Sending your child off to their first day of kindergarten can be difficult for both parent and child. However, there are many steps that a parent can take to prepare their child for kindergarten and to help them to have a productive and pleasant first year of school. Prior to kindergarten, parents can help prepare their child for the busy year ahead by teaching some educational, social and life skills. Also, being involved in your child’s learning process will help to ensure that your child is getting the maximum benefit possible from school. It will also help your child realize, from an early age, that you are interested in their education and activities. There are many ways for parents to assist their child in their kindergarten year. Taking an active interest in the child’s education through asking questions of your child and his teacher and volunteering in the classroom can all help your child succeed in kindergarten.

Even before the first day of school there are many things that parents can do to prepare their child for kindergarten. Today’s kindergarten classes are much more focused on academics and learning then they were a few years ago. In the last few years the focus of kindergarten has shifted from developing social skills to getting a head start on academic skills such as phonics, mathematics and writing. One of the most important things you can do to prepare you child for kindergarten is to foster a love of learning in your child. Taking your child on outings that are both educational and fun will encourage your child to learn. Use trips to the zoo, aquarium or museums as an opportunity to point out different animals and artifacts and speak to your child about these items. Encourage your child to ask you questions and also take this opportunity to ask your child simple questions to encourage them to come up with creative answers. Reading to your child often is another important way that you can help your child prepare for kindergarten. Many kindergarten programs begin to teach writing skills and by reading to your child, you will be helping them to develop letter recognition skills. Also, reading and re-reading books to your child helps them to develop their listening skills as well as their memory. Both of these skills will greatly benefit your child during kindergarten.

In addition to instilling educational skills in your child, it is also beneficial to instill a few skills that will enable your child to function independently in a classroom setting. Teaching your child to zip up his coat or put on his hat or gloves will be very helpful. These are skills that most teachers expect the students to have learned before entering kindergarten. Allowing your child to learn these skills before they enter kindergarten will help your child to feel confident that they are equal to their peers. Other skills to teach your child before enrolling them in kindergarten are how to feed themselves, follow directions, and play nicely with other children. Mastering these basic life skills will help your child to excel in kindergarten.

Once your child has started kindergarten it is important to take an active interest in your child’s daily activities. Being proactive in your child’s education will not only help to keep your child excited about school and learning, but will also help you to be more aware of what is going on in your child’s school life. Monitoring your child’s daily activities will keep you aware of what is going on in the classroom and will enable you to spot any problems that may arise early on so that they can be corrected quickly. Be sure to ask your child plenty of questions and to encourage them to tell you all the things that they did in school each day. Having your child share their daily activities with you will foster a closer bond between you and your child and will also give your child an opportunity to practice new skills that they may have learned. Besides interacting with your child, another way to stay involved with their education process is to take advantage of opportunities to meet with your child’s teacher. Make an effort to attend parent-teacher conferences and feel free to discuss any concerns with your child’s teacher. Also, keep your child’s teacher informed of any illnesses or activities at home that may have an affect on your child. Volunteering is another way to stay involved in your child’s education process. If your schedule allows, try to chaperone field trips, assist with story time or other activities in your child’s class. Communication with your child and his teacher and volunteering are all ways to help you stay actively involved in your child’s education. Staying involved will help your child to feel positively about kindergarten and will encourage them to actively participate in classroom activities.

Parents can also help their child through the kindergarten year by supporting their child in the learning process and continuing educational activities at home. It is important to remember that even though your child has started school, they still need the encouragement of their parents to continue to learn. You can continue the learning process at home by assisting the child with their homework, reading to your child and pointing out colors, shapes and numbers during daily activities. Also, asking your child simple questions and giving them an opportunity to figure out the answers is another activity that will help your child have a successful kindergarten year. These activities will not only reinforce what is being learned in kindergarten but will also build confidence in your child by giving them an opportunity to prove what they have learned.

The kindergarten year is an exciting time for a child and with parental involvement this year can be a success both academically and socially. Staying involved with your child’s education process and encouraging your child to continue learning at home will ensure that your child gets the maximum benefit out of kindergarten.