First of all, as parents of “pandemic babies,” there must be a recognition that those “boxes” were created for a pandemic-free environment. You have been parenting babies and toddlers in a situation that is unprecedented and educators are aware that there will be deficits in some areas of development.
Every parent wants their child to be prepared and ready for school. However, some parents think that preschool is an unnecessary frill, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Preschool is about more than ABCs, numbers, and childcare. After almost two years of a global pandemic, preschoolers are in desperate need for interaction with other preschoolers. Thankfully, the Government of Alberta has recognized the importance of early childhood education and is offering subsidies on the same criteria as daycares.
While many of us are taking a deep breath and still enjoying a much-needed summer break, some of us might have lingering thoughts about our little one’s upcoming transition to kindergarten, leading to feelings of anxiety, excitement, fear, and worry. Let’s be honest, whether you feel ready or not, the shift to school will be an adjustment for everyone in the family. Luckily, there are some simple ways you can help prepare your child for kindergarten now. Believe it or not, most of these readiness skills do not fall into the realm of academia. Rather, they focus on the social/emotional skills that will set your child up for a successful start to schooling.
On my son’s first day of kindergarten, I hid behind a pine tree to spy on him during the first recess. I wanted to make sure he found other children to play with and that he would line up with his class when it was time to go back inside. I stood there for 20 minutes peeking out from behind the tree and chatting with other parents who were doing the same thing.
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