WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN!
Starting Now
Establish a routine.
Routines are an important part of Kindergarten and children who follow routines at home will find the transition into school much easier.
* Set a morning routine by making a chart showing your child when to wash, eat, get dressed and brush his/her teeth. This will make mornings go smoother for both your child and for you.
* Set a nighttime routine. When the same thing happens each night, it will be less of a struggle to get your little one to bed. Some helpful hints are letting your child know 15 minutes before it is time for bed, setting up a schedule to follow each night, and having calm time before it’s time to go to sleep.
Practice using good manners.
Manners are an important part of life. In school the children are expected to be respectful and to use good manners while eating in the cafeteria and in the classroom.
* Have your child use polite words such as “please”, “thank you”, “you’re welcome” and “excuse me”. This is how children begin to show respect.
* Model polite ways to talk to people in your own interactions.
* Practice good eating habits during meals. In school your child will be expected to stay seated while eating, stay in his/her own space, feed him/herself, and clean up. These are all things you can begin working on now.
Practice good listening skills.
A lot of time in kindergarten is spent teaching the children how to listen and follow directions. These are skills that will help your child throughout his/her entire life.
* Model good listening for your child.
* Ask your child to show that she/he is listening when you are speaking. You can ask him/her to stop and look or to repeat what you said.
* Give your child simple one and two step directions to follow.
Practice good social skills.
Your child will be interacting with other children and adults throughout the day. Here are some ways to help those interactions be friendly and positive.
* Provide opportunities for your child to spend time with other children playing and talking.
* Encourage your child to share and take turns.
* Talk about and model how to express feelings appropriately with self-control.
Give your child responsibilities.
* Give small chores or jobs so that your child can experience responsibility and a sense of accomplishment.
* Teach your child to zip, button, snap and tie so that he/she can be more independent.
* Have your child get into the habit of always putting away toys after playing.
The Week Before Kindergarten
* Get your child used to going to bed and waking up early.
* Label your child’s jacket, book bag, lunch box, folders, and other belongings.
* Get your child excited about kindergarten by talking to them about what they might do and learn.
* Tell your child about your own memories of going to school.
* Have your child predict what kindergarten might be like.
* Answer any questions your child may have about school.
* Attend our kindergarten orientation and Drop In Day.
The Day / Night Before Kindergarten
* Pack up your child’s backpack with a folder and any paper work that needs to be handed in to the school.
* Let your child help you pick out what uniform he/she will wear on the first day of school.
* Get your camera and batteries ready to capture some first day memories!
* Have your child go to bed early.
The First Day of School
* Act excited for your child’s first day of school. If your child senses that you are nervous or upset, he/she will follow your lead.
* Make sure that your child eats breakfast before school.
* Pack a snack in your child’s book bag.
* Pack a lunch in a separate container from snack.
* Take some pictures before you leave the house.
* Bring your child to school and walk him/her down to Extended Care located in the cafeteria.
* Relax and enjoy your day!
Parents may walk down to our classroom on the first day of school for pictures inside the classroom. This is a memorable event and we encourage it to be captured fully. However, parents may only stay a few minutes to make separation go smoothly.
If your child should become upset or cry, the best thing to do is to leave quickly. The longer you stay, the more difficult the situation will be. Almost all children who cry on the first day stop crying minutes after the initial separation. If your child continues to cry throughout the day or cannot be calmed down, someone from the school will contact you.
Establish a routine.
Routines are an important part of Kindergarten and children who follow routines at home will find the transition into school much easier.
* Set a morning routine by making a chart showing your child when to wash, eat, get dressed and brush his/her teeth. This will make mornings go smoother for both your child and for you.
* Set a nighttime routine. When the same thing happens each night, it will be less of a struggle to get your little one to bed. Some helpful hints are letting your child know 15 minutes before it is time for bed, setting up a schedule to follow each night, and having calm time before it’s time to go to sleep.
Practice using good manners.
Manners are an important part of life. In school the children are expected to be respectful and to use good manners while eating in the cafeteria and in the classroom.
* Have your child use polite words such as “please”, “thank you”, “you’re welcome” and “excuse me”. This is how children begin to show respect.
* Model polite ways to talk to people in your own interactions.
* Practice good eating habits during meals. In school your child will be expected to stay seated while eating, stay in his/her own space, feed him/herself, and clean up. These are all things you can begin working on now.
Practice good listening skills.
A lot of time in kindergarten is spent teaching the children how to listen and follow directions. These are skills that will help your child throughout his/her entire life.
* Model good listening for your child.
* Ask your child to show that she/he is listening when you are speaking. You can ask him/her to stop and look or to repeat what you said.
* Give your child simple one and two step directions to follow.
Practice good social skills.
Your child will be interacting with other children and adults throughout the day. Here are some ways to help those interactions be friendly and positive.
* Provide opportunities for your child to spend time with other children playing and talking.
* Encourage your child to share and take turns.
* Talk about and model how to express feelings appropriately with self-control.
Give your child responsibilities.
* Give small chores or jobs so that your child can experience responsibility and a sense of accomplishment.
* Teach your child to zip, button, snap and tie so that he/she can be more independent.
* Have your child get into the habit of always putting away toys after playing.
The Week Before Kindergarten
* Get your child used to going to bed and waking up early.
* Label your child’s jacket, book bag, lunch box, folders, and other belongings.
* Get your child excited about kindergarten by talking to them about what they might do and learn.
* Tell your child about your own memories of going to school.
* Have your child predict what kindergarten might be like.
* Answer any questions your child may have about school.
* Attend our kindergarten orientation and Drop In Day.
The Day / Night Before Kindergarten
* Pack up your child’s backpack with a folder and any paper work that needs to be handed in to the school.
* Let your child help you pick out what uniform he/she will wear on the first day of school.
* Get your camera and batteries ready to capture some first day memories!
* Have your child go to bed early.
The First Day of School
* Act excited for your child’s first day of school. If your child senses that you are nervous or upset, he/she will follow your lead.
* Make sure that your child eats breakfast before school.
* Pack a snack in your child’s book bag.
* Pack a lunch in a separate container from snack.
* Take some pictures before you leave the house.
* Bring your child to school and walk him/her down to Extended Care located in the cafeteria.
* Relax and enjoy your day!
Parents may walk down to our classroom on the first day of school for pictures inside the classroom. This is a memorable event and we encourage it to be captured fully. However, parents may only stay a few minutes to make separation go smoothly.
If your child should become upset or cry, the best thing to do is to leave quickly. The longer you stay, the more difficult the situation will be. Almost all children who cry on the first day stop crying minutes after the initial separation. If your child continues to cry throughout the day or cannot be calmed down, someone from the school will contact you.