Getting your child ready for Kindergarten can be scary; maybe more for mom and dad than for the child. And while school has already begun, it's never too late get your child ready for their first year in "big kid" school. Here a few quick tips and resources to guide you through this milestone transition. As always, your center's director is here to help with any questions or concerns you have about this process.
1. Check out your child's school's website. Chances are good your child's teacher has posted all the info you need to be sure they are prepared.
2. Consider letting your child stay with other trusted adults for a few hours a day. This will help him or her to acclimate to being away from mom and dad.
3. Begin introducing concepts like counting, sorting, and identifying letters and numbers. Getting a head start on building these skills will make your child more confident when they are introduced at school.
4. Read, read, read! Make sure you are showing your child just how important and pleasurable reading can be by pointing out all the things you are reading throughout the day. Don’t stop with just their favorite books, but show them how newspapers, road signs, cereal boxes, recipes, and nearly everything else they encounter involves reading in some way.
5. Help them memorize their full name, phone number, and address. This is not only for their safety, but can also give them a sense of identity and self-confidence. Here is a really cool project you can do with your child to help them understand who and where they are in the world.
6. Show them how (and when) to properly introduce themselves to unfamiliar people. Your child will meet so many new people when they start school, so knowing the proper protocol for saying hello and introducing themselves to peers and teachers can go a long way in helping them make friends.
7. Most important, ask lots of questions. Make sure your child knows that you are ready and willing to listen to their concerns and help them with any confusion or problems they may encounter at school.