How to Send Your Kindergartner Off to School

It does not matter who you are, the first day of school for your kindergartner is a monumental day. New clothes will be purchased. Pictures will be taken as your child leaves the house, enters the school building, and of course, when they return home as a full-fledged kindergartner. So off they go with their backpacks filled with school supplies and lunch money; but, wait; which situation best fits your scenario:

A) Your child takes off with his or her teacher without a second glance as you wave goodbye.

B) Your child clings tightly to you, crying and begging you not to leave!

C) You both say good-bye bravely, holding back a few tears (of pride and joy, of course).

For most families, daycare has been a part of the child's daily routine, and therefore, going to school is nothing more than a location change for a few hours of the day. For others, leaving the comfort of home for school can be a drastic change. Regardless, getting your kindergartner ready for school is a process that every parent must go through and requires getting them use to doing something new. Therefore, first thing's first.

1. Prepare your child for their school physical. Going through the routine of a school physical can be a bit daunting for a five-year-old. Let's face it; no one ever really gets use to peeing in a cup. Then, there is the possibility of shots, if your immunization records are not current. Remind them that most of what is done for a kindergarten physical is usually done at their yearly exam. It is no big deal and every child has to do it before their first day of school.

2. Let your child shop for school supplies with you. There is no denying that shopping for school supplies use to be one of the highlights toward the end of summer. Sure, you wished that there was more time to play with your friends and have fun, but the thought of new backpacks, clothes, shoes, and supplies was kind of exhilarating. Now, as an adult, you stress about the lines, the costs, and the general chaos that is "back-to-school shopping." The best thing you can do, as a parent, is to get a good night of sleep, grin, and bear it. Your parents did it for you and you should do it for your kindergartner. The truth is that it will be a long day. Shopping for the essentials usually is. There are so many decisions to make! Instead of dreading it, think of it as an opportunity to really connect with your kindergartner before they go off to school (where other kindergartners will influence them).

3. Take care of everything the night before the big day. There is a good chance that your kindergartner has already packed, and unpacked, and repacked their school bag. The night before is a good opportunity to double-check their bag for everything on their list. Along with their bag, pick out the clothes that your child will wear for the first day. Talk about why they want to wear that. Every parent has an idea, when assessing their child's closet, of what the perfect "first day of school" outfit should be like. Unfortunately, the best "first day" outfit is the one that your kindergartner feels most comfortable in, provided it is school appropriate.

4. Plan a special morning for that first day of school. If you are able, take the first part of the day off from work. Make your kindergartner a breakfast that they enjoy, as well as one that will fill them up. By making the morning special, you reduce the chance of any nervousness that is creeping up as the time nears to leave for school. This is also a good opportunity for you to gauge how your child is feeling. Talk to him or her about any questions or concerns that they might have. Reassure them that this is a wonderful thing and how much fun school will be for them. They get to learn new things and play with new friends. You can also reminder them that this is the first day of school for all kindergartners, so other kids will feel nervous, anxious, and excited, just like them!

5. Walk your kindergartner into school. It's the first day! Take the time to walk them in and introduce them to their teacher, if they haven't already met them. Hold their hand if they need it, but otherwise, stand back and watch your little one in action. There is a good chance that you will be pleasantly surprised at how well they do. If they are nervous, help them through it, but if you are not helping the situation by being there, it may be time to say goodbye.

Kindergarten not only helps teach the basics of education, but it also helps children learn independence. It may be hard to leave a crying child, but once you go, they will be immersed in the school experience and should get better. Growing up is hard, for a child and a parent, but it is one of the steps that everyone has to take in life. By preparing your kindergartner for the big day, you will help to reduce the chance for water works from everyone and increase the chance for a wonderful memory of the first day of school to be made.