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Change and adaptability to various environments are the
essence of children's growth. When your child has shown readiness to start
kindergarten, you have to be fully aware that this is about to bring vast
changes into their little lives. Numerous kids tend to adapt to various changes
easily, while others have difficulty transitioning into a new environment.
To help your little ones feel more protected, confident, and
ready for this immensely vast life transition, you need to prepare them
adequately. This may entail a lot of things as every child adapts and accepts
new things and changes differently, but as a parent, there's no room for
mistakes or failures. Starting kindergarten is both an existing time for the
kids and parents and a challenging one. To make the transition more fun,
smooth, and educational, here are some essential tips to prepare your child for
kindergarten.
Talk things through first
No matter if your child is about to start kindergarten first at age 3 or 5, the start is never too pretty. You need to keep in mind that they are about to change their routine and in that age that can be rather scary. Of course, this isn't the case for every single child, but most kids find such a transition rather uncomfortable and daunting. Hence, the first and foremost thing you ought to start with is the talking phase. Kids need to comprehend what is happening around them, and to understand the soon-to-happen change, they need to be aware of it. Start by telling stories about how you spent your kindergarten days (even if you don't remember), tell them things such as "Honey, do you know that kindergarten has some of the best toys in the world?" or "Darling, you are about to have so much fun, just remember how Lucy from next door loves kindergarten!" reassurance and the "sweet talk" is a very important factor when preparing your child for kindergarten as in this manner your child will create an image of what this institution looks like.
Have a set of consistent routines beforehand
Establishing a consistent morning and evening routine will
undoubtedly help your little one feel ready for kindergarten.
The reason behind this notion is the fact that children actually love
consistency and rule, and once you set specific morning and evening routines
long before school starts, they won't find the change that stressful. All
preschool institutions have a set of strict rules that will be unknown to your
child. However, if you wake up your child early in the morgan instead of
letting him sleep long hours, and putting him in bed early enough to have a
good night's sleep, the child will get accustomed to those set of rules and
have enough time to get dressed, pack the backpack and even eat before you set
off to the school. These routines are vital so your little one won't find the
morning and evening kindergarten obligations anxious.
Drop a visit to the preschool institution
Once you have found the best kindergarten in your
neighborhood and inspected the premises, check if they organize a
teacher-student meet-up. Such orientation days are an utterly valuable step
because your child will be able to see the surroundings and get used to the
people working there. Most renowned preschools luckily organize open days where
you can meet a teacher who is about to look after your child, see required and
used materials, and let your child adjust to the surroundings they are about to
spend most of the day in. As separation could be devastating for some kids,
going physically into the building will help your child understand that this is
a normal thing. Hence, meeting the kindergarten teacher before you send your
child to spend a full day in school is another fantastic way to prepare him for
such a grandiose shift in their life.
Practice separation mindfully
There isn't a single person in the world who can adjust to
change fast and without expressing any anxiety, and just imagine how a child may feel. As change shouldn't be taken for granted, you need to
approach it mindfully. Children can sense every mood or behavior change you may
experience, so it's your job as a parent to remain calm and not show
apprehensiveness and worry about him starting kindergarten. It would be useful
to start practicing separation gradually, and this can be done in many ways.
For instance, you can hire a caregiver or a babysitter to come three times per
week and leave your child with them but for a half of day so that they (and
you) get used to being separated. This is a far better option than if you were
to leave him with a grandmother or a relative as they will be more comfortable
with them. Another option is to send the child off to playdates and practice
separation in that manner. When the child senses that you will always return
for him, they won't be nervous or agitated when you leave them for a lengthy
period.
Play preschool with your child
Kids learn by seeing and copying their parents' behavior or
actions. Therefore, if you want to prepare your child for kindergarten in a
steady and easy-going way, you can practice role-play activities. Roleplaying
"kindergarten" is a fun and educational way to teach your kid about
the dos and don'ts of kindergarten, it's a time-saving way to ease the
transition and make it less daunting. Above all, kids love playing games.
Role-playing games should include everything they are about to experience in
the kindergarten such as going on a potty, eating breakfast and lunch, sharing
toys, singing songs, storytelling, and similar. Besides roleplaying games, you
can do puzzles, organize play dates, spend more time with other kids, and
familiarize your child with the kindergarten-style environment. If you were to
play "preschool" with your child at home as much as you can, you
would notice how easy and fun it would be for them to enter the kindergarten,
stay long hours without you.
Boost your child's good deeds
Children tend to be extra sensitive when they figure out
they would be left on their own. They are not aware how long it is three or
eight hours, for them it's all the same, plain and simple - long. Unless they
get immersed in certain activities, and get their little brains and hands
preoccupied, they would start worrying and perhaps even cry and feel nervous.
Another way you can help your child get used to going to kindergarten and being
away from you for a longer period is to foster independence skills. Try to be
more attentive towards your child's achievements, and opt to praise and boost
each thing they accomplish alone. When your child washes their hands alone,
uses the potty, cuts, and eats food without your assistance, try to reward that
by giving praise and showing a heartfelt smile.
Get familiar with the kindergarten lingo
Taking your child to meet his future teacher and the
kindergarten room is a great step to prepare your child for such a big change.
In addition, if you were to help your child get acquainted with how things work
in the garden, it would help him much more as they would be more
relaxed. One option to get your child familiar with how the kindergarten
operates is to label everything around the house. For instance, use a washable
marker or stickers to label this around the house so he would what he can or
cannot touch. Aim to encourage safety by walking to kindergarten together and
showing the children facilities around the main building. Recognizing the route
and landmarks around the kindergarten will help your child get familiar with
the premises in and out of the building and make him feel safe.
Given the fact that children cannot cope with change so
well, it's of utmost importance to follow the above-mentioned pieces of advice
and learn how to prepare your child for kindergarten with ease.
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