For your kid, transitioning to kindergarten is a whole new ball game. Unlike preschool, kindergarten introduces your child to more challenging courses. The rooms are larger, and there are a lot more people than in his preschool. Your child will spend a longer time at school and will have to sit and learn patiently for hours and in a more controlled environment.
Let them know what to expect.
Transitioning from preschool to kindergarten learning in Indianapolis is no small feat. For your child to transition smoothly into the kindergarten routine, you need to give him some form of orientation. He should know what he should expect in his new school. Let him understand what assembly is going to be like, what the routine is, and how should expect to meet new people. You can share some of your personal experiences with him.
Take advantage of educational books and videos to further buttress your point. It should be an exciting story, and he should understand that learning new things and meeting new people is fun. This will prime him with the right mindset and attitude.
Master the basics.
If you want to improve his learning experience, one of the things you can do is help him master the basics. The best time to practice and help him master all these skills is during the summer holiday. Before and after programs in Indianapolis can help him with homework and let him catch up quickly with kindergarten curriculum. Some of the things you can work on together include;
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Counting to 12.
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Reciting the days of the week and months of the year.
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Identifying letters of the alphabet.
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Teaching him to write his name correctly.
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Recognizing body parts, etc.
Establish a routine.
The schedule in kindergarten is noticeable different than that of preschools or 24 hour open daycares in Indianapolis.
Having a routine at home will not only teach your child about discipline and responsibility but will help him thrive in an academic environment. Set a morning routine, reading routine, and bedtime routine. By doing this, he will have no problems following school schedules or routines. He will act accordingly and follow rules and regulations. When it is time to play, he will pay to his heart's content, and when it's time to get down to business, he gets down to business!
Let your child be familiar with the school.
Being placed in a new environment can be overwhelming for a child and even adults. Thankfully, you can help eliminate this anxiety by letting him see the school before resumption. Most kindergartens do not let your tour the premises as you would with a preschool, but you can get around it. You and your kid can walk around the building, from here you may see the playground, restrooms, etc. You can also check the pictures on the school's website. Your child may get to see his classroom, the assembly hall, etc.
Seeing his teacher would be a plus too. You can also take advantage of the back-to-school night organized by the center. Here, your kid can meet and interact with his teacher and get to know her/him better. Trust us, this will help a great deal in boosting his morale and eagerness to resume.
Give your child a healthy breakfast.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and on the first day, you need to get it right. A grumbling stomach doesn't pair well with a new environment. Let him have a nutritious and filling meal that will make him happy and motivated to start his first day at school.
After his first day.
Talking about school has numerous benefits for you and your child, and it should be part of your daily routine. First of all, you get valuable insights into how your kid is faring at school. It also strengthens the bond and trust between both of you. However, getting your kid to talk is easier said than done. Rather than asking him directly ” how was school today?”, You can take an indirect approach and still get him to talk in detail.
Ask him about his favorite part of the day or if he made new friends. When he talks, observe his body language (kids at this age rarely mask how they feel); if he is showing positive body language clusters(openness, happy tone of voice, smiling, etc), his day went well.
