Kindergarten, here we come! Erm … well … maybe you and your child aren’t feeling quite so ready for elementary school given the state of the world right now. And I’m here to share that what you’re feeling is totally normal. No need to be so hard on yourself — we’re going through a global health pandemic, after all!
Under the looming uncertainty of COVID-19, there is one thing for sure for parents with newly school-aged kids: Preparing for kindergarten has unexpected challenges beyond the typical “back-to-school handbook.” But as we send our young learners to school this fall – in person, or online – it’s important to remember that this is still a significant time for our little ones, and we are capable of guiding them through the process. Children are very perceptive to the changes in the world around them, and it’s up to us to prepare them for what going to school will look and feel like in the fall.
Here are a few tips from me and my partners at First 5 LA on how you can prepare your child and your family for kindergarten, whether that’s virtual school or face-to-face.
Preparing for Virtual Schooling
Bonus Tips for Overall Kindergarten Preparation
- Talk to the Teacher About Expectations
Check in with your child’s teacher ahead of time – if school will be face-to-face, what practices are they planning on implementing in their classroom that you can practice with your child prior to the start of kindergarten? If class is virtual, what behaviors can you begin teaching at home?
- Check in With Your Child’s Emotions
Between juggling family, work life, and COVID-19, it’s easy to get caught up in all of the chaos and stress around the pandemic. This makes it even more important to set aside time for emotional check-ins with your child to ask them simple but key questions like, “How’s your heart?” “How’s your mind?” and “How’s your body?”
- Take the Time to Reinforce Social and Emotional Development
Let’s be the best partners we can to kindergarten teachers, as they are also doing the best they can to continue to educate our children. That being said, some ways to support the class-based teaching is to also find time at home to strengthen your child’s social-emotional skills, which will make the teaching and learning process a whole lot smoother for your child and your family. This includes things like practicing receptive language skills such as understanding 1- or 2-step instructions and sustaining attention for 10–15 minutes during storytime or circle time.
Parents, you’re already doing an amazing job of navigating unchartered territory and keeping things as normal as possible for your child. So please remember to be kind to yourself, too, while you continue to celebrate who your child is and accentuate their strengths. They will no doubt be successful in kindergarten and well beyond. Stay lifted!
