| hat Noah is a month into kindergarten I am happy to | | | | Mental preparation for school is more than simply |
| report that he loves it and is thriving. Every morning he | | | | knowing letters, numbers, shapes and colors. It is also |
| pops out of bed eager and ready to go to school. On | | | | about being able to listen, observe, and remember. In |
| the weekends he actually misses school although he | | | | addition to learning reading, writing and arithmetic, |
| does enjoy the opportunity to sleep in. When I drop him | | | | children are learning how to negotiate and survive a |
| off in the morning he quickly switches into school | | | | bureaucracy. Even kindergarten students will be |
| mode. When I pick him up at the end of the school day | | | | expected to remember their teacher's name, their |
| he is excited to share all his news of the day including | | | | room number and location, their schedule, and various |
| what he learned, what happened in class and on the | | | | other administrative miscellanea (for example, a lunch |
| playground, and what he did with his friends. He loves | | | | code or bus number). The more a child can handle |
| all his teachers and has made many new friends. | | | | these details for herself the more confident she will be |
| As I spend time in my son's school and observe his | | | | and the more comfortable with her school day. If she |
| peers I am sad to see a large group of youngsters | | | | is familiar with the daily and weekly school schedule it |
| who are not enjoying their school experience at all. | | | | simply increases her comfort level. It may seem |
| While tears and panic are to be expected the first | | | | overwhelming but most kindergarten students quickly |
| week of school it is sad to see the tears continue | | | | master the essentials they need to negotiate the day. |
| after children have had weeks to adjust to a new | | | | The more parents work to help and support children to |
| way of life. Some children get over their tears as the | | | | master these skills the more the child will succeed. |
| day progresses but others continue to cry through | | | | Physical preparation for school is essential. Children |
| lunch and even throughout the day. My heart goes out | | | | who do not have enough sleep cannot learn |
| to these little ones who were not emotionally prepared | | | | effectively and also have difficulty negotiating in the |
| for school. | | | | social atmosphere of school as well as have discipline |
| It is also troublesome to see how many children are | | | | problems. Young, growing children need enough sleep |
| not mentally prepared for school. There are many skills | | | | to wake up rested and bright-eyed and ready to face |
| children should master before starting kindergarten that | | | | the day. Children must also have proper nutrition to |
| fall into these basic areas: cognitive skills, listening and | | | | learn. They need enough of the right kind of food (a |
| sequencing, language skills, fine motor skills, social | | | | balanced diet) to keep their bodies healthy and |
| emotional skills, and gross motor skills. See my article | | | | growing. While fashion should not be a major factor in |
| about kindergarten readiness at for more information. | | | | kindergarten, children should wear clothing suitable to |
| Finally, the worst cases are the children who are not | | | | the outdoor weather as well as the classroom |
| physically prepared for school. These children have not | | | | activities they will engage in during the day. |
| had enough sleep, not had enough food, and are not | | | | Kindergarten students are often involved in physical |
| wearing suitable clothing. These children also are | | | | activities and should wear clothing suitable for running, |
| unable to take care of themselves in the most | | | | dancing, and jumping as well as sitting on the floor or at |
| fundamental ways. | | | | a desk. Of course, children should also be clean and |
| Parents must prepare their children for school | | | | neat to help build their confidence and lessen |
| emotionally, mentally, and physically or they are setting | | | | distractions. |
| up their children for failure. Children who have not been | | | | If you do not do your best to prepare your child |
| prepared for the separation from home and family and | | | | emotionally, mentally and physically for school then you |
| children who have not been prepared for the school | | | | are failing your child and worse you are setting your |
| day structure will have difficulty adjusting emotionally to | | | | child up for failure. While early success does not |
| school and a negative experience can have long term | | | | guarantee continued school success, early failure can |
| effects on the child's academic success. Work to build | | | | haunt a child's academic record or worse set up a |
| your child's confidence and self esteem so he is better | | | | pattern of expectation and behavior that child will be |
| equipped to venture out into the world on his own. | | | | doomed to repeat throughout his school life. |
| Most children successfully transition into kindergarten | | | | Do not fail your child. Take full advantage of your |
| so it can be done and you should make it your goal for | | | | child's preschool years to prepare him for school and |
| your child to start school with no tears. | | | | for life. Kindergarten will be here sooner than you think. |