10 Tips For A Successful Transition To Kindergarten

08/21/2016

It’s hard to think about back-to-school during the dog days of summer, but the big day is around the corner. And if your child is starting kindergarten, it’s important lay the groundwork for a successful transition as early as possible.

Here are 10 tips to help ensure you and your little scholar are feeling prepared, confident, and excited on that big first day.

As soon as possible:

1. Begin reading books about Kindergarten, like The Night Before Kindergarten and Kindergarten Here I Come. Bonus: a trip to the library to get them is a great summer activity!
2. Start playing in the playground or school yard, so your child’s soon-to-be school becomes a familiar place of fun.
3. Especially if your child is used to spending lots of time with you, enroll them in a drop-off activity, or schedule some drop-off playdates. Start with a short amount of time – this will build trust and confidence and re-inforce the message that you always come back.
4. At school, they’ll have to independently do up their own pants, jackets, backpacks and lunch bags, so start practicing these skills early and often.
5. Start incorporating summer activities that allow them to practice their fine motor skills, like sidewalk chalk and colouring with crayons. These are fun activities that won’t feel educational but can increase their confidence in those early days of school.

A few weeks before:

6. Make shopping for supplies fun. Let your child choose the colour of their lunch box, or which backpack they’d like. Do this well in advance so your child can practice with their new gear for a couple of weeks before the big day.
7. Start serving your child meals from their new lunchbox it a couple times per week. This is an opportunity to make sure they can open everything (without spilling!), and to talk them through the order in which they should eat their food.
8. Begin easing into your new morning routine. A visual chart of all the tasks your child needs to complete before leaving the house (get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth/hair, put on coat/shoes, etc.) can be a helpful – and motivational – tool.

A few days before:

9. Do a test run with their backpack. Load it up with all their gear to make sure everything fits, and that your child can put it on and take it off when full.

10. Clear your schedule for the first week of school and the weekend after. For many children – both kindergarteners and those in older grades – there is a period of adjustment before they settle into their new routine. Down time – and lots of rest – can make or break the success of this transition.

And on the big day, remember that a quick goodbye is usually easiest for all involved. Don’t forget to take a picture – and to pack your tissues!

These tips are brought to you by The School Yard.  A website dedicated to helping parents navigate the elementary years.  Join us on the ‘yard here.