Training Children for Kindergarten, Preparing for the First Day at School

Kindergarten is a completely new phase in the lives of our little tots.  Here’s how you can prepare your child before he/she starts school.

While some of the little ones feel worried about their first day at school, many others can’t wait to begin. This is usually because they have seen their siblings or neighbors go to school and heard fun details about their day, or seen the colorful art projects and worksheets they bring home from school. The increase in anxiousness is now in parents more than the kids and it leaves you wondering how to prep your kids for their first steps at school.

Relax yourselves; because here are some fun stuff you can do with your kids to ease them into school.

1. Talk to your child about school

Point out the positive aspects of starting school. It will be fun and she can make new friends. Ask your child about their feelings about starting school both the excitement and the concerns. Let your child know that all kids are nervous about the first day of school. Reassure your child that if any problems arise at school, you will be there to help them out. Let your child know what his/her schedule will be like. Tell them what time school begins and ends each day.

2. Familiarize yourself with the school

Schools these days usually offer opportunities for parents to familiarize themselves with the facilities, staff and school ground prior to the commencing of classes. Make use of these provisions. Some schools even offer special Kindergarten training for new parents a few days before classes begin.

Along with checking out your child’s classroom don’t forget to visit other areas your child may use such as the restrooms, playgrounds, offices, etc. Seeing the places that your child will be, will put you at an ease about leaving them there. Also, when your child visits these places with you first, they will be much more excited and in their comfort zones. They will be less apprehensive about their first day.

3. Basic skill practice at home

There is a common fear among parents that the child simply isn’t ready for school. To combat and overcome these feelings you need to take active participation in honing the skills they will require when they begin school, this applies to all Grades. From knowing the alphabet to being able to write his/her name to basic counting.

If you are able to spend the month before school begins establishing a basic understanding, you’ll both welcome school with a positive attitude and open mind.

4. Teaching your child independence

When your child starts Kindergarten it can make you feel a little overprotective and devastated. You will both need to learn to do things separately, which will make your child more independent and help them work at school more smoothly.

For parents, this will mean letting go a bit and helping your child reason through things on their own, both physically and mentally. Children should be potty trained before school, do not expect the nannies or teachers to keep helping your child on a daily basis for their washroom needs even if the help is provided at school. It is healthier for your child to learn to clean themselves without help at least by the age of four.

For your child, it will mean figuring out how to navigate situations without the immediate aid of a parent, so help them out. This is the best for your child when they are at a place without their immediate support system.

5. Bringing joy in learning

Starting school marks the beginning of a much larger academic milestone. Nurture your child’s sense of wonder by making learning fun so they will look forward and won’t fear school.

When you work together to find joy in these small steps, you’re fostering a lifelong love for learning. But remember that your little child is still young; coming on too strong will have the opposite effect. But if you approach the topics related to academics and school with just the right amount of enthusiasm, you may encourage excitement that will carry your child forward through college and throughout their life.