The summer has passed by more quickly than you thought, and now you may be panicking because you are sending a child to kindergarten. Is he ready? Are you ready? Kindergarten is one of the largest milestones in a young child’s life, and you want to ensure you and your child transition smoothly.
Kindergarten teacher Summers McBride graciously answered some questions about preparing for the big start to school. She offers important insight and suggestions for making the jump to kindergarten:
What are the most important things a parent can do to prepare her child for kindergarten?
Before school begins, you could visit the school and take a tour — visit the important places: kindergarten hall, cafeteria, etc. Practice getting in and out of car seats, so that the car line will be less stressful when starting your day, or visit the bus stop and talk about the procedures for riding a bus.
Have your child practice writing his name with a pencil. Practice counting objects and counting aloud. And most importantly, read books daily and ask questions as you read the books. There are simple things you can do to help develop pre-reading skills while reading together — point to each word on the page as you read, have your child point to the words as you read, ask him how many words are on a page.
Where do you see parents putting a lot of unnecessary effort?
I think we are all guilty of this, but worrying too much about things that don’t truly matter — things like having to have the perfect outfits, shoes, hairstyles, lunch boxes, and sparkly school supplies.
Additionally, do not panic if your children do not know their letters, numbers, or are not reading. Children will be assessed prior to school and placed appropriately. There is a large variation in skill level for children entering school for the first year, but by the end of the year, your child will be caught up to where he needs to be to enter first grade.
Do you have any advice or tips for a first-time kindergarten parent?
Trust and talk with your child’s teacher often. We love your children just like they are our own, and we truly want the best for each and every child in our classroom.
Keep the morning goodbye short, sweet, and positive. Some students are very anxious the first few days, and it is very encouraging for the students if you remain calm and upbeat. The children are able to sense when a parent is stressed or sad.
Can you recommend any good books that can help prepare mom and dad for the first week?
The best children’s book I know is “The Night Before Kindergarten.” Otherwise, I think books for parents would vary depending on the kind of child.
What are some great ideas if parents want to bring in a gift for the teacher the first week?
The biggest gift is having support and knowing that you have parents to help you. But for the parents who aren’t able to help out in class, I know they like to show their support and love other ways. So for me, the worst part of preparing for my day is making lunch. When a parent offers to bring me lunch that is a wonderful gift. Coffee is great, too!
As far as a present, I can’t speak for all teachers, but things we can use in the classroom are very helpful: pens, stationery, tissues, Clorox wipes, hand soap, etc.
Any other tips or pointers for moms and dads?
Just try not to worry, and if you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns, feel free to talk to your child’s teacher. I am huge on communication and being on the same page with parents, so that things are kept consistent for children. Having great communication helps everyone involved.
Other tips for once the school year starts:
Bring a snack when you pick your child up from school. Many of the kindergartners eat lunch very early, so by the end of the day, they are very hungry.
Be prepared for homework. Yes, in kindergarten. Many schools give daily homework, even to the kindergartners.
Plan for rest time. School is going to wear them out. Especially those children who have never been in an all-day program or are still used to taking a nap.
Good luck as you begin this very exciting and sometimes scary adventure into education. Remember these tips and try to enjoy it!
Alexa Bigwarfe is the mother of three young children and a freelance writer. She writes about her experiences as a mother and is particularly familiar with this topic as she prepares her middle child for kindergarten in the fall.
