A bright and inviting kindergarten classroom with cubbies, learning centers, and colorful displays welcoming children on their first day
A book cover featuring "My First Day of Kindergarten" and a school backpack
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My First Day of Kindergarten

Get ready for the first day of Kindergarten! Create space to talk about how your little one is feeling. Use role-play + some personalized details to prepare them for transitions, activities, and what their first day will be like.

School ReadinessSelf-ManagementGetting ReadySocial StoryOur World

About This Story

What your child will experience

Your child will walk through their first day of kindergarten in first person, from waking up to being picked up. At key moments—saying goodbye, meeting classmates, choosing recess activities—they'll select from several possibilities. This builds mental rehearsal for transitions and routines they'll actually encounter.

The story uses "might" language intentionally, presenting options rather than fixed expectations, which helps children avoid confusion when reality differs.

Why this approach helps

This is a social story: a research-backed tool that previews new situations step-by-step, reducing anxiety through familiarity. By choosing feelings and scenarios, your child practices emotional vocabulary and decision-making in a safe, low-pressure space.

Repeated readings build confidence and a sense of control before the real day arrives.

What to notice as a parent

Your child's choices reveal what excites or worries them most. If they pick "nervous" feelings or prefer solitary recess activities, that's useful insight—not a problem. Use their answers as gentle conversation starters: "You chose to play alone at recess. Do you think you might want a quiet spot sometimes?"

Personalize This Story

Make this story truly special by adding these details:

  • ✓What is the name of the main character's school?
  • ✓Who will drop off the main character in the morning?
  • ✓Who will pick up the main character in the afternoon?

Story Questions

Questions your child may be asked while creating this story:

  1. How is the main character feeling about Kindergarten?
  2. How will the main character get to school?
  3. How might the main character say goodbye to their drop off person?
  4. What type of classmates is the main character looking forward to meeting?
  5. What would the main character like to do at recess or lunch?
  6. What might the main character enjoy most about their first day?

Loved by Families

Join thousands of happy families who've empowered their children with personalized, interactive stories.

“At first I thought it was one of those bedtime ploys to stay up later, but when the request came again first thing in the morning I realized it was just genuine excitement about Wanderly. My two kiddos - ages 7 and 8 - had a blast selecting their adventure pals (they have the cutest "pets" that go on the adventure with them) and choosing the direction of the story every step of the way. I turned up the reading level today and it was neat to see my son work through a few new words and stick with it because he was so excited about his story.”

— Taryn S

“My son couldn't put the story down!”

— Sebastian

“We've been using it every night for bedtime stories for our 3 year old.”

— Matt

“Ok, so I installed this yesterday, and I've already read 5 stories with my 4 year old. That's over an hours worth of time. Today he tried to negotiate to have me read 4 in a row... He's fully engaged, and takes his time over the choices - I think that and the funny moments in the stories are what have him hooked. He lost it when our cat (yes, you can include your pet in a story!) turned into a elephant. As a parent, it's whimsical and a welcome change from the regular books in rotation. I was initially unsure about using my phone to engage him during bedtime, but he entrallment quickly overcame that. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to others.”

— Simon

“It's been fantastic for creating and sharing our stories with beautiful art. What a great keepsake!”

— Shayla

“My dyslexic 4th grader struggles with reading and comprehension. She is finally excited to read using Wanderly!”

— Bill

“As an lifelong educator, I give this app an enthusiastic 5 stars+. With opportunity to choose and name characters, type of story and plot ... what could be more creative? What could be a more productive use of screen time? I love that this app was created and is carefully monitored by a Mom of young kids. She also happens to have technical/AI chops ... she was a Google Product Manager in their Education Products sector. The graphics are quite lovely, the story lines are fun and age-appropriate.”

— Helen

“I'm very impressed with the ease with which I was able to write a fun (and colorful) story. I wrote one for my grandchild and can't wait to share it with her.”

— Bill

GET STARTED

Ready to hear what your child has to say?

Join thousands of families who've used Wanderly to engage their child's imagination, to practice important skills, and to build confidence. Download the app today.

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