Tips for starting a kindergarten
How to prepare your child for starting kindergarten?
In order for the child to get used to the kindergarten life faster, get sick less, and go to kindergarten in a good mood, they must be prepared for the visit to the pre-school institution in advance and gradually. As this process cannot be done quickly, it begins in the few weeks before kindergarten.
Being in a peer team develops in children:
- attention to the world around you;
- independence;
- interactions with other children.
Before starting kindergarten, the child must be taught to communicate not only with his or her family members, but also with other children and adults. Parents should definitely tell the child about the kindergarten, its regime and what the children are doing there. Take a walk with the child in the kindergarten area so that the child can get used to the new environment. Most importantly - do everything gradually. Graduality is the key to a child's successful adaptation.
When you have decided that it is time for your child to attend kindergarten, don’t be worried yourselves so that your child doesn’t pick up on your anxiety. Do not tell the child about possible difficulties, tell him only the good things. Calmly explain why your child needs to attend kindergarten. Try to give your child a sense of pride in starting a preschool.
Pace of the day
Two or three months before starting kindergarten, you need to adjust your child's daily routine so that he or she wakes up easily in the morning. If your child doesn’t sleep during the day, he should be taught to sleep/lay peacefully in bed. You can tell him about quiet games, careful examination of surrounding objects and memorization of details, dexterity games.
Try to feed your child at the same time: have a clear sleeping and eating routine.
If the child is still using the bottle with the mixture or has any other significant attachments, it is important to inform the kindergarten.
Also, try to get the child to go to the toilet not only when they want to, but in advance: before the walk, before leaving the house, before going to bed.
Be sure to teach your child to use toilet paper, follow hygiene, wash their hands with soap, and blow their nose.
The child should be taught to eat with a spoon, not to play with food, to chew thoroughly and to be silent while eating. In the evening, put the child to sleep no later than 9 p.m.
Adjust your child's meals so that your child eats similar foods at home and in your preschool, this will reduce the chances of your child refusing kindergarten food.
Do not give your child snacks and sweets between meals.
You can get acquainted with the Day Plan of Laumina Residence in the kindergarten here.
9 tips for starting a kindergarten from Laumina residence:
- Pay attention to the home feeding and sleeping regime and gradually equate it to the kindergarten regime.
- Gradually develop the child's communication skills with peers (walk around the kindergarten area, get involved in peer games).
- Gradually teach your child independence and self-care skills.
- Tell the child about the kindergarten, why the children go there and why you want the child to attend the kindergarten.
- Tell the child about the kindergarten: what he will do there and in what order. The more detailed your story is and the more often you repeat it, the calmer and more confident the child will feel in kindergarten.
- Think with your child of a farewell ritual, it will be easier for him to say goodbye to you.
- . In the presence of a child, avoid critical remarks to the pre-school or its staff.
- Never scare a child with a kindergarten.
- About a week before the first visit to the kindergarten, it is necessary to prepare the child so that they can calmly wait for the big event.
"And as the specialists emphasize, first of all, the parents themselves must be ready for the child to start the kindergarten!".
Adaptation process in kindergarten
Your child is starting to attend kindergarten. How will he adapt to the new social environment? This worries both parents and the child. Adaptation is a broad concept that refers to the body's adaptation to the environment. When a child enters a new group, it is stressful because circumstances and environment is changing. Some children adapt in a couple of weeks, some can do it in a month, others in three months, while others need half a year.
The beginning and adaptation of the kindergarten is influenced by:
- The child's character and temperament
- The child's readiness to attend kindergarten
- Kindergarten is attended by brothers and sisters
- How well prepared the child is for change
- Parental attitude, confidence, experience
- Parental involvement
- Kindergarten environment
Positive image of the kindergarten
The idea of a kindergarten for a child is formed by the parents, because a small child does not know what it is at all. In order for the child to feel safe and comfortable, parents are advised to tell positive things about it. If parents do not like something in the institution, it should be discussed when the child is not present. The kindergarten should not scare the child.
Calm and balanced morning action
The morning act should be planned to be calm and slow. Parents should not rush and get angry at the child so that the child can go to kindergarten happy and uplifted. If the morning is successful and the child has not cried, then entering the kindergarten, the child can be praised, give them a favorite toy.
Fast goodbye
Usually the most difficult moment for a child is saying goodbye. Therefore, it is desirable not to stretch the goodbye in length. Give the child a kiss, wish them a nice day and leave. Even if the child cries. Sometimes it is that the mother brings the child, they cry and test the mother - perhaps they will be able to go home?! Often the father brings the child, says goodbye quickly, hugs them, and the child goes to the group calmly.
If the parents know that the separation is difficult, they can bring the child earlier one morning when there are not many children in the group so that the teacher can pay more attention to him.
What kind of stuff is necessary in the preschool?
- Change of clothes. Please provide comfortable clothes, so that the child can learn to dress and undress themself. 2 spare sets of clothes are recommended.
- The recommended shoes for children in the group are sandals.
- Weather appropriate outdoor clothing.
- Pajamas for sleeping.
- Pampers.
- If the child has not yet mastered going to the potty, but the parents want the child to sleep without a pamper, then a waterproof sheet is needed.
- Comb.
- Toothbrush and a toothpaste.
- Under the age of 3, personal water bottle, if the child still drinks from it.
- You can bring one favorite toy.
- Pacifier - if necessary.
Teachers at Laumina Residence kindly remind their parents:
- Make sure the child's clothes are weatherproof (including gloves, hats, etc.).
- Choose clothes that you won’t mind getting dirty.
- Maintain your dressing area in kindergarten, emptying it of everything you need for the holidays.
- Teachers at Laumina Residence will always inform their parents if they need anything else.
- Parents are asked to inform the kindergarten about important things related to the child's health, behavior, habits.