Tips for Ensuring a Smooth Transition Into Kindergarten
by Cecilia Clark
Letting go is never easy.
We raise our children to be independent, but taking that first big step toward this can be fraught with emotional land mines for both you and your child. Regardless of how prepared you think you are, the first day of kindergarten is a big deal for you and your little one. They will be having experiences without you. You worry if they’ll make friends, be polite, and eat well. And for the next 15 years, family life will now be organized around school hours and days.
Big changes for sure.
Here are some tips to help ensure the transition goes well for everyone.
Listen and answer all your child’s questions
The unknown can be scary — especially if you’re five years old. Answer questions and acknowledge your child’s feelings and thank them for being honest.
If they’re nervous, try to understand why, so you can address their fears. Talk about the exciting things they’ll get to do at school — make friends, learn new games, color, draw, sing, and play.
Plan ahead
Research shows that children are most often upset because they’re unsure of what’s going to happen next. Help your child know what to expect. Visit the school in advance, rehearse the walk or drive to school, and share stories of your and your partner’s first day of school. Make sure everything is organized the night before the big day. Clothes laid out, lunches packed, early to bed, and allow plenty of extra time in the morning.
Be positive
Even if you’re feeling anxious, remain upbeat and enthusiastic. Children take clues from our emotions, so it’s important to convey a happy and confident attitude that everything is going to be just fine.
Make the drop-off brief, positive, and reassuring. Let your child know when you’ll be back to pick them up and that you’ll be excited to hear about their first day. Show that you value school and learning, so they will too. You may discover that your child is ready, excited, and on his way — only to find that you’re an emotional wreck.
What to do?
As difficult as it may be, remind yourself that letting go is part of parenting. Try to remember when you started school. Maybe you were nervous, scared, or perhaps you were super excited. Regardless, you and your parents survived. Normal child development unfolds through a healthy separation between you and your child. Kindergarten is the first step in that long journey.
Acknowledge that you may feel sad, anxious, and even lonely. It’s normal to miss someone you’ve been with constantly. Then try to shift your thinking to all the wonderful things your child will be learning, including how to handle new situations, how to be more independent, and how to navigate social scenes.
Remember that your child will always need you — whether they’re heading off to kindergarten, college, or getting married.
Keep your expectations realistic for you and your youngster. Then turn to some self-care time. It’s also important to build some structure into your day. If you’re heading to work each morning, take a deep breath and look forward to all the learning, growing and memory-making ahead.
