Ready, Set, Kindergarten!
Are you sending off a child to kindergarten or a new school this year? Prepare your child for this exciting day.
Get the Layout
First, find out if you can tour the school with your child before the first day of school. Most schools have a “Meet the Teacher” event and I highly recommend taking advantage of this time to meet the teacher, look at the room and get a chance to get comfortable.
Practice Names
If possible, get the class list of names to start practicing the first week. This will help out the nervous children to remember names and make a friend or two the first week. You could write them out on paper and draw pictures to match, play name bingo, or just discuss the children at the end of the day.
Make A Friend
If you do not know anyone in the class make an effort to set up a play date the first couple of weeks to help develop friendships.
Making Friends Skills
Use a tennis ball and play catch. Whoever has the ball gets to talk and ask a question, then toss, the next person answers and then asks a question. This will develop simple communication skills.
Make a “Making Friends” book. Fold some paper and make a cover, then each page have your child draw or write how to make friends. This will be fun to read the first week or two of school. A good way to start discussions about the school day.
The Kissing Hand
Is your little one still apprehensive? Then a great book to read is The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. This will send your child off feeling loved and warm inside!
