The time has arrived when your little one is ready to head to kindergarten – congratulations! While this is a day you may have been looking forward to, part of you might also have been dreading it. It is understandable to have mixed emotions as you send your child off to school for the first time, especially if this is your oldest child and therefore the first to go. Your child probably feels the same way, excited about their new adventures but nervous too. This is a big adjustment for the whole family. To make it a smoother transition for all, consider trying some of the following suggestions:
Before school begins:
- Participate in events your child’s new school offers such as kindergarten visits, open houses, or a practice bus ride.
- Arrange a visit to the school and locate your child’s classroom.
- Bring your child to the school playground to play.
- Read books with your child about going to kindergarten.
- Include your child in gathering school supplies, picking out their first day outfit, and planning what to pack for lunch.
- Plan and practice new routines and family schedules you will follow during the school year. What will the morning routine be? How will your child get to school? Where will your child go after school? Does your child need a new bedtime?
- Talk about what your child’s day at school might look like so they know what to expect.
- Answer any questions your child has and validate their emotions.
- Begin working towards a reasonable school bedtime.
Once school begins
- Connect with your child’s teacher to let them know about a positive experience your child had in their class. This is a great way to start off the school year.
- Make sure your child has plenty of sleep and down time in the first few weeks of school as they adjust to a more rigorous schedule.
- Check in with your child about what happened at school each day.
As you embark on this adventure, it is a great time to start a new tradition with your child that you can look forward to at the start of each school year, right up until they graduate.
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.