Your little rug rat is about to embark on a new adventure: kindergarten! But before you can walk your child into a classroom for the first time, you need to figure out registration. Our step-by-step guide will help you through the process.
Kindergarten, also known as preschool, is a very important stage in a child’s schooling. Through classroom games and activities, kids are exposed to new experiences that help them learn to do the following:
- Communicate more easily
- Connect with others
- Assert their personality
- Develop fine motor skills
- Complete projects
- Etc
Kindergarten for 4-year-olds currently remains optional, while kindergarten for 5-year-olds is part of the standard school system.
Children usually attend the school in their local district. In Quebec, however, parents are allowed to enrol their child in the school of their choice, provided certain parameters are respected. For example, the school must meet the following criteria:
- It is governed by the school service centre (French) or school board (English) affiliated with the child’s home address
- It does not exceed its enrolment capacity
- Its group sizes are within the average
- Etc.
On registration day, you’ll need to provide the school representative with certain official documents. Most schools ask for the following:
- The child’s original birth certificate
- Proof of residence documents that include the name and address of the parent or guardian
The list of required documents can vary slightly between schools. For example, some kindergartens ask parents to fill out a questionnaire about their child. It’s a good idea to check with the school you’ve chosen for an exact list of requested documentation.
Registration usually takes place in February or March (dates vary from school to school) for all children who turn 4 or 5 before October 1 of the upcoming school year. The process is simple:
- Contact the administration of your chosen kindergarten
- Schedule an appointment to register your child
- Meet with the school at the agreed date and time
- Bring all required documents
- Keep an eye out for communications from the school
- Etc.
To help you make the transition as smooth as possible, Alloprof has put together this checklist for kindergarten enrolment.
In Quebec, public school is free. However, students who are not Quebec residents are sometimes required to pay tuition fees and make an additional financial contribution.
You’ll soon need to think about how your child will get to and from school. As you go through the registration process, ask yourself the following questions:
- Will my child be taking the bus?
- Will they walk to school?
- Who will accompany them if they walk to school?
- Etc.
If your child will be going to school on foot, consider walking the route with them a few times before their first day. You can also look into Trottibus walking school bus programs in your area.
All schools offer a daycare service for a certain fee. It’s not too early to start thinking about whether and when you’ll need to take advantage of it:
- Before school
- At lunchtime
- After school
- Etc.
In kindergarten, meals are usually provided by the daycare service. Don’t hesitate to ask about the food services at your child’s future school:
- Is there a cafeteria service?
- What’s on the menu?
- Do kids need to bring their lunch?
- Etc.
There are a number of things you can do to prepare your child for kindergarten that will also stimulate their interest in learning. Here are a few examples:
- Take them to visit their future school
- Play in the playground
- Go to your local library
- Read storybooks
- Play games that involve sounds, numbers, and letters
- Encourage your child to express their feelings
- Help build their autonomy
- Praise their efforts
- Etc.
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