| Now that Noah is a month into kindergarten I am | | | | shapes and colors. It is also about being able to |
| happy to report that he loves it and is thriving. | | | | listen, observe, and remember. In addition to |
| Every morning he pops out of bed eager and | | | | learning reading, writing and arithmetic, children are |
| ready to go to school. On the weekends he | | | | learning how to negotiate and survive a |
| actually misses school although he does enjoy the | | | | bureaucracy. Even kindergarten students will be |
| opportunity to sleep in. When I drop him off in the | | | | expected to remember their teacher's name, |
| morning he quickly switches into school mode. | | | | their room number and location, their schedule, |
| When I pick him up at the end of the school day | | | | and various other administrative miscellanea (for |
| he is excited to share all his news of the day | | | | example, a lunch code or bus number). The more |
| including what he learned, what happened in class | | | | a child can handle these details for herself the |
| and on the playground, and what he did with his | | | | more confident she will be and the more |
| friends. He loves all his teachers and has made | | | | comfortable with her school day. If she is familiar |
| many new friends.As I spend time in my son's | | | | with the daily and weekly school schedule it simply |
| school and observe his peers I am sad to see a | | | | increases her comfort level. It may seem |
| large group of youngsters who are not enjoying | | | | overwhelming but most kindergarten students |
| their school experience at all. While tears and panic | | | | quickly master the essentials they need to |
| are to be expected the first week of school it is | | | | negotiate the day. The more parents work to |
| sad to see the tears continue after children have | | | | help and support children to master these skills |
| had weeks to adjust to a new way of life. Some | | | | the more the child will succeed.Physical preparation |
| children get over their tears as the day | | | | for school is essential. Children who do not have |
| progresses but others continue to cry through | | | | enough sleep cannot learn effectively and also |
| lunch and even throughout the day. My heart | | | | have difficulty negotiating in the social atmosphere |
| goes out to these little ones who were not | | | | of school as well as have discipline problems. |
| emotionally prepared for school.It is also | | | | Young, growing children need enough sleep to |
| troublesome to see how many children are not | | | | wake up rested and bright-eyed and ready to |
| mentally prepared for school. There are many | | | | face the day. Children must also have proper |
| skills children should master before starting | | | | nutrition to learn. They need enough of the right |
| kindergarten that fall into these basic areas: | | | | kind of food (a balanced diet) to keep their bodies |
| cognitive skills, listening and sequencing, language | | | | healthy and growing. While fashion should not be a |
| skills, fine motor skills, social emotional skills, and | | | | major factor in kindergarten, children should wear |
| gross motor skills. See my article about | | | | clothing suitable to the outdoor weather as well as |
| kindergarten readiness at for more | | | | the classroom activities they will engage in during |
| information.Finally, the worst cases are the | | | | the day. Kindergarten students are often involved |
| children who are not physically prepared for | | | | in physical activities and should wear clothing |
| school. These children have not had enough sleep, | | | | suitable for running, dancing, and jumping as well |
| not had enough food, and are not wearing suitable | | | | as sitting on the floor or at a desk. Of course, |
| clothing. These children also are unable to take | | | | children should also be clean and neat to help build |
| care of themselves in the most fundamental | | | | their confidence and lessen distractions.If you do |
| ways.Parents must prepare their children for | | | | not do your best to prepare your child |
| school emotionally, mentally, and physically or they | | | | emotionally, mentally and physically for school then |
| are setting up their children for failure. Children | | | | you are failing your child and worse you are |
| who have not been prepared for the separation | | | | setting your child up for failure. While early |
| from home and family and children who have not | | | | success does not guarantee continued school |
| been prepared for the school day structure will | | | | success, early failure can haunt a child's academic |
| have difficulty adjusting emotionally to school and | | | | record or worse set up a pattern of expectation |
| a negative experience can have long term effects | | | | and behavior that child will be doomed to repeat |
| on the child's academic success. Work to build | | | | throughout his school life.Do not fail your child. |
| your child's confidence and self esteem so he is | | | | Take full advantage of your child's preschool |
| better equipped to venture out into the world on | | | | years to prepare him for school and for life. |
| his own. Most children successfully transition into | | | | Kindergarten will be here sooner than you |
| kindergarten so it can be done and you should | | | | think.Deanna Mascle shares more tips to help you |
| make it your goal for your child to start school | | | | prepare your child for school and life with her |
| with no tears.Mental preparation for school is | | | | newsletter Preschoolers Learn More. |
| more than simply knowing letters, numbers, | | | | |