Bye-Bye, Mom and Dad
Little Critter And The Critter Kids Series
What’s inside...
Little Critter believes he is in charge and responsible for taking care of things when his parents go away for the day. However, his grandparents are actually there to supervise him. Throughout the day, he indulges in his favorite treats such as peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, popcorn and candy at the movies, and burgers and shakes to end the day.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-6
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Little Critter
Discussion points
How did you feel when the main character was saying bye-bye to Mom and Dad?
What do you think the main character did after their parents left?
Can you think of a time you felt similar to the character in the story?
What are some ways the main character could feel better?
What would you do if you were in the main character's shoes?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about separation by relating to the main character's experiences. Validate their feelings and share your own experiences of similar situations to create a sense of empathy and understanding. Use the illustrations in the book to ask your child about the emotions they think the characters are feeling, enhancing their emotional intelligence. Lastly, encourage your child to think about solutions or positive aspects of being independent, promoting resilience and self-confidence.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Coping with separation anxiety
Explanation: The story portrays a child experiencing and eventually overcoming the fear of being apart from parents.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by learning to understand and manage their feelings when parents are not around, such as during school or daycare.
Example Lesson: Independence and self-reliance
Explanation: As the child in the book adjusts to their parents' absence, they engage in activities independently.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to engage in and enjoy activities on their own, building confidence in their abilities to operate independently.
Example Lesson: Understanding and expressing emotions
Explanation: The book illustrates various emotions the child feels, teaching children to identify and articulate how they feel.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to communicate their emotions effectively with their caregivers or peers.
Example Lesson: Empathy and comforting others
Explanation: The child learns to comfort and be comforted by others who are also missing their parents.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to recognize when others are feeling sad or anxious and offer comfort, fostering empathy and supportive relationships.