Preview: Preparing for kindergarten is sometimes harder for MOM than for the kindergartener!
Tips for preparing for kindergarten!
Preparing for kindergarten is more than just buying school supplies and getting cute back-to-school clothes! This is a huge step in your little one’s life and preparing for kindergarten success is a family affair! Often Mom needs preparation for kindergarten more than the child. You and your child can ease through the transition to kindergarten by having a few strategies in place. Knowing how to prepare your child emotionally for kindergarten (and preparing Mom emotionally!) is just as simple as planning his kindergarten activities! You got this Mom!
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Preparing MOM for kindergarten
Are you putting your precious baby on the bus for the first time this year? Are you more scared than he is? Sometimes it is MOM who needs to prepare for that huge trip to the first day of kindergarten!
You are not alone.
“One of the most amazing little boys is going to kindergarten this year. I remember the day his Dad held him up in the nursery window. I’ll never forget my first look at my new nephew. I could not have guessed how much he would change my life. You see, this little guy is the reason I changed my mind and decided that I did, in fact, want kids. He was the cutest, most precious little thing and he was so amazing that I NEEDED one! I will never be able to thank him for that gift he gave me.
Watching my little sister become “Mom” was also a gift. From parties to Pampers and high heels to baby booties; I am the oldest but this is one time I am very glad she went first. I am so blessed to have someone who has been there to experience “Mom” things with. Now, as her baby takes this step into kindergarten, my heart aches with her to see this 9-pound bundle of baby joy put on his backpack and climb up into the bus that will take him to his first of day of “real life”.”
(I actually wrote that part a while ago: my nephew is now in fourth grade. Where does the time go?! Now I have a 5-year-old myself. One day they are toddling next to our feet and the next they are tieing their shoes on the way to kindergarten).
So here is some support for the Moms who have to send their babies off into the cold, cruel world of kindergarten. Okay, for the kids it is actually the warm, fuzzy world of musical fun- but that is not how Mom sees it!
A little wisdom from other Moms who have been through it and lived to tell their stories:
When Kindergarten Feels Like The Beginning Of The End– From www.thecolemines.com
7 Things I Wish I’d Known Before My Child Started Kindergarten– From www.ohhonestley.net
(Where would we be without other Moms?! Thank You to Moms)
I hope these stories provide you with some comfort that everything is going to be okay. At the end of that dreaded first day, when he comes home and tells you how much fun he had- you will be so proud of him. You should also be proud of yourself for doing the absolute hardest job in the whole world- and doing well. You have raised a helpless, tiny baby into a productive little student. Way to go Mom!
Now we must prepare mom and child for the first big day.
How not to miss your child while they are at school 😉
and vice versa…
I don’t have a big secret that will make you not miss your kid. It is an instinct that cannot and should not be ignored. It is the call to protect our child. We can’t stop it, but we can manage it so they can learn their ABC’s!
Try having a mommy-and-me (or family) token that each of you can keep with you during the day to remember that you are close at heart even when you aren’t physically together. This can help everyone feel connected all the time. Here are a few ideas:
>Mom and son– (I love the encouraging saying on this dog tag!)
>Hug Button- If you haven’t heard of the hug button, you will love this idea to give your child a “hug” while they are at school! It was created by a mom because her son was missing her at school: LINK to read more
> Thumbprint jewelry- Make a custom piece using your own thumbprint that you and/or your child can carry all day. Make one HERE or purchase one HERE
You can also leave little notes in their backpack or lunchbox, give them something of yours (such as a hair clip) to hold onto, or even a picture to keep in their pocket. A little token goes a long way when your child (or you!) is feeling sad.
What Mom needs while preparing for kindergarten
Kleenex– Don’t shy away from the warehouse packs. It’s gonna be a long year of happy tears! I love these Go Anywhere packs because they have a clipable handle so you can hang it from your purse or the kids’ bookbags:
Portable printer– You don’t want all of those adorable “first” photos to hide on your cell phone! You can get these portable printers that connect wirelessly to your phone and print on demand. Print your pictures right away and make a keychain, send to grandma, or have a recent photo in case of emergencies. You can also get a digital camera that prints pictures right from the camera itself:
Artwork display case– you will want to proudly display the kindergarten masterpieces! Here is a super cute and easy frame that lets you change out the picture every time your little Picasso brings one home:
Tip! You don’t need to keep every masterpiece and have a house full of paper. Just take a picture of each piece and make a photo book of all their creations. This way you can treasure every piece of artwork without storing tons of paper!
What do kids need when preparing for kindergarten?
You’ve already bought the cute backpack, trendy lunchbox, and adorable back-to-school clothes. You even got the supply list from your new favorite kindergarten teacher. But what else does your child need to prepare for kindergarten? A few things we can’t buy at Target but can make all the difference this school year!
~ Set Expectations– talk about the school process in detail. Go over the morning routine, drop off, school day, lunch, pick up, and even bedtime routine. Knowing what to expect makes things less scary. Try to keep the routine as smooth as possible to avoid extra stress. (Routine cards can be a big help!)
~Read Kindergarten prep books! Reading fictional stories about going to kindergarten helps children realize that they aren’t the only ones who are a little nervous and that it’s okay to have butterflies. These books help ease first-day fears and get them excited for their adventure! (My favorite is Llama Llama misses Mama!)
~ Help them feel secure– Using a mommy-and-me token from above is a great start. You can also explain that Mom or Dad will always come back to pick them up. Be prompt at pick up to reassure their trust. Try explaining where you will be and make it a point to connect with them as soon as you see them after their school day. An extra-long hug or tight squeeze and saying “I missed you” can go a long way in helping your child feel secure.
~Promise some extra family time– Since this is likely the longest they will be away from family, promise some extra family time to spend after school. I call this “filling their Mom bucket” so their hearts are full and they can concentrate on other things without needing to look for attention. Sign up for our free 7 Day Family Time Challenge to dedicate this little extra time that they need during the transition.
~ Work on the basics– Being familiar with the concepts they will learn in class is a great way to start off their school experience with confidence. Rehearsing letters, recognizing numbers, practicing scissor skills, and knowing how to listen during storytime are really important to your child’s transition to kindergarten. Already being familiar with these skills helps your child transition to a school environment, feel confident in their abilities, and get excited about learning!
Here are a few fun, learning activities that review some of those skills:
Practice writing their name (I taught my kids to write their names using this trick!)
Reading– According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children who read aloud with their parents and engage in storytime experience stronger parent-child relationships and learn valuable language and literacy skills. (healthychildren.org).
Happy Spider craft (scissor skills)
These fun little activities are great for preparing for kindergarten school work (and also for spending some extra mommy-and-me time!).
Now that Mom has spent five years preparing for kindergarten, your kindergartener has all the tools he needs, and the family has a solid plan in place to help everyone through this transition, your family has everything you need for an amazing kindergarten school year!
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