You easily locate the back-to-school aisle and review the list of kindergarten school supplies for your child. However, questions and concerns arise for prospective kindergarten parents about how to promote a successful school experience that do not appear on a neatly printed list. MayoClinic.com reports that a positive kindergarten experience sets the stage for future school successes. Make of list of basic information you should know before your child begins kindergarten.
Expect Changes in Communication
Preschool teachers and daycare providers send home daily updates that report a child's playing, eating and napping activities. It is unlikely that you will receive daily communication from your child's kindergarten teacher. Expect to receive an invitation to meet the teacher prior to the new school year. Some teachers prefer to hold an "open house" event for parents and new students a few days before the first day of school. Additional communication includes newsletters that inform parents of special school events and notification concerning one or two parent-teacher conferences.
Partner with your Child's Teacher
The Harvard Family Research Project indicates that parental involvement supports student success. Discuss with your child's kindergarten teacher a plan to share responsibility for your child's success. Establishing and maintaining home-school communication helps to define parent and teacher roles, and solidifies the partnership. Ask your child's teacher what form of communication is convenient and how she prefers to contact parents. You do not have to wait for the teacher to contact you.
Share Information that Influences Success
Your child's preferred activities, family issues, medical conditions, religion and anxieties function as potential advantages or deterrents to her success. Your child's teacher welcomes information that influences your child's personality, motivation and perseverance. For example, share a recent accomplishment or challenge that your child encountered. Tell the teacher how your child responds to disappointment and frustration, and include strategies used at home that comfort her during a crisis.
Stay Involved
Establish and maintain a pattern of involvement in your child's kindergarten experience. In addition to meeting your child's teacher, meet the school principal and ask for suggestions related to supporting the teacher and staying involved. Opportunities for volunteering in the classroom abound and range from being the "class parent" to chaperoning a field trip. If your work schedule precludes direct participation in classroom activities, don't despair. Volunteer to serve on a committee or assist with a fundraising event directed by the school PTO or PTA.
Address Concerns
Schools usually require that a child be 5 years of age before enrolling in kindergarten. However, chronological age is not the sole criterion for determining kindergarten readiness. Consider your child's communication, listening, social and motor skills. For example, children who struggle with self-control and how to express feelings appropriately typically spend less time engaged in academic learning activities and more time practicing social skills. Consult with your child's pediatrician or preschool teacher if you have concerns relating to your child's developmental readiness for kindergarten.
References
- Scholastic: Kindergarten Parents
- Scholastic: What Kindergarten Teachers Wish Parents Knew
- Scholastic: 10 Things Your Child's Teacher Needs to Know
- Harvard Family Research Project: Parent-Teacher Conference Tip Sheets for Principals, Teachers, and Parents
- MayoClinic.com; Kindergarten Readiness: Is Your Child Ready for School?; December 2010
