For many parents, Kindergarten signals a major milestone from the all-consuming baby and toddler years. Suddenly, your ‘baby’ is expected to make more choices on their own, stay focused over a longer period of time, learn new skills and navigate a social circle with less oversight from you. Plan ahead to pave the road to a happier Kindergarten kick-off for all.
Your child may be turning five before your school's deadline, but chronological age should not be the sole determinant of whether he is ready for Kindergarten. It's a huge leap from preschool, day care or the home setting to Kindergarten, with its longer, more structured day, larger class or group size and focus shift from play to academics.
It’s that time again, the days are getting longer, the leaves are turning color and the children are getting excited about a new beginning - well, some children! Most children will experience a new teacher, a new classroom or a new school. With a little preparation, children can move from ‘pool time’ to ‘school time’ without tears.
Remember how excited you were when you started school? At last, you were going to learn to read — the world would be yours? But it didn't happen overnight. There was a lot of hard work that came first. What about your own children? Many things may have changed in school, but it still takes a lot of effort to learn how to read. As a parent you can make it a little easier and a lot more enjoyable for your son or daughter.
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2019 Calgary’s Child
