Educators Offer Tips to Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten

As principal at in Brentwood, Kathleen Behrmann emphasizes that it’s important to not let parents’ anxieties influence their children’s expectations.

“Going to kindergarten is a big step for children and families and is a milestone in the family’s life,” she said. “It’s important to remind your child that you are confident that they are ready and you know that they will be successful.”

(See related on Patch: Families Prepare for Kindergarten Transition)

Behrmann recommended several steps to prepare for the big “First Day.”

Help your child:

• Say, write and recognize his or her full name in print.
• Count objects and know the basic shapes and colors.
• Sit and listen to a story for five to 10 minutes.
• Follow simple two- to three-step directions.
• Remember to say “please” and “thank you.”

Develop a routine:

• Set a bedtime; young children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night.
• Plan regular times for meals and chores (even kindergarteners should have a simple chore each day that contributes to the family).
• Limit TV watching; no more than one hour a day.
• Plan time to talk about a child’s day. (Ask specific questions rather than general questions, such as, “Who did you play with today? What did you have for a snack?”)

Develop some basic hygiene habits:

• Wash hands after using the bathroom and before eating.
• Take regular baths or showers.
• Brush teeth at least twice daily.
• Wear clean clothes.
• Take care of toileting needs.

Develop a good rapport with your child’s teacher:

• Stay in communication with the teacher; while kindergarten teachers are extremely busy taking care of children during school hours, they appreciate regular communication by email from parents.
• Let the teacher know if you have concerns about your child. Your teacher wants your child to succeed.

In addition to these tips, Dr. Cyndi Hebenstreit, principal of the Maplewood Richmond Heights Early Childhood Center, suggested several other ideas to consider.

“If possible, help your child get ready for longer attention span activities by lengthening the time of doing a task,” she said.

As an example, she recommended setting a timer and having your child begin by playing with Play-Doh for five minutes and gradually increasing the time to 20 minutes, which is a common length for activities in kindergarten.

Finally, all educators emphasize the importance of reading to your child and encouraging them to read when they are ready. In fact, the sign in front of McGrath Elementary School currently says, “Happy Summer! Read, Read, Read.”

“There is one book I would definitely recommend to parents to help with the first day of kindergarten, and that is The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn,” Hebenstreit said. “It’s a wonderful story about a mother raccoon and her little raccoon and the special gift she gives him to take to school. I think it almost does more for the parents than the child.”