Nervous for your incoming kindergartner?
Here’s 5 ways parents can help their children
As the summer winds down and back-to-school ads abound, Wisconsinites are preparing to trade in the dog days of summer for the start of the school year.
Whether your family is counting down the days or dreading the transition, it helps to be prepared. Child development experts say this stands true for even the youngest students.
Here are five things to do to ensure your kindergartner’s year gets off to a great start.
Practice, practice, practice
Change can be scary for everyone — especially those starting school for the first time. Letting your child know what they can expect out of kindergarten can help ease anxiety.
Because children often struggle with routines, Dana Bain, a referral specialist and training coordinator at Child Care Resource and Referral Fox Valley in Kimberly, suggested making a visual schedule for children to follow in the days leading up to school’s start. This will get them used to following sequences and transitioning from one activity to the next, which is a huge part of school.
In the last weeks of summer, start adjusting your child’s sleep schedule to mimic school nights.
“Get your child ready for their new schedule with earlier wake-up times in the morning and earlier bedtimes,” Bain said. “It can be tricky because we’re trying to squeeze in as much summer as we can, but this can help tremendously with transitioning them.”
Tours, meet-and-greets and readiness programs
While each school district is different, many offer opportunities for children to get a taste of kindergarten before the year officially starts.
For example, the School District of West De Pere offers “Kindergarten
Camp,” in August, and in June, the Appleton Area School District hosted a program called “Kindergarten Here I Come!” at select summer school sites. These programs can help students adjust to school environments, playing with peers, and hone other skills essential for a successful year.
While it is late in the summer, and some of these opportunities might have passed, parents whose little ones will start school in the next couple of years might want to keep these kinds of events on their radar for the future.
Parents can also see whether their child’s school offers orientation nights, or if they could schedule a separate time to meet with their child’s teacher and tour the school building.
Even driving by the school and pointing out important spots, such as where they will be picked up and dropped off and the playground, can be helpful.
Practice safety, independence skills
This tip can make all the difference, Appleton’s Edison Elementary Principal Katie Schmeltzer said.
Incoming kindergartners should know how to go to the bathroom by themselves, keep track of their belongings and who they can go to for help. Bain, whose child completed kindergarten this past school year, said knowing how to play nicely with others and dress themselves also goes a long way.
In case of an emergency, they should know their full name, address, parents’ names, parent contact information and name of their teacher and school, Schmeltzer said. It can also help for them to know a backup emergency contact. Parents can have their children practice reciting this information, as well as write it down and have their child carry it with them.
Collaboration is key
It’s not parents’ responsibility alone to make sure their child learns in school. However, Schmeltzer said, singing silly alphabet songs in the car won’t hurt.
Parents should talk to their child about their school day, and feel comfortable bringing any concerns to their child’s teacher.
Sometimes, additional learning supports may be necessary. Those worried about their child’s development can seek help from both the school and their child’s doctor.
“We can help you decide where your child is at in their development and (if needed) where would be a good start for a developmental assessment,” said Dr. Hillary Herman, a pediatrician who cares for patients at Ascension Northeast Wisconsin’s St. Elizabeth Campus. “The public school districts have developmental screenings that help assess the need for speech therapy, special classes or an IEP (individualized education program).”
Get excited!
“Children are like sponges” is a common saying in early education. Bain said this can be used to parents’ advantage when getting their little ones ready for school.
“Start talking about the fun and new things the child will learn and experience at school: Field trips, music times, reuniting with friends, recess and lunch time are all things that kids get really excited about,” Bain said. “If we, as parents, can get excited, then hopefully they can get excited, too.”
Madison Lammert covers child care and early education across Wisconsin as a Report for America corps member. She is based at the Post Crescent in Appleton. To contact her, email mlammert@gannett.com or call 920-9937108.
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