Preschoolers Transition to Kindergarten

Is your child about to start kindergarten next year? If so, there are plenty of ways to help your child make a seamless transition into their new role as a kindergartener. Preschoolers are generally pretty smart about the transition and can sense the unpredictability of going to a new school, with new teachers, and new friends. Some children may be direct about expressing their fears of the new environment while others may not be as vocal about their uneasy feelings. If you have a preschooler heading to kindergarten this fall, try these tips for helping them ease the transition:

1) Visit the new school – Many elementary schools hold kindergarten orientation for both parents and new students. This allows your children to see their new school, meet their new teacher, and learn the layout of their new environment. Often, they get to see where their desk is located and will be greeted by staff members & teachers. If the school offers visiting days, make an effort to stop by. The more familiar your child feels with their new school, the easier the transition will be.

2) Read kindergarten-related story books to your child – Some good options are “The Night Before Kindergarten” by Natasha Wing & Julie Durrel, “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” by Nancy Carlson, and “Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten” by Joseph Slate.

3) Talk & share with your child – Sharing your own experiences and positive memories that you have about school is a great way to help ease their fears. Let them ask questions and express their concerns and remain positive and enthusiastic about their upcoming experiences.

4) Plan ahead – Help your child pick out their outfit for the first day of school, pack their lunch, and set out their backpack and supplies the night before the big day. This will keep everyone from rushing around in the morning, causing more stress for everyone, including your child.

5) Practice self-help skills over the summer – Activities such as using the bathroom, washing their hands, blowing their nose, and buttoning & zippering their clothing are often done without help from teachers in kindergarten. It will help your child tremendously to know how do these things on their own. Plus, it will help them gain confidence in their abilities when it comes time to try other new things like tying their shoes, etc.

6) Play games – Games like Candy Land and Chutes & Ladders are a great way to practice cooperative play and learn how to lose gracefully.

7) Create strong routines at home – Routines are a huge part of school and they should take an important role at home, too. It’s best to start setting routines during the summer before kindergarten begins. Having a set time for eating meals & snacks, taking baths, going to bed, and doing simple chores can make a huge difference in how well your child transitions to the new schedule at school.

Starting kindergarten can be a scary idea for many preschoolers. The expert staff here at Kids ‘R’ Kids are ready to help your child learn social skills and gain a basic academic understanding of letters and numbers to help them in their transition to kindergarten. If you’d like to speak with us on the best tips & advice for a soon-to-be-kindergartener, call us today!