Friday, February 26, 2016

Jake's Kindergarten Checkup

** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**
(C) Jakes Kindergarten Checkup. All rights reserved

If you are a parent with a preschool or kindergarten aged child at home you should get your hands on the book "Jake's Kindergarten Checkup."  We have a wonderful pediatrician who has a great rapport with our kids, yet I found as my children reached kindergarten age they began to have some anxiety about a visit to the physician and an increasing fear of getting a shot.  My kids must not be alone in feeling that way at that age because Dr. Chrystal de Freitas, after spending 34 years as a pediatrician, decided to write a book aimed at kindergarteners and preschoolers meant to help reduce the anxiety and dread little ones often experience when they make a visit to the doctor's office.  Moms and dads as well as their children often times just end up stressed out from a visit to their pediatrician so the author hopes that by a family reading this book together it will help make the experience not just beneficial for the child's health but also an interesting and fun time as well.

Jake's Kindergarten Checkup is a soft cover book filled with colorful drawings by award-winning illustrator Tammie Lyon.  It is the story of a young boy named Jake who would otherwise be excited about going to kindergarten if he didn't need to go to Dr. Dee's for a school physical which also most likely means getting a shot.  Jake fears the necessary and inevitable shots at his visit to the doctor and his tag-along little sister, Chloe, seems to increase his fear at each step until her surprising empathy helps Jake muster the courage to complete the checkup.

(C) Jakes Kindergarten Checkup. All rights reserved


Dr. de Freitas, founder of Carmel Valley Pediatrics and President of Healthy Chats (a program which provides health education seminars to parents and their pre-teen children) created the book to fulfill a need she increasingly sees in both children and parents who arrive at the doctor's office nervous and unsure of what to expect.  Through its illustrations and easy-to-understand wording, Jake's Kindergarten Checkup addresses a variety of issues and questions which Dr. de Freitas has often found many families need guidance.  She also includes at the back of the book a just for parents section with tried and true trips to help with a child having a happy appointment at the pediatrician.

"This book is based off a scenario I've witnessed many times as a pediatrician: the natural nervousness accompanying the idea of vaccines, a buildup of anxiety, and finally the conquering of that fear and the empathy of siblings shining through," Dr. de Freitas told A Geek Daddy.  "It's about time we provide both children and parents with a step-by-step guide to pediatrician visits.  Checkups don't need to be scary and shots don't need to be unnecessarily painful -- there are steps we can take to ensure the comfort of the whole family."

(C) Jakes Kindergarten Checkup. All rights reserved


Reading through this book with a child will help him or her understand the various aspects of what is going on during a checkup and realize just like Jake does that getting a shot really isn't that scary.  Jake's Kindergarten Checkup is a nice way to prepare a child for a checkup by letting kids know in advance what to expect through the eyes of another child.  Through reading the book together it provides a subtle means to transform a visit to the doctor into an educational and fun time for children.  It also promotes the concept of sibling support which really can have a big impact in these types of circumstances and reinforces the importance of having empathy for their brothers and sisters among children further making it well suited for reading together as a family.

(C) Jakes Kindergarten Checkup. All rights reserved
If you are dreading taking your child to the doctor's for a visit as much as he or she is not wanting to go this book is definitely for you!  Jake's Kindergarten Checkup highlights that doctor visits aren't something to be stressed out about and have happy endings - with a yummy sucker!

book
(C) Jakes Kindergarten Checkup. All rights reserved


Jake's Kindergarten Checkup can be purchased from JakesKindergartenCheckup.com, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com

book
(C) Jakes Kindergarten Checkup. All rights reserved

6 comments:

  1. At that age, my daughter was oddly NOT afraid of the doctor/shots. But now that she's a pre-teen, for some reason she's terrified of shots. Must've been one bad one!

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  2. Looks like a great book. I know my grandkids to not like going to the doctor. On the other hand....neither do I!!

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  3. Thanks for sharing such a great book. I am a former first grade teacher and really have a soft spot for children's books. This will really help some kiddos feel better about the Kindergarten doctor visit.

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  4. This is great. My son is this age and full of anxiety. This would be very helpful for us to read with him.

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  5. What a great book. I love the art in it, the pictures are so soft and gentle and calming. My daughter wasn't really afraid of Doctors, she was there at least once a month when she was little. She did have friends who hated going. I think this book would hlep

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  6. This looks like a great book. I wish I had this when my kids were both younger. I will however suggest this to my friends for their young children.

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