Ideas for Easing the Transition to Kindergarten
- Visiting the new classroom or school with your child will help make preparing for kindergarten easier for him/her. Make sure you include a visit to the cafeteria, gym, playground, etc. If possible, meet with your child's new kindergarten teacher. Some of these may be included in an orientation that the new class or school provides. But, if not, try to arrange a school visit on your own. If a visit doesn't work with your schedule, maybe a relative or neighbor whose child attends the same school can take your child.
- Resume the regular bedtime routines about a month before school starts to help ease the kindergarten transition. If you let your child stay up a little later during the summer, for example, gradually get back to the bedtime you will expect when school starts. Talk to your child about why you are doing this and how it will help his/her back to school transition.
- If your child will take lunch to school, "rehearse" packing lunches in the morning. That way you will know how much extra time it will take and what lunch and snack foods you will need to have on hand. If your child will buy school lunch, begin collecting dollar bills and change. Find out how much it will cost and practice together counting out lunch money.
- For preschoolers who still take a nap, begin decreasing nap time so that he/she will be ready for a full day by the time school starts.
- Do a "dry run" of the new morning routine, whether it is walking to the bus stop, driving to the new school, walking together to the new classroom, etc. to see how much time it will take. Remember, school preparation almost always takes more time than you think, especially when the unexpected happens (you have to go back for homework, sneakers for gym, etc.).
- Make sure you and your child know the routine for before- and after-school care if that applies. Discuss where he/she will go, how he/she will get between school and child care, how he/she will get home, etc.
- Having a good breakfast before leaving for school is important. Be sure to adjust your morning schedule to account for the extra time for your child to enjoy breakfast.
- Develop a homework routine. Have a place set aside where your child can do homework, store papers from school, keep school supplies handy, etc. This could be an individual desk, a place in the kitchen or dining room, etc. Set an afterschool or nighttime schedule that includes homework as well as play or "chill out" time.
- Go shopping together for school supplies. While you may have a list that the kindergarten teacher provided, let your child choose colors or styles. There is nothing like brand new school supplies when getting ready for kindergarten!
Fictional books for children about going to school may help prepare your child for the school transition. A few of my favorite children's books about preparing for kindergarten are:
- Curious George Goes to School by M. Rey & H.A. Rey
- First Day Jitters by J. Danneberg
- I am absolutely too small for school by L. Child
- I love school! by P. Sturges & S. Halpern
- Leo the Late Bloomer by R. Kraus
- Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by J. Slate
- Mr. George Baker by A. Hest & J.J. Muth
- The Kissing Hand by A. Penn
- Will I Have a Friend? by M. Cohen
With a little bit of advance preparation, the transition to kindergarten can be a very positive one for parents and children. Enjoy this next stage in your child's life and in your life as a parent. - See more at: https://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/e-family-news/2013-getting-ready-for-kindergarten/#sthash.3jKwHWrf.dpuf
The Best Books for Grades K-2
See the books that teachers of grades K-2 say are must-haves for your library.
WeAreTeachers recently polled over 200 teachers about the best books in their classroom libraries, from their favorite read alouds and fiction books to the top science, humor and poetry titles. Here's what teachers of grades K-2 had to say:
Must have books: https://tinyurl.com/q6nvsqu
