The loss of your child’s first baby tooth is a memorable occasion. Losing baby teeth can be an exciting (or scary) time in a child’s life. Most children are excited about getting their first wobbly tooth, but it can also be a bit scary. It is something new that they have not experienced before and it will change their appearance too. Be sure to capture this change with a photo of their new gap! It is wise to be prepared for this big event which includes preparing for a visit from the tooth fairy. While this is an experience all families go through, each family will have their own traditions. There are many simple and creative ways you can commemorate this special event. As well as money, the tooth fairy always left my children a tooth fairy certificate and a trail of fairy dust. Tooth fairy letters, tooth receipts, doorknob hangers and tooth holders are some other fun ideas.
Reading a story about this big milestone together can help prepare and reassure your child and ease any wobbly tooth nerves. The following picture books are reassuring reads for when you have a child with a wobbly tooth.
BOOKS
My Tooth is Looth!
Written by David Campbell and illustrated by Daron Parton
This recently published picture book is wonderfully vibrant, colourful, fun and entertaining. Billy and Betty Bunny both have a wobbly tooth. Betty Bunny is excited and can’t wait for her tooth to come out and for the tooth fairy to visit. But Billy doesn’t want his tooth to fall out. How will he eat? How will he brush his teeth? What if it won’t ever grow back? What I really like about this picture book is the two very different responses to having a wobbly tooth (and that both are valid) and the use of humour to reassure that it is a normal thing to happen. I also love the end page, which is a school photo of the two bunnies, Betty smiling widely, happy to show her gap, while Billy smiles with his mouth firmly closed.
Charlie and the Loose Tooth
Written by Clare Goodwin and illustrated by Caroline Keys
Beautifully illustrated and with flowing, lyrical rhyming text this newly published picture book is wonderful for reading aloud. It has a nostalgic feel about it, depicting simpler times and country life. Charlie lives with his family on a farm and wakes one morning with a wobbly tooth. He feels excited and wonders when the tooth will fall out. Charlie also wonders whether the tooth fairy will visit the farm. Children will delight in seeing the tiny tooth fairy enter Charlie’s bedroom holding a shiny gold coin to place under his pillow. It is reassuring to know that the tooth fairy will find you wherever you live. And that a loose tooth doesn’t stop you from doing all the things you would normally do.
My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Ever Never Fall Out
Written and illustrated by Lauren Child
If your child is afraid of losing their first tooth, then they will be able to relate with Lola in this engaging and fun to read picture book. It features collage style illustrations that are very appealing too. At first Lola does not want her wobbly tooth to ever fall out, but when she learns about the tooth fairy, she wiggles and wobbles her tooth until it does. At bedtime Lola realises that her tooth has disappeared. How on earth will the tooth fairy know that she did lose her tooth? Thankfully, her big brother Charlie has a solution. Lola decides that losing a tooth isn’t so bad when you can buy something you want with the money left by the tooth fairy.
SONGS
Loose Tooth Song
Wobbly Tooth Song!
A Crafty Idea
Where do you leave the tooth that has fallen out? Under the pillow is the old standby, but the tooth fairy does sometimes have trouble finding teeth when they are under a sleeping child’s pillow! Making a tooth holder can really help the tooth fairy find the tooth.
Materials needed:
- White A4 cardstock
- Tooth fairy colour-in
- Glass jar
- Felt
- Crayons, pencils or textas
- Scissors
- Double-sided tape
- Printer
- Glitter (optional)
- Glue (if adding glitter)
Method:
- Print the tooth fairy colour-in onto the cardstock.
- Colour it in with crayons, pencils or textas.
- Add some glitter to your tooth fairy picture (optional).
- Cut it out and stick it to the jar.
- Place a piece of felt at the bottom of the jar for the tooth to sit on.
- Place your finished tooth holder on your bedside table or window sill.
