5 tips to make starting kindergarten less stressful

Most kindergartens organize an orientation day for new students. This sneak peek, usually held in May or June, gives kids a chance to see what the school is like, explore the classroom, and meet their future teachers and classmates. The visit is also an opportunity for your child to do the following:

• Gain self-confidence
• Ask questions
• Get excited about the beginning of the school year
• Make positive connections with the school and staff
• Become familiar with the school layout (e.g., classroom, washrooms, lockers)
• Etc.

Likewise, orientation day gives parents an opportunity to find out more about the following:

• The school’s daily routine
• How the daycare service works
• School activities
• The school rules
• The school team
• Etc.

Invite your child to imagine what their first day will be like. Don’t set the bar too high, however—you don’t want to create false expectations and leave our little one feeling disappointed if what they’d imagined doesn’t line up with reality. To get the ball rolling, ask your child some simple questions:

• What are you going to have for breakfast?
• What outfit will you wear?
• What would you like to pack for your lunch and snack?
• Can you name one thing you’ll see when you arrive at school (e.g., the playground, a friend, the teacher)?
• When you get to the classroom, what do you think you’ll do first (e.g., organize their school supplies, read a story)?
• Etc.

Reading is a great way to learn about new situations and emotions. After reading a book about starting kindergarten, ask your child a few questions to help them put their feelings into words. For example, you could ask the following:

• What do you and the main character have in common (e.g., they’re starting school, they’re happy to be going to kindergarten, they’re sad to be away from their parents all day)?
• What would you want me to say to you if you were in that situation?
• What would make the character feel better?
• Etc.

Children often have difficulty situating themselves in time. As a result, they can get anxious or excited ahead of big changes. To help your little one count down the days to starting kindergarten, try making them a special back-to-school calendar. You could also encourage them to do the following:

• Count how many bedtimes are left before the big day
• Write down their mood each day
• Identify a few specific goals (e.g., buy school supplies, play in the schoolyard, label their supplies)
• Etc.

Routines are important both in and out of school. They help children feel secure and add structure to their days. As kindergarten approaches, routines become even more important. They encourage children do the following:

• Fall asleep and wake up at a fixed time
• Get used to having a morning schedule (e.g., wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush their teeth)
• Gain a certain level of autonomy
• Anticipate future events
• Etc.

To help your child adjust to their new routine, consider using a chart such as the one suggested in our article on the benefits of a homework routine.