How to Prepare Your Future Kindergartner for a School Routine

If you remember your first day at school, you will recall that it was probably a bit traumatic. Getting your future kindergartener prepared for a school routine should keep this in mind. While, going to school, or going back to school, is fun for a lot of kids, for others it's a scary experience.

It's vitally important to approach back to school prep, and especially kindergarten prep, with tons of patience. The time to start preparing your future kindergartner for the routine of school is about a year in advance. Kindergarten routine is easier for your child to adjust to if they've spent time in preschool, so you should consider enrolling your child in preschool the year before you plan to enroll him or her in kindergarten.

Here are some helpful hints to guide you in preparing your future kindergartner for school routine, and make going back to school a pleasant experience.

Develop Individual Skills

Most kindergartens expect entering students to be able to talk, walk, and run; hold pencils and crayons; and have adequate verbal skills to be able to participate in activities. Reading to your child regularly helps to develop cognitive skills. Teach your child to recognize colors and shapes. It also doesn't hurt to start early teaching the child numbers, counting, and a few basic words. Some children can learn to read as early as preschool, and these skills will ensure better academic performance throughout the child's school years.

Before you enroll your child in kindergarten, ensure that you have taught him how to dress himself. It goes without saying that your child should be able to go to the bathroom alone, and understands basic hygiene such as washing hands after use of the toilet.

Teach your child how to take care of her own things by requiring her to do so at home. Assigning tasks such as picking up clothes and toys and putting them in the proper place are important school prep activities.

Group Skills

Talk to your child about sharing with others, and being considerate of the feelings of others. Reinforce positive behaviors and avoidance of negative actions such as hitting others, or taking things that belong to others.

You've probably warned your child against talking to strangers. You are now faced with the task of explaining that the teacher and the other kids in the kindergarten class are not strangers, but friends. Your child should still be cautioned against talking to or accepting things from other strangers, and be told to tell the teacher if approached by a stranger near the school.

Getting Your Future Kindergartner Ready for the Big Day

If your child has not attended preschool, he or she might be apprehensive about being away from home without you. Begin early to accustom your child to your not being around. If preschool is not an option, occasionally leaving the child at a registered day-care center can help.

Check with the school to ensure your child has all required vaccinations well before enrollment date. It's also a good idea to check with the school for a list of materials your child should have on the first day of school. A small backpack is handy for carrying and storing books, crayons and other materials. Stenciling or sewing the child's name on the backpack is also a good idea.

Starting early to prepare your child for the school routine will pay big dividends in ensuring a pleasant experience for both of you.

References:

http://www.illinoisearlylearning.org/index.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_4547553_child-ready-kindergarten.html

http://dpi.wi.gov/ec/begin-sch-yr.html