| My son is only days away from his first day of | | | | screeners included a friend from church who is also |
| kindergarten. He is excited but a little nervous. I am | | | | one of his Sunday School teachers. Soon I could point |
| confidant that he will be able to start off his public | | | | out even more teachers that he would know as well |
| school career with a bang and not a whimper | | | | as how many students are familiar and he soon forgot |
| because I have done a great deal to prepare him for | | | | his reluctance to attend the new school. By the time it |
| this exciting new event.Granted my child has a head | | | | he attended kindergarten open house he knew that |
| start over some kindergarten students because he | | | | one of his friends had the same kindergarten teacher |
| attended preschool, but even so I took five key steps | | | | and that an older friend had the same teacher a few |
| to help him make the transition to a new school, new | | | | years before. On the night of open house he was |
| teacher, and new experience. These five steps can | | | | soon meeting his future classmates and playing |
| help parents prepare their new kindergarten student | | | | together like old friends.Go Over The ScheduleWhile I |
| for this important life event.Introduce The SpaceI took | | | | don't know a minute-by-minute plan for his kindergarten |
| advantage of every opportunity offered to bring my | | | | day, I do know from talking with school officials and his |
| son into the building where he will attend school. We | | | | teacher approximately how my son's day will go. I |
| toured his classroom and school, attended the | | | | have gone over the big picture scenario with him |
| kindergarten open house, and every time we had to | | | | several times. I don't expect him to memorize his |
| bring paperwork to school I made sure to bring my son | | | | schedule even to remember much of the detail. But I |
| as well. Long before the start of school my son knew | | | | know that he likes to have an idea of how his future |
| which school would be his when he started | | | | will unfold. This same child always asks for directions |
| kindergarten. Long before the first day of school my | | | | when we are going on a trip even though he is 11 |
| son was familiar with his classroom and the basic | | | | years away from driving.Introducing your child to the |
| layout of the school.Introduce Key PeopleMake sure | | | | main events of the day will help take some of the fear |
| that your child has a chance to meet her teacher | | | | and uncertainty out of those first days of school when |
| before school begins. Simply having one familiar face | | | | so much is strange and unfamiliar.Make Up Some |
| on the all-important first day will make a big difference. | | | | GuidelinesStarting school will mean your child is likely |
| If your child will ride the bus then try to introduce her to | | | | inundated with a long list of new rules governing their |
| the bus driver as well. Attend your school's open | | | | behavior, their schedule, and their education. It can be |
| house or visit school before the first day to also | | | | rather overwhelming for young children. While my son |
| introduce other key teachers and staff members such | | | | is learning the specifics, I gave him these three broad |
| as the school nurse, librarian, principal, etc. The more | | | | guidelines to help him make better decisions about how |
| people who are friendly, smiling and familiar when | | | | he should behave in school:1. Listen to his teachers |
| school starts then the less intimidating school will be to | | | | 2. Be kind to others |
| a young child.Find Some FriendsMy son didn't want to | | | | 3. Try his bestReally, all the other rules he will |
| say good-bye to his preschool and move on to | | | | encounter in school will simply be refinements of these |
| kindergarten and elementary school. However when I | | | | three basic rules.Use these five simple steps to |
| pointed out the number of his friends who would | | | | prepare your child for kindergarten and to ease the |
| attend his new school he started to get interested. | | | | transition into school life. |
| When he went for kindergarten screening one of the | | | | |