5 Ways to prepare for kindergarten
If your child will start kindergarten next year – or even if you’re just planning ahead – here are five things you can do to prepare for the big move to kindergarten.
(1) Protect your child’s health
A healthy child is ready to learn. Remember to schedule a physical exam and know the immunizations that are required for kindergarten. At home, setting an early bedtime and serving well-balanced meals will provide the energy your child needs for a busy day at school, where naps will be a thing of the past.
(2) Encourage independence
It may be quicker and easier to do things for your child, but resist the temptation. Children feel confident and competent when they can do some things for themselves. Teach your child to get dressed, fasten buttons and zippers, use the restroom and wash hands, and clear his or her place at the table. Children who can take care of some of their own needs will not only feel more comfortable at school, they’ll also be ready to use their small muscles for drawing, writing and cutting in kindergarten.
(3) Make time to play
Never underestimate the value of play. When you play with your child, follow his or her lead and resist the urge to provide answers that your child can discover by interacting with you and the environment. By talking about what your child is doing and asking open ended questions (What do you think will happen if…?), you can help your child make sense of experiences and learn from them. But children don’t just learn from adults – they learn important social skills when they play with one another. At home, in the neighborhood, at the park, and in pre-K or child care settings, children learn to communicate, share space and materials, and solve problems – three skills they’ll need in kindergarten.
(4) Read
Sharing books with your child helps you bond as a family and helps prepare your child for school. Encourage your child to choose books he or she likes, and be prepared to read the same books again and again! It may drive you crazy, but rereading familiar books is actually good for your child – it reinforces vocabulary and word recognition, teaches rhythm and patterns, and builds your child’s confidence. Choose a few books about kindergarten (see suggested list) and encourage your child to share his or her feelings about going to a new school. If you show your child that you feel positive about kindergarten, chances are your child will feel more confident, too.
(5) Visit the new school
There’s no substitute for the real thing. Plan to visit your child’s new school before the big day arrives. Talk about what you see there, and practice some kindergarten routines (carrying a lunch tray, opening containers, waiting at the bus stop, or using a backpack). Many schools schedule special days for rising kindergartners and their families to visit, typically in early spring. Check with the school your child will attend for the date and time of this family event – and don’t miss it!
Suggested list: Children’s books about going to school
Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner, by Amy Schwartz
Clifford’s First School Day, by Norman Bridwell
Curious George Goes to School, by Margaret Rey
Friends at School, by Rochelle Bunnett
It’s Hard to Be Five, by Jamie Lee Curtis
Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!, by Nancy Carlson
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, by Joseph Slate
My Kindergarten, by Rosemary Wells
School Bus, by Donald Crews
The Twelve Days of Kindergarten, by Deborah Lee Rose
Welcome To Kindergarten, by Anne Rockwell
When You Go to Kindergarten, by James Howe
Will I Have a Friend?, by Miriam Cohen
This post was written by Carolyn Hazeldine of Child Care Resources Inc. (CCRI) is the go-to source for early care and education and school-age child care in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, Rowan and Stanly counties. CCRI helps to ensure that young children – particularly those at educational risk – have the kinds of early learning experiences that promote school and lifelong success.
Photo credit: Dave Clemens, U.S. Army
This story was originally published March 5, 2017 at 8:00 PM with the headline "5 Ways to prepare for kindergarten."