Emotional Preparation for Kindergarten

Beginning kindergarten is arguably the first milestone in a child̵7;s life. Not only does it mark the beginning of his educational career, it also highlights his first days being separated from his parents. Some children make the transition smoothly. But other kids are filled with dread and anxiety about being removed from their normal routines and from home where they feel safe. As a parent, you can prepare your child before his first day to help him transition into the kindergarten classroom.

  1. Before School Starts

    • Involving your child in sports will prepare him to face kindergarten.

      According to "Pediatrics," the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, getting your child involved in sports can establish organizational participation skills that boost his self-esteem and nurture his social skills and cognitive abilities. By playing in a league sport such as baseball, soccer or hockey, your child becomes accustomed to taking instruction from another adult while working with other children his own age. Organized summer sports help prepare timid children for dealing with the emotional challenges of starting kindergarten.

    Letting Go

    • A month before school starts, leave your child with a babysitter, a friend or a play date. If you can̵7;t do this for a few hours each day, do it at least every other day. Then gradually increase the amount of time you are away from him. When you pick your child up, ask him what he did with the babysitter and promote a conversation that celebrates the fun time he had.

    Boost Your Child's Self-Awareness

    • When your child starts kindergarten, his senses will be on overload. He will be trying to figure out the other kids, the teacher and his new environment. Baby Center states that "children who begin kindergarten need to be aware of themselves." You can ready your child to focus more on himself by helping him learn basic information. By memorizing his phone number, address, the correct full spelling of his name and his age, he'll be ready to answer when his peers or teacher ask him these questions.

    Visit the Classroom

    • If your child is still fairly timid, take your him to the school for a visit before he officially starts. He can meet his teacher and the principal so they won̵7;t be total strangers when he joins the class full time. You and your child can sit in the back of the classroom and watch the teacher engage with the other students. Not only will this give some added comfort to your child, but it also might restore a little faith in you if you have any doubts that the teacher is trained to work with emotionally vulnerable children.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Our Top Tips for Preparing for Back to School
      Maybe last year, you got a little tired of books and papers all over the place. And perhaps the kids weren’t getting their homework done before bedtime. Was studying getting done? Did everyone make their appointments and scheduled extracurricul
    • Choosing a Homeschool Curriculum
      Finding the right curriculumChoosing a Homeschool Curriculum If youre new to homeschooling, finding the perfect learning plan for your child can be a challenge. Most public and private schools use a formal curriculum for each student, and you may mis
    • Create a Strategy for Test Review
      Create a Strategy for Test ReviewWhen I was a student, I cant tell you how many times I showed up to school and was surprised by a test. Sometimes, I had no idea there was a test that day, or thought it was a quiz when it was a final, or studied the