How to Help Your Child Transition from Preschool to Kindergarten

Getting ready for kindergarten is a very big deal. As the old adage suggests, first impressions are often lasting impressions, so the importance of making sure your child's first impression of " big school" is positive can't be over-emphasized. While both daycare and preschool can be helpful in some areas, transitioning from preschool to kindergarten will present some challenges to all children as they venture into the unknown. Here are some tips for making the transition from preschool to kindergarten smooth.

As soon as your school releases class lists, see if you child may already know a few of his new classmates and try to arrange one or two play dates. That way, he won't feel like he is walking into a room full of total strangers the first day.

If possible, visit the school with your child even before orientation. Visiting when there fewer people are around will allow you to help her understand the layout of the building and help minimize fear of getting lost.

Don't skip orientation. No one knows your child as well as you do, but professional educators can help both you and your child be as prepared as possible for this new experience.

Start talking about school supplies. Until you know the specific requirements for your child's classroom, you may not want to invest in supplies that can't be used, but this worksheet will help you show your child some things he may expect to need for school and he'll enjoy coloring it.

At least two weeks before school starts, begin the transition toward a school-friendly family schedule. The time from getting up to eating a healthy breakfast and dressing independently with minimal distraction should be gradually shortened so that mornings at home before leaving for school will be pleasant and positive. This will build self-esteem and help your child have the confidence to succeed in school.

Well-disciplined children do best in school. I remember watching a young mother trying to navigate the grocery store with an infant and preschooler. The child ran up and down aisles, pulling things off shelves, and ignoring all his mother's yelling at him. When they exited the cashier shook her head and expressed her sympathy for "that poor mother!" I felt sorrier for the poor teacher who would eventually have to deal with him and a whole room full of other 5-year-olds! To succeed in school children must be able to listen and follow directions.

Minimize TV. and computer time and maximize planned interactive play. Even if your child actively participates in the best educational television programming, he is still missing the spontaneity of interacting with live peers. Teamwork and cooperation can't be learned without experience.

Engage your child in ply that encourages physical, mental, and social development. Old time games like "Simon Says" and "I Spy" encourage children to listen, think, and respond to a variety of suggestions. You can incorporate so much in these simple games. For example, " I spy something that is gray. It's small, but not tiny. It's hard but not rough." This helps a child discriminate color, size and texture as he looks for an object such as a stone. The variations are endless and the experience is truly priceless!

Provide a variety of experiences away from the routine. Get together with another family with young children and take a nature walk or visit a petting zoo. Is there a children's museum nearby that provides hands-on activities? Children are like sponges, just waiting to soak up all the knowledge they gain from a variety of positive experiences.

Encourage participation in a sport or hobby with other children his age. This is not to emphasize competitiveness, but cooperation! Introducing children to team endeavors is one more way to prepare them for the transition from pre-school to kindergarten. However, don't fall into the trap of keeping your child so busy he doesn't have time to develop a true sense of self. The Over-Scheduled Child by Alvin Rosenfeld, M.D., addresses this issue.

The most important thing you can do to help your child in getting ready for kindergarten is reading to her everyday. Don't hurry through books but use them to stimulate thinking by asking questions to check for comprehension, and predict what will happen next. She will learn more about critical thinking and analysis if you ask her if the character would make a good friend. Don't worry about total accuracy. The goal is to encourage attention to details that will lead to better comprehension when she starts reading for herself.

Finally, give your child the silent treatment. Did I just hear you say, "This guy is nuts!"? Here's what I mean. Non-verbal communication, beginning with a game of making exaggerated faces and having the child label the emotion being shown, is a good way to help your child become more aware of body language. Awareness of the feelings of others will help in developing relationships and in avoiding unpleasantness.

Here's to you and your youngster making a smooth transition from preschool to kindergarten. Best wishes.