Okay, so I don’t normally write about this kind of stuff, but my girl is starting kindergarten in the fall and I am trying to get prepared. I have a feeling it isn’t going to be the same as dropping her off at preschool for a few hours a week. So when I state prepared, I mean emotionally on my end…if we are being honest. Emotionally, yeah, I’m dealing with the realization that my daughter is 5 and will no longer be a baby, a toddler, a preschooler…she’s going to start running with the big dogs. That fact brings tears to my eyes even as I write. But more importantly on her end, I want her to start the school year feeling confident and excited.
She is enrolled for full day kindergarten, which was not my first choice; but, considering I want her to go to a specific school and not be bussed, she’s a full day girl. And, get this, we are even going to PAY for it! We have an amazing public school in our backyard, but this amazing school is not offering half day kindergarten. As a matter of fact, there is a waiting list for full day! We, therefore, will write a monthly tuition check for my child to go to school all day (full day in other school systems is free. yup. free.).
Moms I have spoken with shared that in kindergarten popularity contests start, birthday party bragging (who gets invited and who doesn’t) is an issue, and even the types of clothes kids wear is recognized. Wha-hut? In kindergarten? {insert shocked and flabbergasted look here} Yes, that young. I don’t have time to reflect on her babyhood, I need to get pint-sized body armor ready or a rubber suit (remember? I am rubber. You are glue. Mean things you say bounce off me and stick to you?). Really, I know it isn’t that bad…hopefully….
Thankfully, I found out about full day before my last parent/teacher conference at preschool. I spoke candidly to the teachers and asked a bunch of readiness questions. The teachers said my girl could handle a full day, and 
would do great. That put my mind at ease. They also gave me some awesome advice, which is why I wrote this post in the first place. Really, it wasn’t for you get inside my head for a few sentences, it was to share some helpful information I received. Many may already know this stuff, but if anyone out there is like me, I needed this information! Take a look:
During the summer:
The obvious…
- Have your child practice with scissors.
- Keep them writing and reading/learning to read.
- Go to the library once a week.
- All caregivers should read to the children, not just mom or dad. AND, the children should see their adults reading as well. Whether it be online, a magazine, a cookbook, a trashy vampire novel…show them you enjoy reading, too.
The not so obvious…
- Take them on picnics and teach them how to open the food you will pack. Can they open: granola/protein bar packages, applesauce cups, milk or juice boxes, string cheese packages, etc, etc, on their own? If not, let them practice so they won’t be stuck in the lunch room waiting for assistance.
- Take them early (June or July) to pick out a backpack, lunch box, water bottle, and thermos. Don’t say you are taking them to pick it out “for kindergarten,” rather just make it an exciting trip together to Target or even shopping online.
- Talk to them about their favorite foods so you aren’t worrying at the last minute about what to buy for packing.
- Keep up with “social guidance.” The stuff such as being kind to friends, including everyone, taking turns, sharing.
- Be careful about how much you talk to your child about starting kindergarten. Kids get anxious about it, not excited. It is because of the fear of the unknown, so let them bring it up.
- If they seem fearful, remind them about how they went to preschool on their own and did great. If they didn’t attend preschool, talk about camps, workshops, or even going to grandma’s without mom there.
I welcome advice from moms who’ve been there…please, share away! The more information, the better. Thanks.
I hope it makes you feel better to know that as a mother of a 2nd grade girl, we haven’t had much of a problem yet with birthday parties, clothes or nasty popularity contests. M is very precociously interested in that stuff, but none of her classmates seem to care at all. I have seen some “Wow, she has a really cool UNICORN shirt” type commentary, but not much about brand names, etc.
Of course, it only takes one mean girl in a class to upset the apple cart. There was a whiff of a girl who wanted to exclude other girls, create “clubs” to decide who was in or out, etc., but M was lucky that she and the majority of the kids in her class didn’t take the bait. There was also one other little girl who tried to convince M that she shouldn’t play with another friend, but all it took was one phone call from me to that girl’s mom (who thankfully also thought it was messed up for 1st graders to play that game and was willing to hear that her daughter was being not-very-nice), to put an end to those shenanigans.
It also probably depends on the school.
Great write up Kristin! A couple of other things that some parents do not think about that I thought I would share are…
kiddos using glue bottles and glue sticks. These both are very popular to use in kindergarten, make sure your kids know that a dab of glue goes a long way, how to twist open the glue bottle and what to do if the glue doesn’t come out.
walk or drive the kids to their new school over the summer, this helps them get used to the new route to school. If you are able to (most schools leave them open around us) have your child play on the playground at the school, this will help familiarize them when it is recess time.
A note for book bags would be to make sure that it is big enough to keep a full size folder (you can find these in the school section of any store) most schools have the children bring back and forth from school a “take home” folder and if it doesn’t fit into the book bag this leaves the kids with a lot to try to carry. It might be a good idea to be able to fit the lunch bag into the book bag also.
Remind your kids that this is a very fun and exciting time. That all the other kids are going to kindergarten for the first time as well. And whatever parents do, do not let your children ever see you cry when you are talking about kindergarten (or any grade level) or when you drop them off. Children sense anxiety from their parents and as parents we know that the school we have chosen for our children is a wonderful, safe place (even though it is very sad to send them to the “big dogs” for the first time) and that is how we always want our children to see their school as well.
On a personal note, I have sent one daughter to kindergarten several years ago, and I’m getting ready to send my baby this Fall. I will not lie, when my husband and I dropped her off for the first time I got back in the van with a little tear in my eye and said, “what have we done? Did you see how big those 5th graders are?” We just sent our little girl to the “dogs” In reality the schools do a wonderful job of not having the grades cross paths that often so the little ones are not getting run over by the really big kids, and the smile on my daughters face when I picked her up after that first day eased all the anxiety that I had throughout the day while she was there. She loved it and has loved every day of kindergarten, every day of1st grade, every day of 2nd grade and I have a feeling she will love every day of 3rd grade!