10 things every kindergarten parent should know

Children, along with their parents, can feel a little jumpy on the first days of kindergarten. The range of emotions from anxiety to excitement is bound to be felt within the family. Banish first day jitters with these 10 ways to be ready for the brand new adventure of your children starting school.

Meet the teacher in advance

Whether it is Open House or Back-to-School Night, attend with your child. It will be the perfect opportunity for you and your child to get introduced to the teacher. By putting a face to a name, your child will gain some comfort from knowing who their teacher is.

Mingle with other parents and their children

The more recognizable faces on the first day, the better your child will feel when they walk into the classroom.

Know the schedule

Look around your child’s classroom and it’s likely there will be a class schedule posted. Review this with your child, so they will know what will be expected of them throughout the day. Snack and lunch times are good for you both to know in preparing for the day.

Label everything

Reduce potential meltdowns over not being able to claim items by labeling all of your child’s belongings.

Send a memento

A favorite toy, animal, or photograph of family can go a long way in making a little one feel safe in their new environment. Consider placing one of these items into their backpack.

Practice saying goodbye

For some children, the biggest challenge could be saying goodbye to you. Set up small separations to practice saying goodbye. Develop a quick parting routine and make a swift exit.

Watch your emotions (around your kid, at least)

Keep your feelings to yourself when you make your morning departure from your child. Don’t talk about how much you will miss your child. Don’t let your concerns become your child’s worries.

Get support

After dropping off your child, talk with other parents, if you need support. Likely, they will be feeling similar to you and chances are you will have a lot in common over the next few years.

Give it time

For some children, it takes longer than others to adjust and get comfortable in a new environment. Anticipate some ups and downs during the first few weeks. If you have concerns about how the transition is going, reach out to your child’s teacher.

Learn to let go

There is a point that children have to go out in the world on their own and starting kindergarten is the beginning of your children spreading their wings.

Now you have some ways to help you and your child reduce those first day fears. You can feel good that you’ve given your child more confidence to walk through the school doors to take on this exciting step in their life.

Photo Credit: Sara Kendall

This story was written for CharlotteFive’s latest channel for parents in the QC, called QC Playground. Sign up for the weekly QC Playground newsletter here.

This story was originally published August 20, 2017 at 9:00 PM with the headline "10 things every kindergarten parent should know."