When kids ask, “Why should I brush, they’re only baby teeth!”

OK, let’s all admit it, for one second you thought, well they are going to fall out, and it would make my day easier, and then sanity returned to your over tired brain, and you launch into full parental mode.  One big deep breath and you start with, “Well, let me tell you why it’s so important to brush your baby teeth.”

When a five‑year‑olds ask, “Why do I have to brush my teeth if they’re just baby teeth?” They’re looking for a simple, honest answer. Parents can help by explaining why brushing teeth is important for kids in a way that feels reassuring and easy to understand.

Here at the Animal Learning Network, we believe that brushing your teeth is good for you in so many ways. In the Ellie the Elephant story, we learned about what happens when you take good care of your teeth (tusks) and what happens when you don’t.  We find that kids learn best from examples they can relate to.

When talking to your child, try beginning with a positive. Like, brushing your teeth helps keep them healthy and strong so you can eat food like (insert your child’s favorite food here).  Or how cute their smile is with sparkly clean teeth, giving them more confidence to smile.

Best to share the other side of the coin as well but realize they’re only five, and we want to motivate them to brush their teeth and not terrify them.  Explain when they don’t brush their teeth it could lead to cavities which means it could hurt every time they try to eat (favorite food again). Plus, if your baby teeth aren’t healthy then how can they hold a spot for your big teeth?  You want your big teeth to come in nice, don’t you?

Kids just want simple reasons why they need to do something.  Don’t overcomplicate it.  They don’t need all the adult reasons like we do.

Brushing together is a great way to show them that it is important to you and helps children understand why it matters.  Then using kid‑friendly language, and praising effort builds confidence. At five years old, children are building independence, and brushing teeth is a daily habit they can practice and learn to believe they can do it.

Mastering brushing their teeth is just another step in their journey into learning how to take good care of their body.

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“I need to go to the bathroom, I need a drink of water, mommy I need to tell you something, ‘I love you’,” if any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Kids are just trying to prolong the fun, because at five they only seek instant gratification. What our children don’t realize is that going to bed isn’t about ending the fun but about setting tomorrow up for success.

When children get enough sleep, their brains are ready to learn, a trait teachers greatly appreciate. Sleep also gives their growing minds time to organize everything they experienced during the day. A well-rested child not only remembers more but focuses and follows directions better.

The Animal Learning Network believes that sufficient rest is extremely important. There are many pluses to sufficient sleep but there are also many minuses to insufficient sleep, as in the “Dozey the Dog” story. Dozey doesn’t make good choices when going to bed and winds up missing the circus. The story teaches our “instant gratification” kids what future consequences look like, in a way their five-year-old minds can understand. Presented in a way they understand most kids will choose to go to bed on time.

Remember, young children find comfort in routines, and inconsistent bedtimes can feel like a “bad” surprise they didn’t see coming. This can cause anxiety and thus the resistance to sleep and the unlimited reasons to stay up later.

Routines can be as simple as taking a bath, brushing their teeth, reading a story, prayers and a kiss goodnight. Whatever your bedtime routine, keep it calm and as consistent as possible. Kids find comfort in knowing what’s coming next and once your routine becomes a habit, the “negotiations” will lessen. A predictable bedtime routine creates security. Knowing what comes next helps children feel confident, safe and it builds healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

Sufficient sleep also plays an important role in their emotional well-being. A tired child is more likely to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or tearful. Consistent sleep helps children manage big feelings, and unexpected daily challenges.

There’s a physical benefit too. During sleep, children’s bodies grow, recharge, and strengthen their immune systems. Well‑rested kids have more energy to run, play, and explore the world around them.

A consistent bedtime routine isn’t just another parental rule but a precious gift. Sufficient sleep supports emotional & physical well-being, learning, and social interactions. What parent wouldn’t want that for their child?

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Your Five‑Year‑Old’s Growth and Confidence

Helping a five‑year‑old develop clean habits is more than washing hands and neat clothes. These everyday routines play a key role in a child’s physical health, emotional well‑being, and a growing sense of independence.

Here at the animal learning network, we believe that kids learn best from examples. In “Cathy the Cat,” she teaches the pigs to be clean, and they reap the benefits of staying clean. When parents set a good example, children learn that caring for themselves is both important and empowering.

The most obvious benefit of being clean is better health. Regular handwashing, daily tooth brushing, and routine bathing help reduce the spread of germs that can cause illness. Healthy children are better able to focus, participate in school activities, and enjoy playtime without frequent interruptions from sickness.

Clean habits also contribute to emotional confidence. Children who feel clean and comfortable are often more at ease in social settings such as classrooms, playgrounds, and playdates. When parents guide these routines calmly and positively, children learn responsibility without fear or pressure. This supportive approach builds self‑esteem and helps children feel proud of their efforts.

At age five, children are eager to do things independently. Clean routines offer valuable opportunities to practice self‑reliance. Allowing children to wash their hands, brush their teeth, or pick out clean clothes but being there for support if needed encourages independence and reinforces healthy habits.

Cleanliness provides more predictable daily routines, reassuring young children they are safe and secure. Morning and bedtime routines provide structure, reduce stress, and make transitions smoother. Over time, these habits become second nature, laying the foundation for good lifelong self‑care.

By teaching cleanliness with kindness and consistency, parents help their five‑year‑olds grow into confident young adults, one healthy habit at a time.

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Bullying can feel like a big, scary word — especially when your child is only five. But the truth is, unkind behavior, power struggles, and early social conflicts often begin long before elementary school. In fact, research from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that about one in five children experience some form of bullying by early elementary age, and early childhood educators report that aggressive or exclusionary behavior is common even in preschool settings. That means your child isn’t alone, and neither are you.

At age five, children are still learning how to share space, express big feelings, and understand the impact of their actions. What adults might label “bullying” often begins as developmentally normal behavior — pushing to get a turn, using strong words to feel powerful, or excluding a peer because they don’t yet know how to navigate group play. But even if the intent isn’t fully formed, the feelings your child experiences are very real. When someone is unkind, it can sting, confuse them, or make them hesitant to join in again.

At these early ages it can often be difficult for children to express or understand complex concepts like bullying. You can ask a child on Monday if they’re being bullied and they say “yes” and on Tuesday it’s “no” and on Wednesday it’s, “what’s that?”

Here at the animal learning network, we believe that kids learn from examples and learn best when they’re having fun. That’s why in, “A to Zoo 26 Teachable Animal Tales”, one of our animals tries to handle the same situations your kids are dealing with. Some of them do better than others. In the story “Billy the bear”, we get a glimpse into why the bear exhibits bullying behavior, and how the squirrel, bunny and raccoon feel about being on the receiving end of that behavior and how they handle it.

So rather than asking a child about a complex concept, you can ask, do you ever feel like any of the characters in the story? Which leads you to the discussion on how you want your child to handle the situation if ever confronted with it.

This is where your guidance becomes incredibly powerful. Young children look to the adults they trust to help them make sense of difficult social situations. When you talk openly about kindness, fairness, and how to respond when someone is unkind, you’re giving your child tools they’ll use for years. You don’t need long lectures — just simple, steady language they can remember. Phrases like, “You can say, ‘Stop, I don’t like that,’” or “If someone is unkind, you can walk away from them and find a safe friend or grown‑up,” to help you build confidence and clarity in what to do.

It’s also helpful to remember that five‑year‑olds are still learning empathy. A child who acts unkindly isn’t destined to be a bully — they may be overwhelmed, tired, unsure how to join play, or copying behavior they’ve seen elsewhere. When adults step in early with calm, consistent guidance, children learn better ways to communicate and connect. This early intervention is one of the strongest predictors of healthier social behavior later in life.

If your child tells you someone was mean, start by listening without rushing to fix it. Ask gentle questions: “What happened next?” “How did that make you feel?” “What did you do?” This helps your child process the moment and gives you insight into what support they need. Then, offer reassurance: “Thank you for telling me. I’m glad you came to me. We can figure this out together.” That sense of safety is everything at this age.

Finally, remember that building resilience doesn’t mean ignoring hurt feelings. It means helping your child understand that unkind moments happen, but they have the strength, language, and support to handle them. With your guidance — and a little practice — your child can learn to stand tall, speak up, and navigate friendships with growing confidence.

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Well I challenge you to guess (no reading ahead) how many books Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library gives away?  I’ll give you a little hint, when the Imagination Library began in 1995 they gave away roughly 1,700 books.

Whenever someone asks me a question like this, I know that whatever I’m thinking it’s probably way too low.  Now it has been 25 years since they started and they have probably grown since then.  Thinking maybe they’ve grown in size what 5 times? 10 times? maybe 20 times? How about 50 times?  Wow growing 50 times in size means donating 85,000 books. That sounds like a really big number but the way the question is asked, I’m not sure.  So let’s double it and guess the Imagination Library has grown 100 times in size and is now giving away 170,000 books.  Well, if they gave away that many books, shouldn’t I have heard more about them?  So, maybe it’s too high a number but what the heck lets go with it anyway, 170,000 books, final answer. 

Now that we’ve reached a final answer be prepared to be blown away.  Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has grown to international status and is currently giving away 1 million books. If that’s not shocking enough it’s one million books a month.  Yes you read that right, they are giving away a million books a month.

How is it possible that they are giving away 12 million books a year and aside from the people involved in the program almost nobody knows about this amazing endeavor.  The answer is simple, Dolly Parton has always been one of the few superstars that has not been tainted by the need to be in the spotlight for everything she does.  Being raised with good moral values means you do things because they are the right thing to do.  You work hard to make your passions come true.  You don’t worry about praise or who knows what you are doing.  They say some of the best deeds are done when no one is looking. That’s a trait I wish more people would aspire to.

If we were to ask your Dad, “What is the best thing you have ever done?”  Most of us will never know because it’s a question that is rarely asked.  Well before passing away, it is rumored that Dolly Parton’s father said, “The Imagination Library was probably the most important thing she ever did.” 

In Dolly Parton’s eyes, her father was the smartest person she knew but believed he never reached his full potential because of his inability to read.  Maybe now you have a small glimpse of the driving force behind Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.  Inspiring children to read is not just some charity’s goal but a true passion of Dolly Parton. 

Let’s dive into what exactly is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library doing?  A very broad overview is that you register your child (under 5 years old) and they can be registered as early as birth.  Once registered a high quality age appropriate book is sent to your home, addressed to your child, every month and is at no cost to the family regardless of their income.  Bottom line is that your child could start school with their own library of nearly 60 books. 

Obviously this is a huge undertaking and could not be accomplished without a tremendous network of people who share Dolly Parton’s dream of putting books into the hands of young children.  If you would like to be part of this incredible mission to inspire children to read then sign up to be a local champion.  If there is not one in your neck of the woods then start one.  You must contact the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to get all the official details. 

From what I’ve learned and trust me it’s very basic, the sound of starting your own affiliate partnership seems way harder than it really is.  Once you set up your 501(c)3, the non-profit status, the main tasks are promoting the program, registering the eligible children in your area and fundraising.  It’s the fundraising part that always scares off most people, myself included.  But from what I saw on their website, its $2.10 per child per month.  That covers the cost of the quality age appropriate book and the mailing cost.  To make the math easy let say its $2.50 per month per child, that’s $30 a year.  So not only is this an amazing thing to do for the children in your area, its actually affordable.  Most people would consider $30 a year to inspire a child to read money well spent.

In fact the National Commission on Reading says “The single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school.”

So whether you just want to learn more about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library or want to sign up a child or become an affiliate partner check out their website:

www.imaginationlibrary.com

Here at “A to Zoo” we agree with that philosophy and are very passionate about inspiring young people to read.  While I read to young elementary children, it’s really something when you are the one that sparks the joy of reading in a young child. No matter how many times I experience it, it’s always special.

Everyone in the Dollywood Foundation and those connected to the Imagination Library and especially Dolly Parton should feel blessed for the amazing thing they are doing for the children of the world.

I want to personally thank everyone who helps a child learn to read.

Let me leave you with the final words I tell all the children I read to:

“The More you Read, the More you Succeed”

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Teachers are having virtual classes or zoom homework sessions, requiring parents to be so much more involved in our children’s education.

Having to entertain them at home is one thing but trying to educate them is something quite different and is giving us a greater appreciation for our teachers. Having to coordinate zoom classes, reading sessions, and turning in work electronically, for one or two kids is difficult, can you imagine trying to teach 20+ students?

The coronavirus and having to shelter in place has shed a light on how much teachers really do for our elementary students. Think about having 20+ students, teaching them to read, write, science, math, etc. and now you have a small glimpse into the day of a first grade teacher.
Our increased involvement with our child’s education has opened some eyes but to truly appreciate what they do for our kids we need to walk a day in a teacher’s shoes. In this case a day in the life of a first grade teacher.

The day starts with the kids walking into the classroom excited to see their friends. Sitting down in their chairs and being quiet is probably the last thing on their minds. How long would it take you to get them to sit down, stop talking, be ready to listen to morning announcements. To do that in under 10 minutes would be miraculous for any parent but a teacher must do it in under two minutes, every single day.

Now that everyone is all set, the day (7+ hours) begins. For this article we are talking about a typical first grade class. For those that don’t remember that age, the kids mostly know their alphabet and are learning to read at a beginner’s level.

Reading is the most valuable skill an educator can give to a child. For the first few years more time is spent teaching our children to become good readers than any other skill. Why do we spend so much time teaching them to read? The answer is simple, because it’s the most important skill. The old saying is true, first we learn to read and then we read to learn. Aside from some mathematical and scientific formulas almost everything we know comes from first reading about it and then talking about it.

For many the day begins with morning announcements, a pledge of allegiance, attendance, a quick overview of the day’s schedule and perhaps a bathroom break. While your child’s schedule may vary in order and length, here is a general outline of a day in the life of a first grade teacher.

One to one and a half hours a day is spent learning math. For first graders that includes addition and subtraction (numbers up to 120), learning shapes, telling time, counting coins and basic graphs.

Roughly two hours a day is spent on reading. Depending on class size they could spend 30-45 mins on group reading. Which can consist of a teacher or room parent reading to the students and then discussing the stories. Shameless plug for my book, “A to Zoo: 26 animal alphabet adventures, by Joe Conroy” website www.atozoobook.com. Sorry publicist made me say that. Typically, books read during this time are more fun books, many times purchased by the teachers. These books are more about fun, so the kids get excited about learning to read.
The rest of reading time (1.5 hours) is spent on small group reading time. While most of the kids read the same book, more advanced as well as easier to read books are available. The kids are encouraged to read in their small group or on their own, allowing the teacher to give one on one instruction as needed. In many cases student to student learning can be a very powerful educational tool.

There is typically a 10-15 minute morning break for kids to get out of their seats and move. Ms Manica, a most creative first grade teacher, calls this their brain break. With limited time and limited space, she comes up with the most Inventive ideas to get the kids out of their seats and moving. The class favorite is putting on some dance music and showing off their moves. It’s rumored that Ms Manica is quite the dancer, even teachers need to shake off the stiffness from sitting so long.

Roughly half an hour is spent on learning sounds (old fashion phonics)and writing. Which also helps reinforce their reading skills.

There is a quick half hour for lunch and then another half hour of recess. Depending upon the school and the weather, this time can be spent outside on a playground or inside a gym.
Depending upon the day of the week, the kids have about 45 minutes for what in the higher grades is known as an elective. One day it could be art, coloring, drawing or painting. Another day could be music or chorus, while some days they have technology time or physical education.

Lastly an hour is spent each day on social studies/science. The kids then get to go home while the teacher spends the next hour putting their classrooms back together and getting ready for the next day. Let’s not forget about the hours preparing the next days lessons and activities.
Hopefully this time at home has given all of us a better understanding of what our teachers do for our children. While we may not be able to get them to the salary they truly deserve, we can certainly give them the respect and recognition that is long overdo. I invite each and everyone of you to let your teacher know how wonderful they are. Whether it is a shout out or a token of thanks, I promise they will appreciate it and we all know they deserve it. Please let me know who was your favorite elementary teacher and why?

BIG SHOUT OUT to Ms. MANICA, who is an amazing first grade teacher and like most teachers, spends her own money on supplies and devotes countless hours of her own time to make sure that every one of her students gets the best education she can give them.

 

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A To Zoo: 26 Animal Alphabet Adventures introduces kids to real-world life lessons while entertaining with 26 unique stories covering the alphabet and the animal kingdom!

Joe Conroy, a writer based in south Florida, is launching a children’s book that guarantees to engage, entertain and teach the pre-K and elementary set. A To Zoo is comprised of 26 stories corresponding to each letter of the alphabet and covering the adventures of a cast of loveable animal characters.

In each adventure, the animal character deals with one of the challenges of growing up. See what Peter the Puma does when he’s dared to jump across devil’s pass. Learn why Ellie the Elephant is so good at brushing her teeth. Important life lessons covering everything from bullying to empathy to healthy eating habits are cleverly interwoven with playful stories that will have children rapt with attention.

A to Zoo is the perfect “read to me” book for a variety of ages. It helps preschoolers learn the alphabet and build on their vocabulary, while it provides more insightful lessons for elementary age children. The book allows a valuable forum for teachers to talk openly about issues relevant to children because it addresses the character’s behavior and not the child’s. 

A to Zoo is a storybook that kids will want to hear over and over again. It is a must-have for parents, grandparents, teachers or anyone who interacts with little ones. Designed for today’s busy lifestyle, each story entertains, teaches a lesson, and best of all can be read in under five minutes.

Author Joe Conroy lives in Florida with his beautiful wife, Kelly. He is the proud parent of two kids Joseph and Jessica and grandfather of two who are his biggest fans. Joe is a full-time author who spends most of his days writing on the beach. He enjoys playing guitar and reading to local elementary students in his spare time.

“The best thing ever is reading to elementary kids and sharing the book with them,” says Joe. “Nothing is better than seeing them get so involved in the story!”

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