Baby and Kids
Tips for a Successful First Day of Kindergarten
The first day of school is a huge milestone for both parents and children. It’s the end of preschool and the beginning of real school – the start of their journey from preschooler into little kit. The first day can feel both exciting and emotional for everyone. My oldest is now going into 1st grade, and my middle is starting pre-K, and her last year of preschool before she, too, starts elementary school like her big sister. I want to share some tips as a parent who considers myself to be very mindful. I learned a lot from our first day last year, and have a lot of tips for parents of kids who have a harder time separating. This blog post will offer tips and ideas for a smooth transition and strong foundation for the first day of kindergarten.
Tips for a Successful First Day of Kindergarten
There are lots of little things you can do to prepare new students for the start of the new school year. First day jitters are normal, but there are things you can do to make the transition easier for new kindergarten students. I want to share some of the things I did for a successful start. These tips helped my daughter adjust, and to prepared her for a new and different environment.
Before We Dive in, a Note for Parents
As parents, we often put our children first. And when big milestones like this roll around, it’s natural to focus on how they’re feeling. But it’s also really big for you, too. And it’s ok to feel whatever it is you’re feeling. Sending our kids off to school can feel hard and scary. I had some anxiety and if I’m being honest, still do. Given the state of the world, how could we not? It’s so important to take care of yourself and to remember that it’s ok to feel anxious. Talk to friends or a professional, and know that you are not alone in those feelings.
The following isn’t easy for me to admit, but if it helps another parent, it will be worth it. There was a field trip at the beginning of the year, and car seat safety is especially important to me. Most busses don’t have seat belts, and I was too anxious to let her go on a bus without a seatbelt. I ended up keeping her home that day since she wasn’t especially excited about the field trip and wanted a day with me. Flash forward to the end of the year. The field trip was one she was excited about, and I let her go on the bus. It might not seem like a big deal to some of you, but it was a big step for me. I am not ready to “let go” but can’t project my concerns onto her, and can’t let her miss experiences because of my anxiety. I just wanted to normalize the anxiety some parents might be feeling.
How to Prepare Your Child Before School Starts
The most important thing you can do is talk about kindergarten with your child. Let them know that it’s ok for it to feel a little scary – tell them that you felt scared the first time you went to a new school, too. I’ve found that normalizing the struggle is the best way to help make my kids feel less alone.
Read Books About School
There are lots of children’s books that talk about the first day of school. Reading these books with your child can help them understand what to expect and make them feel a little less nervous.
Take Them Shopping for School Supplies
This might seem small, but letting your child pick out everything from their backpack and lunch box to glue sticks and even a water bottle can make feeling prepared a lot more fun. Label all of your child’s belongings with their name. This includes their backpack, lunchbox, clothing, and all their school supplies. This helps prevent items from getting lost and gives them some ownership, too.
Visit Their New School
Take your kids to their new school for a school tour, and attend a meet the teacher event if your school has one. Go for a walk around the school. This is the perfect time to talk about how things might go, and ask how they’re feeling.
Play Pretend
Role-playing different scenarios like saying goodbye to parents or making new friends can be so helpful. I did this with my kids before starting preschool and kindergarten. Putting them in the role of helper, or playing out a scenario where I was the nervous one helped them feel more prepared and confident.
Practice
In the weeks leading up to the first day, practice the morning routine with your child. My kids went to bed pretty late during the summer months, so I had them go to bed a little easier and didn’t let them sleep in the week before school started. Summer was a bit lazy for us, so we worked on getting dressed and eating breakfast earlier. If you want to take it to the next level, do a practice run and get to school on time and then take them out for a special breakfast to celebrate before the first day. A consistent routine can help make the first morning less chaotic.
Set up a Playdate in Advance
I know this isn’t easy for everyone but it can make such a big difference. We were able to connect with another family at my daughter’s new school last year and arranged a playdate before the year started. If you’re not able to do that, I highly recommend finding the name of the parents of a child your child really likes, and setting something up early in the year. Having a chance to make new friends before school starts can be so helpful! The girls weren’t in the same class but knew each other at recess, and it made a big difference for my daughter.
Back to School Shopping
How to Prepare Your Child On Their First Day
There are things you can do to make the first day and the first week of school a lot better. Your attitude will significantly influence your child’s feelings. Stay calm, positive, and encouraging, while allowing them to feel their feelings. Make sure your child eats a nutritious breakfast to provide them with the energy they need for the day. We always like to start with something fun like waffles or pancakes, and add eggs (protein) and some healthy fat, like almond butter. Try to avoid sugary foods that can cause energy crashes later in the morning. Certain traditions I started made the beginning of the year a lot more special. One tradition in particular continued throughout the year.
Love Notes
Each day, I put a little note in my daughter’s lunchbox. It became one of her favorite things each day. If your child gets lunch at school, you can just put it in their backpack or pocket. It was a little thing I thought would be sweet at the beginning of the year. I had no idea she’d love it as much as she did. It was a great way for her to feel connected to me. And it gave her a little thing to hold on to throughout the day. Her teacher told me she’d pull it out before lunch time and leave it at her desk.
Give Them Something Special to Hold on to
Along with her note, I made both of my girls each a special bracelet with both of our names and a little heart bead. I wore a matching version, and any time we missed each other, they could look at the bracelet, or give it a kiss.
Give Them a School Buddy
My daughters each kept a tiny stuffy (the size of a keychain) in their backpack. Small plush characters, even when they know they’re stowed away in a backpack, and provide a lot of comfort at the beginning of the school year. Some schools might even allow your child to leave it on their desk. My daughter had a little bear named Cupcakes, and everyone (even the principal!) knew who Cupcakes was.
Give Them Something Special to Look Forward to After School
Celebrate the successful first day with a special treat or activity. This can help your child associate school with positive experiences. Let your new kindergartener choose a special activity to do after school or at the end of the day. Tell them they’ll have a special surprise waiting for them, or set up something special the day before school starts. I bought a back to school coloring page since my kids love art. Coloring is a great time to chat about their day, or how they feel about going to a new school. If they know that they get to go out for ice cream or plan a back to school themed dinner. This will give them something to look forward to all day. It will also make the day feel extra-special, which can help give them positive feelings about the first week of school.
Arrive Early
I like to get to school earlier for pickup, especially on the first day. I want to make sure they see me right outside when they walk out the door. It’s something that means a lot to my kids and helps with anxiety.
Talk About Their Day
When you pick up your child, ask open-ended questions about their day. This will encourage them to share their experiences with you. If you ask if they had fun, you might not get much out of them. Asking about the best part of their day, what they played during recess, and even the name of someone they played with can prompt meaningful conversations. If they had a hard day or experiences that didn’t feel especially positive, let them talk about it and feel those feelings.
The first day of kindergarten is such a big milestone for both children and parents. By preparing your child and supporting them through this transition, you can help ensure a successful and enjoyable start to their time in elementary school. It’s so important to remember that every child is unique. It is essential to be patient and supportive as they adjust to this new chapter in their lives.
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