Preparing for kindergarten can be child’s play
Q: My first grandchild, Caryn, is entering kindergarten this fall. Both her parents work but she has never been in a preschool. Much family lives nearby so she spends most of her time with us. She’s had a lot of great experience with adults but she’s a little shy with kids and not all that excited about going to school. I worry she’ll have a hard time adjusting and making friends.
A: Allan Yeager, an educator from Sonoma County, CA, says that the biggest difference between kids who’ve come from preschool and those who haven’t is “the social readiness factor. Have those who haven’t had preschool learned to be part of a group? To take turns? To sit when asked to be seated? To follow in a row when filing down the hall? Are they used to sharing, making friends?”
Many kids who’ve not been in preschool have mastered these skills, says Yeager, and can function in a structured setting well. They’ve been taught at home, on the playground, at Sunday school. Others haven’t and they need to get up to speed quickly or they might find themselves on the “time out” mat more than they’d like.
Perhaps you can get your granddaughter into a summer school or day camp so she has some group experience with kids before entering kindergarten. Think of things you can do at the start of school to engage your granddaughter quickly with her new classmates. This could include inviting friends over for a picnic just before the first day so she has a “head start” on friendships; you might talk with the bus driver to make sure he or she encourages your granddaughter to enjoy the social aspects of getting to school, and signing her up for a group such as Daisy Girl Scouts.
You may want to get a book, “My Kindergarten,” by Rosemary Wells (Hyperion, 2004) that helps kids link what kindergartners do at home to what they do in school. It will also give your granddaughter a sneak peek into the classic themes that organize the kindergarten curriculum. It will show her that she already knows a lot and give her confidence to work on social skills.
Teacher Tip: The first day of school is a big deal in a kid’s life — help Caryn build anticipation by creating a “Countdown to First Day” diary. Make it fun and informal with words, photos and even mementos. Write down her thoughts and questions about starting school. As you do this, help her envision what school will be like. For example, “Today we’re weeding in the garden so that the tomatoes will get big and red and we’ll have a good crop to harvest. When you go to school, you’ll learn how to read, write and spell words like ‘red,’ ‘tomatoes’ and ‘harvest.’”
Painting a picture of what school will be like will help her develop excitement about this important milestone and look forward to making new friends. Best of all, the “Countdown Diary” will be something she’ll thank you for and cherish for years.