16
Back to School 2016
Getting ready for kindergarten
S
chools across the country are getting ready to
once again open their doors and welcome new and
returning students. The newest crop of kindergarten-
ers will be among the fresh faces roaming the hallways
and classrooms, and parents can take steps to make this
transition go more smoothly.
Although many children attend preschool, kindergarten typi-
cally marks a child's initial foray into formal education. It can
be a time of wonder, new experiences and rapid educational
growth. Kindergarten also can stimulate nerves and fears
about the unexpected. Preparing children for kindergarten
requires a little finesse to make this significant milestone in a
kid's life that much more special.
• Speak often about kindergarten. Talking openly and
excitedly about kindergarten is one way to spur a child's
interest in school. As the fi rst day of school approaches,
bring it up in conversation and see how your youngster
feels about kindergarten. Some children are anxious to
begin this new chapter in their lives, while others are
daunted by the prospect of starting school. Understand-
ing how your child feels about kindergarten can help you
more effectively deal with any apprehension he or she
might have.
• Schedule a tour. Some schools have programs in place
to introduce incoming kindergarteners to the school and
the curriculum. For others, you may have to request a
visit to the school. Such visits can be helpful, especially
if your child does not have an older sibling already in
the school and is completely unfamiliar with the build-
ing. Sometimes just being able to see what the school
and kindergarten classroom looks like is aa enough to
assuage fears.
• Start adjusting kids' schedules. Summer vacation and
pre-kindergarten life may be about retiring to bed late
and waking up much later than the start of a typical
school day. But such schedules are no longer realistic
once kids begin school. Help kindergarteners-to-be ac-
climate to their new schedules by gradually changing
their bed times and wake times in the weeks leading up
to the fi rst day of school. Five-year-olds need between
10 and 12 hours of sleep each
night.
• Let kids choose some
school supplies. Encourage
youngsters to join you as
you shop for school supplies,
which may excite kids about
school and help them feel
more actively involved. That
new backpack or folder your
child picked out can be a
source of pride and a security
blanket for the fi rst few days
of school.
• Encourage kids' independence. A kindergarten teacher
will be supportive and nurturing but will not be a sub-
stitute parent for the class. Children should be able to
do certain things for themselves when entering kinder-
garten. Taking their jackets on and off, packing up their
belongings, cleaning up toys and other supplies and
following directions are just a few things kids should be
able to do on their own upon entering kindergarten. It
may be tempting to do everything for your preschooler,
but kids who are too dependent may struggle to accli-
mate to kindergarten.
preschool, and such familiarity can make the transition
that much easier for youngsters. Some preschools mirror
the curriculum of the local elementary school district, in-
troducing students to the types of lessons they eventually
will learn in kindergarten. Make note of these similari-
ties in an effort to calm any jitters kids may have about
starting school.
• Encourage kids to spend
time with their peers. Your
child may benefi t from
spending time with other
kids their age and shar-
ing their expectations of
kindergarten. Such dialogue
can remove some of the
unknown of starting school.
• Don't pressure kids at the
last minute. There is no way
to cram when preparing
for your kindergartener's
fi rst day of school. Rushing
through fl ash cards or quiz-
zing kids on the alphabet
may just make
them nervous
about the start
of school.
• Make note
of the simi-
larities between
preschool and
kindergarten.
Kindergarten
may not be so
different from
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Preschool!
5 Days a Week - 5 Hours a Day
South Lane School District is taking applications
for a new federally funded Preschool Program for
children 3-5 years old to begin in September
All families in South Lane are eligible to apply
regardless of your home school attendance area.
The Preschool Classrooms will be located at
Dorena and Bohemia schools
Income eligibility requires families to earn
no more than 200% of poverty level
(approximately $50,000. for a family of 4)
Interested families please call the
South Lane School District Family Resource Center
541-942-4967
Or register today with
United Way of Lane County at 541-741-6000