September is rapidly approaching, and for many that signifies the start of another school year. For some however, it is a momentous month as it is the beginning of their school education journey; a new experience that while new and exciting and fun can also be nerve-racking and challenging for child and parent/caregiver alike.
From first day jitters to separation anxiety, making new friends and learning new things, the beginning of school is a big deal! We’ve got a few tips, activities and books to help you navigate this milestone.
As a mom of three who has gone through the kindergarten experience (and lived to tell about it!) I get it! Kindergarten can be a very exciting time! It can also be a hard and stressful and emotional time for parents and children. However there are a few things you can do to make this experience and transition a little easier (hopefully) on both you, and your child. Below are a few practical tips on how to get ready for kindergarten.
Introduce the Idea of School
Talk about school! Talk to your child about school, and teachers, and learning, and making new friends and all that good stuff! Being nervous and worried is normal, but we as parents can try to build up a positive anticipation about starting school.
Familiarize your little one with the school setting! If you’re able, go to the school. Walk around the school yard, play at the school park, and point out the neat and appealing aspects of their school. A special door just for Kindies? Wow! A playground only for the kindergarteners to play on? Fun!!
Read, read, read! There are so many great books available to help you and your child navigate your way through this new experience. Reading about the experiences of others may help your child to feel less worried, sad or lonely, and may also help to bring forth those feelings of excitement and enthusiasm about school. The KPL has a wonderful selection of back to school, and starting school books. Below are a few we recommend as you get ready for kindergarten.
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. Since its first publication in 1993, this heartwarming book has become a children’s classic that has touched the lives of millions of children and their parents, especially at times of separation, whether starting school, entering daycare, or going to camp. It is widely used by kindergarten teachers on the first day of school. Stickers at the back will help children and their parents keep their Kissing Hand alive.
Place a hold on this heartwarming book here.
Kindergarten is Cool! by Linda Elovitz Marshall
When you wake up for school you’ll get dressed, really cool with your sneakers and socks and your lunch in a box . . . Kindergarten’s begun. Big kids say that it’s fun. But is that really true? Will it be fun . . . for you? Celebrate all the familiar milestones and moments shared by every kid entering kindergarten in this charming second-person narrative. Whether it’s early-morning jitters or becoming familiar with new classroom routines, this sweet and bouncy story will have expectant kindergarteners saying, “Kindergarten is cool!”
Place a hold on this cool book here.
Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten! by Hyewon Yum
It’s a child’s first day of kindergarten, but who is worried about all the new people and the different things he’ll meet–the child? No! The mother. In a refreshing reversal of roles, the child takes it upon himself to comfort and reassure his mother that everything will be fine, she’ll get used to him going to big-kid school, and yes, he is ready for the first day of kindergarten. Utterly charming in its simplicity, Yum playfully uses size and color to reveal emotions of this milestone beginning. Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten! is a Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book of 2012
Place a hold on this charming book here.
Key Concepts
Starting school can be daunting for your little one; so many things to learn! You can ease this concern a little by working on some key concepts beforehand that your child will encounter during first year in school. Doing so may help to boost their confidence and understanding when the teacher introduces these concepts. Below are some simple and fun activities for your child to do as they get ready for kindergarten.
Name and Letter Recognition
This is so helpful to both young students and teachers for kids starting kindergarten. The more your child sees their name, the easier it is for them to recognize! Write it outside using sidewalk chalk or water. Point out when their name is on a birthday card or label. Have fun with their name by doing crafts or games with their name. There are so many easy yet engaging crafts and activities available online to help your child learn and recognize their name.
Of course name recognition works hand in hand with letter recognition. Practice those ABC’s! Sing the alphabet song often, and make little literacy moments by talking about everyday words and what letters they begin with. You can do this while outside, grocery shopping, in the car; anywhere! The opportunity for letter and word education is everywhere, and easy.
Shape Recognition
Work on recognizing simple shapes like squares, circles, triangles and rectangles. Pointing out shapes you see through out the day is a great way to start recognition. Ask your children what shape are the items that they see or use everyday. Kids can easily group items by shape, and within that, size.
As a precursor to your child drawing shapes, help them learn how by having them trace or outline shapes. Your child can use stickers or tape or blocks to outline shapes that you’ve drawn for them. Shapes are everywhere, and this is a simple concept to introduce before your little one starts school.
Number Recognition and Counting
Those 123’s are just as important as the ABC’s! Kids love to count and track things and it’s easy to incorporate this skill into everyday activities. Count the stairs as you walk up them, count the cars you pass on a walk, count the number of crackers at snack time. To encourage counting, slow down your counting and point to or touch each item as you count it. This will help your child with their ability to associate and recall numbers and amounts.
It Will Be Okay
It’s overwhelming indeed; for parents and/or caregivers, and for the kids. Lots of mixed emotions and new routines and meeting new and different people, and the packing of lunches everyday (ohhh, the packing of lunches…argh).
But deep breath; it will be okay! Maybe your child will transition to kindergarten seamlessly with a quick kiss on the cheek before they fly across schoolyard eager to meet new friends and take on the kindergarten experience. Great! Or maybe, like my youngest, you’ll have the kid that will cry and panic and cling to you as you try to leave thereby instilling oodles of parent guilt as you leave; not so great, but it does get better. With time, your child will adjust and acclimate and accept this new learning and social experience. Kindergarten is the start of a new chapter for both your child and you; embrace it! It’s fun and playful and rewarding. Just don’t forget to empty out those lunch bags…
POST WRITTEN BY CHERYL J. AND SARAH M., CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMERS