This year my firstborn started big girl school! We had been eagerly awaiting the start of Kindergarten for months, and although a lot of emotions were involved, we managed to make a smooth(ish) transition from Pre-K to kindergarten. The start of grade school is uber important, and a big step for both parents and students. The first day and following weeks is a really crucial time. Setting a positive tone and being consistent from week 1 will ensure a successful school year and hopefully a positive feeling towards school in your child. I wasn’t quite sure of what to expect so of course I over prepped for everything! It helped in some instances but hindered in others. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the first day of Kindergarten and make the transition easier for your 5-year-old.
Make a Good First Impression before the First Day of Kindergarten
It was really important to me to make a great first impression with my child’s teacher and the school staff. To do this, we attended back-to-school night as a family. We shook hands and spoke with the teacher which helped us familiarize ourselves with her, and gauge the vibe of the classroom. I also made sure to thoroughly read the supply list, the school dress code, and classroom policies so that we are aware of and in line with all rules. I also made sure to know the names and roles of the school’s admin team. Even if they don’t know me, I need to know them!
Get prepared and manage your time well
Having an organized morning routine cuts down on the stress and yelling while getting ready, so this is something I prioritize from day one! Start by making sure all uniforms are clean Sunday night, their book bag is packed and they’re in the bed early the night before. Getting as much done as possible the night before alleviates so much stress, which makes the mornings a lot more positive.
I like to wake my kindergartner up at least an hour before it’s time to leave for school. This ensures we have enough time to allow her to get herself dressed, teeth brushed, hair combed, breakfast eaten and backpack checked before it’s time to walk out the door. It’s very important to me that she learns independence during the morning routine but she moves at a 5-year-olds pace (and gets distracted very easily) which is why I make sure to give her ample time in the morning to go through these tasks herself.
Keep your emotions in check at Kindergarten Drop off
Sending your kids off to school for the first time can be emotional for any parent. It’s tough to leave your child alone, in the care of strangers, when you know they rely on you for everything at home. Not just food and shelter but reassurance, emotional support and so much more. I personally have to remind myself that sending my kids off to school or daycare is a good thing and not give in to worry. After over a year in COVID quarantine, your kids need to socialize with other kids their age. They also need to be introduced to the classroom setting and become comfortable with the system they will be in for the next years of their life.
Just like this is triggering for you, it is also new and scary for your child. On that first day, try your best to keep your emotions in check so that you don’t trigger a meltdown in your kids! I did this by constantly affirming that it would be a great day, she would meet new people and get to tell me about it after school. The last thing you want to do is allow your child to see you crying at kindergarten or preschool drop off. Kids are very perceptive! They can pick up your tension and instantly become afraid and worried about what will happen to them while at school.
Trust your kids
Most of the schools in my area operate on a driveline pick-up and drop-off system. Some children do walk to school but no children take a bus, so that means parents follow the system the school has put in place to pick up and drop off students. To be honest, as a person who rode the bus to school every day (except in kindergarten), I was both happy and nervous about this. I feel like my anxiety would be through the roof allowing my child to ride the bus to school, but I still had anxiety allowing my 5-year-old to exit the car on her own and walk up to the school building.
It took us about a week and lots of help from the driveline staff to get this down perfectly. The main thing is to talk to your kid and trust that they are old enough to do some things independently. My daughter might not have been ready, but this forced the both of us to try new things.
Be prepared for the culture shock
If your kid has not been to preschool, kindergarten will be a big change for you and your student. For one, they don’t take naps in a lot of kindergarten classrooms, and they also don’t have the same amount of playtime they will in preschool. The first week or so of Kindergarten will be spent helping your student learn how to follow the classroom rules and adjust to big kid school.
Kindergarten also comes with homework, tests, book reports, and art projects. Our daughter attended preschool at the same school she is now attending for kindergarten. The benefit of this is that their preschool curriculum included homework and a kindergarten readiness aspect. To prepare for the first days of kindergarten, you should practice doing worksheets nightly with your child to form the habit of doing homework.
Kindergarten also comes with a lot of parental involvement, compared to preschool or daycare. Take some time to learn the apps and school tech needed to keep up with your kid’s progress and help them along. You also need to carve out time in your after-work schedule for homework, and reading through school announcements. THis all becomes part of preparing for the next morning.
Avoid reward systems
Finally, avoid award systems. Some kids have a hard time with their first day of kindergarten and the transition from ‘baby school’ to big kid school. It can be easy to resort to bribery, whether it be to get up in the morning, complete homework, or after school chores. Instead, show them the benefit of their hard work. For example, we explained to my daughter that learning her sight words and phonograms would help her learn to read. Then we explained that learning to read would allow her to do things like text her grandma messages and read her baby sister bedtime stories, which is something she really wants to do.
By doing this, you make the reward system an internal goal or skill that is achievable through hard work instead of something monetary that your kid might grow bored with eventually.
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