Transition to Kindergarten

“One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” - Malala Yousafzai

Kindergarten is a big change for your child! We’re talking larger student to teacher ratios, longer periods of time focused on one activity, greater transitions, and longer days away from home.
Lots of the skills you've been practicing support school readiness, especially activities that build unconstrained skills (for example, problem solving). Compared to constrained skills (for example, memorizing the alphabet) these skills can keep getting stronger and stronger. These are learned through experiences, conversations, and play. When your child has warm, trusting relationships with their preschool and kindergarten teachers, those relationships anchor them through the transition to kindergarten.
Children can explore their new environment and take risks, knowing that they can lean on their teachers as secure bases. In the long run, these relationships also support stronger social emotional and academic skills.

Establish routines before the school year starts. For example, breakfast as a family, special music in the car, afternoon snack, bedtime routine. Routines provide a sense of safety.
Learn about the teacher and the school before the school year begins. Do this by visiting the school, meeting the teacher (if that’s possible), and making playdates.
Take the time to practice a typical morning routine with your child several weeks before school (i.e. the breakfast routine, getting dressed, driving to school, drop-off role play). Focus on supporting your child’s unconstrained skills through conversations. “Hm…why is your brother feeling sad when we drop him at daycare?” This supports their understanding of emotions.