blog with a brilliant suggestion. The idea was simple: prepare kids for experiences through books.
Prepare Kids for their First Airplane Trip with Books
I checked out airplane-themed books from the local library, which gave us an opportunity to talk to our son about the things he could see and experience at the airport and on the plane. When travel day arrived, he recognized many things from the books and was curious rather than fearful.
These stories can help make flying with toddlers a breeze.
Books to Prepare Kids for Airplane Travel
Reading Relevant Books Helped with Doctor Check Ups
When our son had a tearful visit at the doctor’s office, his pediatrician recommended we buy a toy doctor’s kit so he could get familiar with the tools used during check ups. We also started reading a fun Dora the Explorer book about going to the doctor. At the next check up, our son stayed so calm that his pediatrician jokingly told us that we needed to share our “secret” with other parents.
These stories can help make doctor visits much easier.
Books to Ease Kid’s Worries About Doctor Visits
A Family Reading Bond is Born
That same year, we signed up for the library’s summer reading program. We loved the idea that our son could earn prizes just by tracking the time we spent reading together. Trips to the library became a weekly ritual: attending morning Storytime classes, exploring the children’s section, and leaving with a bag full of new stories.
Now that we are a family of four, reading is still one of our favorite ways to spend time together. This love of books and the library is what inspired me to start this blog. Through Little Book Explorers, I’m excited to share book recommendations and help families discover the magic of reading together. Together, we’ll discover how books can enrich our lives, one story at a time.
Do you prepare your kids for experiences with books? I’d love to hear about the stories that have made a difference in your lives.
Happy exploring!