School Buddy makes big adventures easier for little ones

Carrah Wilczynski from Macomb and Callie Moylan from Novi are sisters, moms and makers of College Buddy, a singular plush and exercise e book assist little ones to make the transition from house to high school.

Or the house base of swimming classes, the dentist or one other new expertise that may be afraid of a kid.

“When my youngest daughter began to high school, we had no drawback. She was tremendous enthusiastic to go,” stated Moylan, from her daughter who was 3 years outdated on the time. She had her pretty new Rainbow backpack, college provides and she or he met her instructor throughout a gathering and greeted earlier than the varsity began, who was heat and hospitable.

“She additionally let her older brother and sister go to high school. They had been in kindergarten,” stated Moylan.

So if they may do it, she may do it.

And he or she led three months previous to Thanksgiving.

“Every thing was good till the vacation break. Immediately she was afraid out of nowhere,” stated Moylan.

When she or her husband introduced John Kinsley to high school, they could not let her stroll by the door.

“She by no means informed us what was unsuitable. She simply stated:” I do not need to go, “stated Moylan, who spent her mornings for weeks to persuade her daughter that college can be enjoyable. Even the instructor of Kinsley and the varsity tried to light up her fears, however didn’t work and damage them on daily basis.

On a day, which primarily tried, Moylan trusted in her sister. Wilczynski, who isn’t solely a mom, however an occupational therapist who labored with kids in school, recommended that Kinsley had a transition merchandise select.

“Transition occasions are used to help easy and profitable shifts between actions or environments, whereas college students assist regulate their emotional situation, so they’re higher ready to be taught,” stated Wilczynski. “The objects are chosen with regard to the precise wants of the coed, what is accessible and / or permitted within the college atmosphere.

After college that day Moylan stopped on the primary 7-Eleven on the best way house.

“I informed Kinsley that we’d get her a faculty buddy,” stated Moylan.

After Kinsley selected a colourful plush, she informed her that her buddy was new on the planet and actually wished to expertise what it was wish to go to high school. Then she requested Kinsley if she may assist make her buddy’s dream come true.

“Then I noticed the wheels turning,” stated Moylan.

Kinsley, who likes to assist folks, stated sure and the subsequent day when her mom dropped her out in school, there have been no tears and no farewell for mom. She simply walked by the doorways, fell according to her associates and she or he went away with the merchandise in her backpack, which is a faculty rule for ‘each buddy’.

“As a father or mother, one of the crucial coronary heart -warming emotions to see your baby discover their braveness,” stated Moylan. “After she helped my daughter’s confidence to go to high school, college buddy quickly grew to become a part of her day by day life. Swimming classes had been all the time a problem, however her focus additionally began to shift with this. She was proud to take college buddy on this new journey.”

If somebody who works in advertising, Moylan’s husband was all the time on the lookout for nice concepts in the marketplace. When he noticed his daughter’s response to the varsity buddy and the story that returned to her, the Lightbulb went off and inspired Moylan and Wilczynski to create a faculty buddy for everybody.

“It was a really lengthy course of and there have been many occasions we did not assume it could occur,” stated Wilczynski, however she and Moylan remained the course and had a product able to promote final spring.

Within the course of, Jim Norris van Ohio, who discovered them a producer and led them by the method. In fact their kids all performed a small half in bringing college buddy to life, together with Kinsley, now 7 years outdated, her brothers and sisters, Eiley and Jack, 9, (twins) and little brother Leo, 4. He additionally had Wilczynski’s husband Kurt and their kids Peyton, 19 and Luke, 17.

The varsity buddy and story exercise e book is accessible on-line for $ 25.99 (common $ 32.99).

Every bundle incorporates a pudgy plush (in blue/inexperienced or pink/purple) and a e book of 40 pages with the distinctive story and the actions of faculty buddies that the kids can do to take part of their day by day routine. Wilczynski stated that repetition is the important thing to the idea, similar to the golden rule for all transition objects: what is delivered to college, should keep of their backpack whereas they’re in school.

Each Wilczynski and Moylan hope to discover a retailer for varsity buddy, however for now dad and mom discover their option to the complete nation website.

“Adriana cried from kindergarten to high school for the complete first week,” stated Kristy Baranik of Novi, in her testimony for Moylan and Wilczynski. ‘When she bought her college buddy, it was as if she did not simply are available in. It gave her the additional layer of consolation she wanted. At evening she did the actions within the workbook and this was a fantastic alternative to speak about her day – each the nice and the unhealthy. Generally it’s the little issues that kids must make them really feel secure and Adriana’s college buddy did it for her. “

Go to for extra info School buddystory.com.

Initially revealed: July 29, 2025 at 8:21 AM EDT