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It’s the moment everyone has been waiting for. As a parent, you’ve been waiting for your kiddo to spend some time at school and foster their independence. And for your student, well, they’re excited to have different learning opportunities, and of course, make new friends.
You’ve practiced all the basics like their colors, ABCs, and 123s, but what do our kids really need to be prepared for kindergarten? While academics are important, there is so much more than just book lessons to be learned this first year; there’s a lot of social and emotional growth occurring as well as not forgetting to just have fun. We’ll help you break all of the elements down and share some tips on how to prepare your child for kindergarten.
Books and activities: All the things for kindergarten success
In the days and nights leading up to the first day of kindergarten your little one will likely be super excited, but when the actual morning comes, all bets are off. Take it from someone whose first child’s kindergarten drop-off experience lasted a long, trying, tearful 30 minutes.
Besides academic readiness, remember that your child may have individual needs and concerns that are specific to them.
“While many of us focus on the basics of letter and number recognition or reading skills, kindergarten readiness encompasses more than a few isolated skills,” associate professor and child care administrator, Tracy Galuski, told the National Association for the Education of Young Children. “We need to look at the whole child and all the skills and strengths each child has developed.”
Books can prepare them for kindergarten
Reading with your child does wonders for their curiosity, imagination, and language skills. Even though they can’t read, pointing to the words as you say them can help them make the connection between letters and their sounds. Reading books about starting kindergarten, such as Lola Goes to School by Anna McQuinn, can help them prepare for their first day.
“We’ve been reading tons of books about going to school and enjoying the adventures kindergarten will bring. All talk is positive talk — that kindergarten is a “big kid” experience that’s exciting,” mom of four Rachel G. previously told Mom.com.
Experiences to prepare your kindergartner
Head to the library: Speaking of books, making trips to the library encourages reading and listening to directions (from the librarian or at storytime) and reinforces the importance of taking care of things that aren’t ours.
Practice sharing on a playdate: If you happen to know the parents of other kids in your child’s incoming class, getting to know their peers and practicing sharing skills will be helpful.
Encourage dramatic role-playing: Engaging in dramatic roleplay can help your kiddo act out worries or fears that they might have about their new setting. Encourage them to act out roles like a teacher, principal, or school nurse.
Although there is nothing like the real experience to acclimate your littles to their new classroom, teacher, and classmates, reading together and encouraging role-playing activities can give them a feel for what’s to come.
Preparing kids for social issues
As exciting as the adventure of kindergarten is, there are bound to be new feelings that come with the new territory, too. To help your kids prepare for this, as well as other kids’ social issues, set expectations for their behavior and talk about different situations they might encounter.
Setting expectations
This is a crucial time for social-emotional development. So setting expectations for your kids about what is and isn’t appropriate is very important. Explaining the importance of personal space and being respectful. Have conversations about this. Not only about them respecting others’ space but equally as important, that they are entitled to have their personal space respected. Reinforce the idea that it is okay to get a grown-up involved if they need to.
How to handle kids’ social issues
Whether or not your kiddo stayed at home with you before or went to a preschool program, they will meet many new faces. And each one of those faces will be different from theirs. They will meet kids of different abilities, races, cultures, ethnicities, family groups, and more. Talking with them about all the differences they will encounter can also segway into other issues like bullying.
Fun kindergarten lunch ideas and supplies they really need
Last but not least, an equally important part of getting your kids ready for kindergarten is taking a look at the supplies they’ll need to succeed and lunches to power them through their days.
Your local school will most likely email out supply lists. Sometimes, they may also be available at your Target or Walmart. But don’t forget to check in with their teacher. Sometimes there are a few things the classroom needs in bulk, like tissues or nut-free snacks, which you may be asked to donate.
And when it comes to balanced lunches, less is more — trust us, you don’t have to cook them a gourmet meal. Get your kiddo a compartmentalized lunch box and let them go to town. Give them fruit, veggie, grain, and protein options, and let them mix and match their favorite.
