Getting Your Child Ready for a Kindergarten Routine

Prepping your child for a Kindergarten routine is very important, especially if your child has never been enrolled in a preschool or daycare program. Establishing routines at home is an important part of transitioning your child into Kindergarten.

Starting with a bedtime schedule is probably the easiest way to begin. You may want to start out with a relaxing bath, offer a snack followed by brushing his teeth and then a story or book before bed. You can even make a chart that he can put stickers on after he finishes each task. As school gets closer you may want to start a morning routine also. These may include getting up, helping to make the bed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth and getting dressed. Some people find it easier to just lay out the whole day on paper from getting up to going to bed. Making charts,using stickers and rewards is a great way to prep your child for kindergarten.

It may be a good idea to talk to your future kindergarten student about following rules and listening to adults. You should make sure your child knows what is expected of him. He must be aware that he needs to let his teachers know where he is at all times. He needs to ask to go to the bathroom or go get a drink of water; these things make your child's transition so much easier.

Your child can be taught what quiet time is. It may be doing a puzzle, drawing or watching a movie. He can learn that this is a time when he needs to be quiet, entertain himself, and not disturb the other children. He also may need to be introduced to the art of waiting. Children this age often expect instant gratification. When there are 20 or more children in any given classroom, your child may be expected to wait for assistance. You may be able to practice this here and there at home. You could say '˜in a minute', could you please wait a minute for me to finish this" or I'll be right there". Patience is something that takes time to learn and letting your child wait even for a few seconds is a good start. Emergencies are in a different category. Your child should always know you'll be there immediately to help him. You may also teach your child that emergencies also demand attention from his teachers.

One of the most important, but underestimated part of preparing your child for school is reading to them. Reading with your child has many benefits. You're sharing quality time with your child. You're teaching your child to read and to express himself by example. You're teaching patience, listening skills, and appropriate social behaviors. Many parents don't realize that reading to your child on a regular basis is a vital part of their development. I cannot stress the importance of putting aside a few minutes each day to read together.

Socializing your child is also important. You can bring him to a swim class, gymnastics or simply to a playground. Allowing him to have the opportunity to interact with other children in a supervised situation is ideal. Your child can learn to express himself to his peers and begin making friends.

Sending your child to kindergarten is a big step for both of you. Being there for your child, letting him know that you love him and are proud of him are the most important thing.