I am going to leave this on my page so I don't have to retype it next year - no need to continue referring to it.
Beginning/adjusting to school can make children nervous. It is natural to feel anxious about new/unfamiliar experiences. Here are some tips to help your child transition successfully.
Beginning/adjusting to school can make children nervous. It is natural to feel anxious about new/unfamiliar experiences. Here are some tips to help your child transition successfully.
- If your child is especially attached to one or both parents, be sure they have experiences being left somewhere (with a babysitter or daycare, at a preschool/church class or friend's house, etc.). This will help them develop trust that separation from a parent is only temporary. This link has some FANTASTIC suggestions for dealing with first-day-of-school separation anxiety. Especially note that goodbyes should be quick, clear, and confident on the part of the parent. Please note that if your child brings a comforting item from home, as suggested in the link, the item will have to stay in his/her backpack or pocket.
- Visit the school, allow your child to play on the Kindergarten playground, show them where they will line up before and after school (my classroom window is 2nd from the main doors, and our kindergarten entrance is the door on the west side of the playground - we line up along the wall to the east of the door).
- Make a priority of bringing your child to our Open House/Back to School activity so they have a chance to see the classroom and meet me. You can find details about this activity on my Announcements page.
- Talk to your child about what to expect from school. On our first day, they can expect to participate in these things: playing with other kids, reading books, recess, learning about letters and numbers, art/coloring, etc.
- Encourage your child to develop more independence and responsibility - children can do/help with simple chores; and can be expected to clean up/ take care of many of their own messes and/or personal items.
- Help your child practice the following fundamental skills: writing their name and identifying the letters in it, counting, shapes/colors, coloring, cutting, and so on.
- Speak with your child about the differences in school/home settings. For example, privacy - remind them to close the door when using a public restroom. Also, children are likely accustomed to deciding how to spend their time at home; while they will be expected to focus on teacher chosen activities during much of the school day.
- Explain your own emotions about the beginning of Kindergarten this year. It is natural for you to be emotional about a child's growth and milestones; but be sure to express those feelings clearly. Children often model their own emotions after those of a trusted adult - without explanation, they may misinterpret your emotional state as an indication that school could be unsafe or scary.
- Have fun shopping for a backpack and getting it ready for school. If you like, you can also have fun shopping for supplies to donate to our classroom. The supplies we most need are listed on my Volunteer Page. Note: If you are unable to obtain a backpack on your own, let me know (the school may have some available).
- Note - Please carefully choose appropriate clothing for each school day. Children will have active play time every day; and will often engage in art activities - this may cause them to sometimes get messy (though I do use washable materials). I highly suggest sneakers for school; flip flops can be inhibiting and/or potentially unsafe. For the most part, I would advise against exceptionally dressy clothing (except for picture day and other special occasions). Also, please make sure your child can independently fasten/unfasten their clothes when using the restroom. It is not appropriate for teachers to assist with such things.
- The Utah State Office of Education has prepared this brochure that has even more suggestions for ensuring your child is well-prepared to succeed in Kindergarten.
- Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis
- Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
- Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate
- The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing
- Off to Kindergarten by Tony Johnston
- Monkey Not Ready for Kindergarten by Marc Brown
- I am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child
- David Goes to School by David Shannon (but be sure to identify behaviors that are NOT school-appropriate)
- Mom, It's My First Day of Kindergarten by Hyewon Yum