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kindergarten
Being a teacher in elementary schools for 15 years, I have seen the ups and downs of the first day of kindergarten. However, this year will be a bit different for me as my own child will begin school. It is an emotional time as I prepare to say goodbye to her carefree years of experiential learning and say hello to a structured learning environment. I am excited to see her develop and change as a learner but it is hard to say goodbye to my “baby”.
To help myself and others through this important transition, I have developed some strategies to ease children and parents into kindergarten.
For Your Child
- Be Positive. In the weeks leading up to the first day of school, remain positive about starting kindergarten. Talk about all the new friends that your child will make and all the fun things they will do. If they have had experience in preschool, let them know what will be the same in elementary school. Also, make them aware of differences so there will not be any big shocks on the first day.
- Read about it. There are many children’s books that deal with the topic of starting school. Reading a book on this topic may ease your child’s anxiety or lead to a conversation about feelings they are experiencing or questions they may have about going to school. Check out an old favorite like The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn or a newer story like Little Lola by Julie Saab and David Gothard.
- Go to Open House. It is very important to take your child to Open House. This is the perfect opportunity for the whole family to meet the kindergarten teacher and other students in the class. It is also a chance for your rising kindergartner to familiarize themselves with the school and their classroom. If your child can visualize where they will be going on the first day of school, it will help lessen apprehension.
In the days leading up to the first day of school, review the teacher and assistant’s name with your child so they will feel more comfortable speaking to them.
- Personalize supplies. Using the supply list provided by the teacher or school, take your child shopping for school supplies. Allow them to choose the book bag, lunchbox and other supplies that complement their individuality. They will be so proud of their supplies that they will want to go to school just so that they can use them.
- Establish a routine. Children thrive on routine. It is important to establish a bedtime on school nights and stick to it. Wake up time should be the same each morning and the order in which things are done should be set so that children always know what to do next without constant prodding from parents.
For Parents
- Familiarize yourself. During Open House, get to know the teacher and assistant that will be with your child all day. Knowing what their philosophy and procedures are will put your mind at ease about what is going on in the classroom. It is also a good idea to learn about kindergarten curriculum so that you know what your child is expected to learn. Pay attention to weekly newsletters for curriculum updates or visit http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/ to see the entire curriculum.
- Focus on the time you have. Try not to focus on the time your child will be away from you. Instead, try to appreciate the time you still have together before and after school. Plan to do something special with your child each day after school. This could be something as simple as working together to make dinner or reading books before bedtime.
- Put on a happy face. When you drop off your child on the first day, make sure you remain positive. If they detect any sadness in you, it will make it hard for them to leave you. Tell your child how proud you are of them and that they will have a great day. When you leave the school, treat yourself to a special coffee or breakfast treat. You deserve it!
