For most children, starting Kindergarten is exciting and
rewarding. But it also can be a time of anxiety and stress
about the unknown. It is normal for your child to have
mixed feelings. He may feel excited about his new school,
new backpack and new friends. But he may also have
some worries about how he will manage.
Before the first day:
• Talk to her about her feelings about starting school.
Reassure her that her feelings are normal. Share
some of your memories of starting school to show
her you understand.
• Keep a positive attitude about starting school.
Children often behave according to our
expectations. Children who are enthusiastic about
learning generally do well in Kindergarten.
• Practice walking to school or to the bus stop in the
weeks before the first day of school, so it will be a
familiar routine.
• Start the bedtime and wake-up schedule you will
use during the school year.
• Let your child pick out his clothes for the first day.
• Talk about food preferences for nutritious snacks
and lunch items. Practice opening lunch containers.
• Ask the educator for a list of school items your child
will need (usually a backpack, shoes with Velcro
fasteners, and a lunch container). Label everything!
The morning of the first day:
• Get up early enough to eat a calm, unhurried
breakfast.
• Keep the morning routine as normal as possible.
• When it’s time to say goodbye, make it quick,
light, and reassuring. Try not to communicate any
feelings of anxiety.
After school:
• Now is the time to start time-saving routines. For
example, designate a special spot where she
keeps her backpack, and school notes.
• Spend time after school talking about his day.
Some children will offer a detailed description,
others may require prompts, such as “What was
your favourite activity today?” or “What did you do
at recess?”
• Plan a special dinner to celebrate.
2017-07-28_Ready-for-Kindergarten-booklet.pdf