| If you have a child under five, you have | | | | about life and changes that may be on the |
| already watched many amateur productions of | | | | way. So you can use kindergarten skits and |
| plays that were composed entirely in that | | | | games to help your child feel less frightened |
| sweet little mind. Role play and acting | | | | of that big change and even come to see the |
| scenes out just seems to come naturally to | | | | coming of kindergarten days as a time of fun |
| children. Perhaps it's because they see it | | | | and excitement so when it gets here, she |
| on television and videos. But it's more | | | | welcomes it with glee rather than with dread. |
| likely because children just naturally have | | | | |
| strong imaginations and creating alternate | | | | You can set up a mini kindergarten room in |
| worlds and then making them come to life is | | | | your living room using play chairs from your |
| just a natural part of being a child. | | | | child's toy table and using stuffed animals |
| | | | to be the other students. The lessons can be |
| We see this kind of play happen nature when | | | | silly things at first like the plot of the |
| we witness bear cubs or even kittens in our | | | | Wizard of Oz or the names of all of her My |
| own homes as they seem to be all about play | | | | Little Pony dolls so your child gets to jump |
| every day. But there is a reason for their | | | | up and yell, "I know teacher, pick, me!" and |
| play. Often the games they "play act" are | | | | begin to experience the thrill of being |
| their way of trying out hunting, stalking, | | | | recognized publicly for being smart, even if |
| fighting and even running away. In the same | | | | the public are stuffed bears and Shrek |
| way our own children use their creative | | | | characters. |
| imaginations to "play act" scenes in life | | | | |
| that they will one day encounter for real In | | | | Once your little one sees how fun it is |
| that way, nature seems to have put it into | | | | playing school, you can begin to do more to |
| babies of every species to use play to get | | | | make the game more realistic by implementing |
| ready for life. | | | | a schedule with a time to lay down her head, |
| | | | a time to draw, and a daily schedule |
| As parents, one of our great joys is to join | | | | including "single file to the lunch room" and |
| our children in play. We get to sort of | | | | back. These will be fun games that will get |
| "become children" ourselves all over again | | | | a giggle from your child but also introduce |
| for a while which is great fun. And if we | | | | these concepts in a fun way so when they |
| think its fun for us, just watch as grandma | | | | happen for real when she starts kindergarten, |
| or grandpa get down on the floor and suddenly | | | | they wont be frightening but have an |
| become five year olds for a while. The only | | | | association of playtime with mom. |
| shame is one day our young ones will grow up | | | | |
| and then we can't play with their toys any | | | | By taking the time to play out what will be |
| more. | | | | happening in kindergarten, you can prepare |
| | | | your child for all of the aspects of school |
| This impulse to act out scenes of life that | | | | she can expect. Its an outstanding exercise |
| they will eventually grow into is a wonderful | | | | and you can take her through it without ever |
| resource you can use to begin to prepare your | | | | letting her know that this is a big part of |
| child for kindergarten. Very often, even | | | | the "work" of getting ready for school, even |
| though they may not know they are doing it, | | | | though to her its just a game. |
| children use this skill to cope with fears | | | | |