On my son’s first day of Kindergarten, I hid behind a pine tree to spy on him during the first recess. I wanted to make sure he found other children to play with and that he would line up with his class when it was time to go back inside. I stood there for 20 minutes peeking out from behind the tree and chatting with other parents who were doing the same thing.
For many parents, Kindergarten signals a major milestone from the all-consuming baby and toddler years. Suddenly, your ‘baby’ is expected to make more choices on their own, stay focused over a longer period of time, learn new skills and navigate a social circle with less oversight from you. Plan ahead to pave the road to a happier Kindergarten kick-off for all.
Your child may be turning five before your school's deadline, but chronological age should not be the sole determinant of whether he is ready for Kindergarten. It's a huge leap from preschool, day care or the home setting to Kindergarten, with its longer, more structured day, larger class or group size and focus shift from play to academics.
It’s that time again, the days are getting longer, the leaves are turning color and the children are getting excited about a new beginning - well, some children! Most children will experience a new teacher, a new classroom or a new school. With a little preparation, children can move from ‘pool time’ to ‘school time’ without tears.
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