Back to School Tips: Kindergarten for First Timers

Sending your little one off to big kid school for the first time will probably be as scary of an experience as it is an exciting one for the both of you. If you're a kindergarten first timer, here are some things to do to get you and your little student ready for the big day.


Buy a Real Backpack
For those interested in practical tips, buying a regular sized back pack may be the buy essays online no plagiarism you get. The adorably decorated, kid sized ones are fun to look at, but they often don't serve much purpose in the kindergarten classroom. Take a peek at the school supply list issued by your child's school and if the items on it (like regular sized folders) along with their lunchbox won't fit comfortably into the cute little back pack you've been eyeing, then you may want to ditch it and invest in a standard sized bag. It may look a little large on your kiddo's back, but it will get the job done and leave their hands free to explore.


Practice Independence
Probably your little person has gotten used to the idea of school thanks to some time spent in a preschool setting of some sort. Regardless of where he spent his days before kindergarten, full day school is going to be a different, exhausting experience with many more expectations. Of course his kindergarten teacher will spend countless hours acclimating your student to the daily rigors of school, but you can aid this transition by doing a little prep work at home. Cut out afternoon naps, give him tasks to complete that require him to be quiet and perform multiple steps, encourage him to open his own food containers, feed himself, and clean up on his own during meals. Give your child plenty of opportunities to practice being independent so that going to school where it's required for hours at a time won't be so traumatic for him.


Discus Procedures
Discuss things like how to board the bus, where to sit on the bus, what to do with his back pack, and what his day will look like once school starts. The unknown is often what's frightening about any new experience so eliminate as much of that as possible. If your child is the particularly anxious type feel free to email his teacher to discuss some of her first day procedures so that you can go over them with him in advance.


Find a Friend
Starting kindergarten can be a lonely experience for a kid so it may be helpful if you can help yours locate someone to go through it with. If your child is particularly anxious or generally shy, having a familiar face in the crowd may help your child feel more at ease. If you know some other families in your neighborhood who will be sending a kindergartener off this year, try to organize some play time before the school year starts, or at least a little meet and greet.


Don't Psyche Them Out
Often it is mom and dad who are the most nervous in these situations. Make sure that you remain positive and put on a brave face for your little one so that they don't succumb to your fears and anxieties. It's normal to shed a tear or two when your little person boards the bus and waves adios for the first time, but try to do it when they are already too far away to see you.

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