It’s always an emotional rollercoaster when a child enters their first year of school. For the majority of children, that first year is kindergarten. All kids process the idea of going to kindergarten differently, but one common feeling is apprehension. Going to school is a whole new world, especially for kids who have a stay-at-home parent, and the idea of being away from their parents in a place they are unfamiliar with for a significant part of the day can be scary.
You can help your kid ease their anxieties about starting school by starting to prepare them now. Here are some ways you can start getting your kindergartner ready for their first year of school:
Start Adjusting Their Sleeping Schedule Now
For parents who aren’t exactly morning people, there is a good chance that they haven’t settled on a consistent bedtime or wake-up time, and a strict morning schedule is basically non-existent. But a set bedtime and morning routine is going to be a lifesaver during the school year. Sleep is very important in children’s lives, and a good night’s sleep is vital to their daily successes. With a good night’s sleep they can focus and learn better at school, and they are less likely to be grouchy — which their future teacher is sure to appreciate!
It’s also important to start your child on a regular morning routine. Kids thrive on routine, and having a consistent routine in place before your child starts school is going to give them a sense of familiarity and help the transition to their new environment with a little more ease.
Practice “School” at Home
You surely have been teaching your kids about the world around them since the day they were born, but it may not have been in a school-like way. While kindergarten is (thankfully) still a lot of play, there is more structure to it, as well as some sit-down worksheet activities. To help your kid learn about some of these more structured aspects of school, trying “playing school” at home throughout the weeks leading up to their first day.
By playing school, you’ll be giving your child practice in some of the skills they need to be successful in kindergarten. Have them sit at the table with their new school things and have them do some structured learning activities. For example, you could give them a worksheet to practice writing letters of the alphabet or cut shapes with child-safe scissors; if they have a question or need some help with the paper, make them raise their hand to get your attention. Learning to sit, focus, and be patient — even for short periods of time — is going to help them (and their teacher) get through each day of school successfully.
Visit the School Beforehand
Probably the most anxiety-inducing aspect of going to school for the first time is the entirely new environment. It can be a little intimidating for us as adults to find ourselves in new places, like a new job, so just think about how scary it must be for a young child who isn’t fully in control of their own emotions yet.
Make it a point to visit the school before the school year starts. Teachers are typically in the building the week before the actual school year starts, so it’s the perfect time to contact the school and see if they will allow a tour and meet-and-greet with your child’s teacher and principal. Another very important person for you child to meet is the school counselor. School counselors have a very important role in the lives of school children, and it’s important that your children feel safe and comfortable with them; should anything stressful or traumatic happen in your kids’ lives, they need someone at school they can turn to and get some professional help.
Entering kindergarten is the first big event in a long list of school-related milestones in your child’s life. It can be emotional, but with some preparation and planning, you both are going to get through it.
