| When we think of going into the "preparation | | | | needs to go to the bathroom to adjust his or her |
| mode" as that first day of kindergarten | | | | wardrobe. And not having to have a teacher |
| approaches, the two areas we most focus on are | | | | there with him will make this a much smoother |
| the academic and the emotional. If your little one | | | | operation. |
| has conquered shapes, colors, counting and basic | | | | The basics of being able to perform simple |
| vocabulary, these are some of the academic skills | | | | student tasks such as how to hold a writing |
| that she should have as she heads off for that | | | | implement, how to draw the basic shapes, how to |
| first day of formal school. You may have given | | | | color a picture and how to answer questions from |
| her some home school or even preschool | | | | the teacher without mumbling are things that can |
| exposure to get those skills in place and all of that | | | | be worked on well before the first day at |
| was good preparation for this big day. | | | | kindergarten that will make that transition much |
| From an emotional and social point of view, the | | | | smoother for your child and for the teacher as |
| big change from staying home with mom every | | | | well. |
| day to being in an institutionalized setting is one | | | | There are also mental or intellectual talents that |
| that your child will cope with better with some | | | | your child can pick up just from being part of |
| preparation. So letting her meet the teacher, the | | | | your family but they will be of great advantage in |
| other students, sit in on one day with you there | | | | school. This includes being able to listen and |
| and then have time to role play or talk through | | | | understand a story and then ask intelligent |
| what it will be like all will be very helpful at | | | | questions about it, being able to understand humor |
| reducing that feeling of disorientation that your | | | | and even make simple and appropriate jokes |
| kiddo may experience the first day at school. | | | | when the time is right in class and knowing the |
| But there are other areas of competency that | | | | fundamentals of alphabet, numbers and |
| you would do well to gauge in your child as she | | | | vocabulary that will equip the child to start the |
| prepares for a day without you there to do | | | | curriculum at kindergarten without need for |
| everything for her. And if you start developing | | | | remedial help. |
| those check lists in the last full year before | | | | Observe and help your child develop the simple |
| kindergarten, you have time to help your baby | | | | social skills of being able to enter a room and |
| develop those skills well in advance. For example, | | | | meet new people, understanding authority and |
| when your child goes to lunch at school, she will | | | | rules and learning to live with them and making |
| probably go through a line to get her food, find a | | | | friends and identifying and avoiding problem |
| table on her own to sit with relative strangers to | | | | personalities in class. These are skills that will go a |
| eat and have to get through meal time without | | | | long way toward facilitating a happy social life at |
| guidance or encouragement. You can give her | | | | school and learning to stay out of trouble which is |
| some of those experiences by eating at buffets | | | | a lifetime skill your kiddo will need throughout a |
| where you let her handle her own tray and even | | | | long school career. |
| pick the table and "be a big girl" by making all of | | | | By thinking through not only the academic but the |
| the decisions. | | | | physical, hygiene, social, language and logical skills |
| The more independent your child becomes in that | | | | that are sometimes taken for granted, you cut |
| last few months before kindergarten, the more | | | | down on the surprises that wait for your child on |
| that feeling of self reliance will pay off when | | | | that first day at school. And the smoother that |
| school starts. Being able to dress and undress | | | | first day goes, the better her entire year at |
| herself is a basic skill that we work on with our | | | | kindergarten will go which will lead to a happy and |
| children. And while this will not be necessary at | | | | creative attitude toward school and education for |
| school, there may be times when your child | | | | life. |