Helpful Ways to Prepare Your Preschooler for Kindergarten

Last updated 11 months ago

As your child begins to make the transition from pre-k to kindergarten, he or she may begin to experience a wide range of emotions. He or she may be excited about this step toward growing up, but also nervous about things that might be different. Helping your child work through these emotions will go a long way toward dispelling any anxiety. Part of that involves helping him or her prepare for life after pre-k. Here are some tips to help you along:

Review the Basics. Your child has probably already begun to gain a good grasp of basic shapes, colors, and perhaps a few letters during his or her time in child care or pre-k. Spend a few fun minutes together every night going over concepts already learned to boost your child’s confidence in his or her abilities.

Focus on Friends. Kindergarten, while a stepping stone in formal education, tends to focus more on learning important social and listening skills than on heavy academics. Teach your child the importance of sharing and being respectful of others. Get him or her excited about all the new people to be met and the wonderful opportunities for friends that await in kindergarten.

Take a Field Trip. Everything is less intimidating when one knows what to expect. While you’ll likely have the opportunity to visit the school and meet your child’s new teachers during open house, see if you can arrange a tour of the school at another time. Getting familiar with the layout of the building without the hustle and bustle of open house could be just the thing your child needs to feel confident in his or her new surroundings.

If kindergarten is still a few years off for your little one, or you need child care for after school, contact us at A Child’s World. We believe in providing quality, educational child care that goes far beyond basic daycare centers. Call (215) 519-1993 today to learn more about our child care and pre-kindergarten services.