You know what they say — everything you really need to know in life, you learn in kindergarten.
Well, if that’s the case, preschoolers should be well prepared for this momentous year in their lives. But for so many little ones, kindergarten just looks — and sounds — like a big, scary place.
A preschool educator at Washington University in St. Louis says it needn’t be and that with a little preparation this summer, your preschool child should be more than ready for that first big day of kindergarten in the fall.
“The most important thing is to talk positively about kindergarten,” says Andrea Atkinson, director of the Washington University Nursery School.
“Kindergarten is a big name, a big place and there are a lot of big kids. Be positive about the experience, but if your child has questions, answer them as honestly as you can. Don’t make a big to-do about it.”
Atkinson says common questions may include, “Why do I have to go to another school?” and “Why can’t I stay at my old school?” A child might also ask questions such as “What kind of toys will my kindergarten room have? Will they have blocks and dress-up clothes? Who is going to be in my class? Will I have friends?”
Also, make sure to visit the new school during the summer. “Take your child to the school and play on the playground,” says Atkinson, who is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and a board member of the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute.
“Many schools are open during the summer, so go in and take a look around, if possible. Summer is a great time to help acclimate your child to the new environment — such as finding the classroom, bathroom and drinking fountain — without the school being full of strangers.”
Instilling independence
It’s important for parents to work on things during the summer that will help make their children as independent as possible. “One of the kindergartens we visit during the year only has one requirement for incoming students: that they can use the bathroom on their own,” Atkinson says. “Being independent also includes the child being able to get shoes on and off, zipping a jacket or using Velcro.”
Atkinson stresses that parents should encourage their children to do these things by themselves.
“Even here, children come with these elaborate lunch boxes that are so neat to look at, but the children can’t even open and close them,” she says. “Then there are all these little containers inside. Just make things as simple as possible. Make sure the child can open and close things, like backpacks and lunchboxes, by themselves.”
If your child knows a neighbor, cousin or a friend from church who has recently been through kindergarten, let your child ask him or her about their experience, Atkinson suggests. “If you trust that the friend will give good advice, have that child tell yours what to expect, what happens on the playground and what kindergarten is really like. Sometimes that information can be much more reassuring coming from another child rather than an adult.”
Establishing a routine
Another key step to preparing your child for kindergarten is to get your child into a routine long before school starts. “This includes bedtime, rising in the morning, dressing and breakfast all at times according to or close to school hours, starting several weeks before classes begin. That way it’s not a shock to their system on the first day,” Atkinson says.
Also, don’t worry about getting your child academically ready for school, such as learning all the alphabet letters, working on numbers or using flash cards. “While it doesn’t hurt if they have a head start, learning those things will come when the child is ready,” Atkinson says.
Should you accompany your child on the first day?
“Children are all different,” says Atkinson. “For some children it will be important that the parent comes in with them on the first day. It’s a big place and if they are worried about finding their room, come in and help them find it. But keep it low-key and don’t keep doing it beyond the first day or two.”