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Kindergarten is an exciting prospect for children and parents alike. Most children are excited about starting school but can also be a little afraid of the changes that will come with a new routine, new surroundings, new rules, and new people. This new adventure often comes with a change in schools and new, unfamiliar environment. Even if this is not your child’s first time in an academic setting, it can still be a cause of anxiety, so our early education experts are here to offer some advice for how to prepare your pre-k student for the transition to kindergarten.
Plan a Visit
Visiting the new classroom and school where your child will attend kindergarten can help ease the transition. In most cases, kindergarten programs come with an orientation for both parents and students that include a tour of the new building and a visit with the teachers.
Keep Informed of School Happenings
If you child is leaving an early childhood education program, you may find that your child’s kindergarten experience may be less personalized than your experience in child care or preschool. Parents will become advocates for their children and act as a liaison between home and school events. Make sure to read all of the flyers and paperwork that comes home so you can keep your child up to date on what is going on at their school.
Establish Routines
Having a bedtime and morning routine can help create a comfortable schedule for your new kindergartener. It’s good to start the bedtime and morning routine at least two weeks in advance of the start of school to get them used to what time they need to go to bed and what time they need to get up. While you won’t need to include trips to the bus stop or a drive to the school every day in your routine prep, it is a good idea to do one “dry run” to see exactly how much time it will take to ensure you won’t have a chaotic first day.
Connect with Your Child’s Teacher
Once the school year starts, it is important to give yourself and your child a chance to “bond” with the new teacher. The new kindergarten teacher will probably do things differently than your child’s preschool or VPK teacher so make sure to leave time for your child to adjust to the new rules and style of the kindergarten teacher.
Go School Shopping
One of the best ways to raise excitement for the new school year is to go shopping for school supplies with your child. While you may have a list that the kindergarten teacher provided, let your child choose colors or styles. There is nothing like brand new school supplies when getting ready for kindergarten!
Read a Book About Starting Kindergarten
There are a lot of great books on the topic of starting kindergarten. Reading them with your child can help them understand the transition a little better and offer them an opportunity to discuss questions and concerns with you to help ease anxiety associated with the big change. Try any of the following:
- Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten
- First Day Jitters
- Leo the Late Bloomer
- Curious George Goes to School
With just a little advanced preparation, your child can have an easier transition into kindergarten. If you have questions or need more tips for easing the transition into kindergarten with VPK or a great preschool program, call Kids ‘R’ Kids Avalon Park and speak with one of our care providers.