Enrolling your kindergartner in elementary school is exciting! Kindergarten is an incredible time of learning, growing, developing, and discovering, but it can still be an overwhelming transition for the majority of kids.
If your kindergartner is excited about attending elementary school, here are a few ways to make this big transition easier on them (and you):
- Read together—Chances are, your local library has tons of different books for kids about attending elementary school and going to kindergarten. Check out a few and read them with your kindergartener before the first day of school.
- Practice your morning routine—Getting ready and heading out the door quickly can be a stressful change for kindergartners. Talk about what your new morning routine will look like and run through it a few times before the first day of school arrives.
- Role play different situations—Spend some time playing with your child and acting out different situations they’ll encounter at school. For example, you might try playing out eating in the cafeteria, using the bathroom alone, solving problems with friends, sitting at a desk and listening, etc.
- Prepare for some meltdowns—Your child will come home from their first day of elementary school exhausted. Know there will be some big emotions and don’t let them get to you. It may take a few weeks for your child to get used to getting up and going to school every day.