Tips for a Smooth Transition to Kindergarten
Below are some tips to help transition your child to kindergarten. We know you may be doing many of these things already. These are suggestions that we think may help your child feel confident and comfortable in starting school. We know it is an exciting time, but that there may be anxious feelings as well. We also know that transitions take time. We hope these tips are useful to you and your kindergarten student in making the transition to kindergarten and to our school smooth and happy!
1. Establish a firm bedtime. Begin to push back your child's bedtime now by ten or fifteen minutes a night to prepare for an earlier bedtime during the school year.
2. Help your child get a good night's sleep by establishing a bedtime routine. It is recommended that activities that involve your child looking at a screen, (the computer, television or electronic games), are quit about thirty minutes before bedtime. Consider getting the next morning's outfit and shoes ready so the clothing decisions do not need to be made in the morning. Give your child the responsibility of getting their teeth brushed, face washed and into pajamas. Have a short bedtime ritual such as listening to quiet music and snuggling or reading.
3. Determine where and when homework will be done. Find a place where your child can work without too many interruptions and where they can get the supplies needed for homework. Computer access may be necessary for some assignments.
4. Determine where your child will hang their backpack after school. It is recommended books from school and folders stay in the backpack except when you are using them at home. This will help keep them out of younger siblings hands and away from spills and mishaps! Having a designated place for the backpack, folder and books will cut down on time spent searching for these items as well. Your child will feel prepared for school and won't have the stress of running around looking for them before leaving for school.
5. Reading to, with and by your child will be an important kindergarten routine. We know many families have reading rituals with their children already. In kindergarten, reading will be part of the homework. If possible, the reading homework should be done at a time when your child is not tired, so the reading homework should be done well before bedtime. We love the bedtime ritual of reading and hope that is something you continue too!
6. Plan for play time each day as well as homework. Play is so important to young children. When your child has time for active play each day, they are making choices and decisions on their own.
7. The first few weeks of school will be long days for your child. Keep after school activities to a minimum if possible so your child has some down time.
8. Ask your child about the routines they are learning at school. Ask them about arriving at school and getting ready to start the day, lunchroom procedures, and packing up at the end of the day. Establishing routines in kindergarten is one of the most important things your child will be learning the first few weeks.
9. Some children are fearful of the fire drill at school. Our school fire alarm is a siren with a voice announcing an emergency in the school. It is not as threatening to young children as some alarms they may have encountered in the past. Reassure your child that all adults in our school are there to keep them safe and the fire drill is one way we practice staying safe. Tell them the alarm will probably be different than other alarms they have heard, and that they will be moving outside quickly. If your child has had a difficult time with fire drills in preschool or at home, please mention it to your child's teacher.
10. Please remember your child's teacher and our school counselor are here to help your child and your family with this transition. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions, concerns and celebrations about your child's first few weeks in school!
1. Establish a firm bedtime. Begin to push back your child's bedtime now by ten or fifteen minutes a night to prepare for an earlier bedtime during the school year.
2. Help your child get a good night's sleep by establishing a bedtime routine. It is recommended that activities that involve your child looking at a screen, (the computer, television or electronic games), are quit about thirty minutes before bedtime. Consider getting the next morning's outfit and shoes ready so the clothing decisions do not need to be made in the morning. Give your child the responsibility of getting their teeth brushed, face washed and into pajamas. Have a short bedtime ritual such as listening to quiet music and snuggling or reading.
3. Determine where and when homework will be done. Find a place where your child can work without too many interruptions and where they can get the supplies needed for homework. Computer access may be necessary for some assignments.
4. Determine where your child will hang their backpack after school. It is recommended books from school and folders stay in the backpack except when you are using them at home. This will help keep them out of younger siblings hands and away from spills and mishaps! Having a designated place for the backpack, folder and books will cut down on time spent searching for these items as well. Your child will feel prepared for school and won't have the stress of running around looking for them before leaving for school.
5. Reading to, with and by your child will be an important kindergarten routine. We know many families have reading rituals with their children already. In kindergarten, reading will be part of the homework. If possible, the reading homework should be done at a time when your child is not tired, so the reading homework should be done well before bedtime. We love the bedtime ritual of reading and hope that is something you continue too!
6. Plan for play time each day as well as homework. Play is so important to young children. When your child has time for active play each day, they are making choices and decisions on their own.
7. The first few weeks of school will be long days for your child. Keep after school activities to a minimum if possible so your child has some down time.
8. Ask your child about the routines they are learning at school. Ask them about arriving at school and getting ready to start the day, lunchroom procedures, and packing up at the end of the day. Establishing routines in kindergarten is one of the most important things your child will be learning the first few weeks.
9. Some children are fearful of the fire drill at school. Our school fire alarm is a siren with a voice announcing an emergency in the school. It is not as threatening to young children as some alarms they may have encountered in the past. Reassure your child that all adults in our school are there to keep them safe and the fire drill is one way we practice staying safe. Tell them the alarm will probably be different than other alarms they have heard, and that they will be moving outside quickly. If your child has had a difficult time with fire drills in preschool or at home, please mention it to your child's teacher.
10. Please remember your child's teacher and our school counselor are here to help your child and your family with this transition. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions, concerns and celebrations about your child's first few weeks in school!