Parents, are you ready for your child to start school? Kindergarten is an exciting time of transition for your little one. We can all probably remember our first day at kindergarten: it’s a memory that’s etched deeply into our memories. Now it’s time for your child to start kindergarten. You might be just as anxious as they are! How do you control your anxiety? and your child’s? Here are a few tips. For your child:
- Start talking about school now, a couple of weeks out. Make it sound fun and exciting – they will be learning new things and meeting new friends!
- Start to change up their routines – earlier to bed, earlier to rise.
- Keep reading! There are some great books to help prepare your child for preschool or kindergarten like:
- Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney. Llama Llama’s mama helps him get ready for his first day of school. Everything is going well until mama leaves. The book is great for starting the conversation about separation anxiety.
- Rosie Goes to Preschool by Karen Katz. Preschooler Rosie tours her classroom and gives readers a first person perspective on what to expect at school.
- Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes. Wemblerly is a worrier. She worries about everything. When she has to start school, she is very worried. Thankfully she meets another mouse at school who is just like her! The two mice learn how to forget about worries and have fun at school.
And here are a few tips for you, mom or dad:
- A lot of parents feel stressed about their child not knowing everything they “should” know when kindergarten begins. Rest assured: all kids learn and develop at their own pace and with the support of the teacher and you as a parent they will be getting everything they need to thrive.
- If you’re able to, consider taking a day off or the morning off when your child starts kindergarten. That way you can see them at school, see the teacher, see some of the other children in the classroom, and meet some of the other parents.
- Take advantage of parent volunteer opportunities in the classroom. You’ll get to see your little one in a whole new light and see how they interact with others. You’ll also get to know some of the other children who your child will be friends with and their parents.
- Take a chill pill. You probably have a pretty good sense of how your child reacts in a social setting either through daycare or preschool or large family gatherings. Trust in yourself and your little one!
Children are bursting with potential. Now’s the time for them to start to realize that potential. When you give directly to United Way British Columbia, you help gives kids the boost they need to succeed in life. Whether it’s making sure they are ready to succeed by the time they reach school, that they are fed so that they can focus on their studies instead of their grumbling tummies, or that they learn life skills and benefit from positive mentors, we help kids reach their full potential. United Way British Columbia invested $10 million into programs and services in 2015/16 to help kids be all they can be.
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