How is it that summer just started, yet the school supplies are already out in stores? In a few short weeks that will feel like they fly by, your baby will be headed to kindergarten. At this realization, in the midst of a little freak-out and hidden tears, parents will try to put on a brave face as they leave their little one in someone else's care.
Preparing for that day is important, not only for your child but for you as well. A month may seem like a long way off, but when it comes to establishing new routines and rituals, it's actually the right time to put things in motion.
For example, if bedtime has been at 8:30 or later during the summer months but a 7:30 bedtime will be in place during the school year, moving bedtime up in 15-minute intervals from now until the school year starts will help your child adjust and keep the drama about it still being light outside to a minimum. As a side note, blackout curtains might be a great investment.
Now is also a good time to consider what morning and evening routines will be like, especially if this is your first child to head off to school. Sometimes we, as parents, don't think about how unsettling it can be when everything around you is changing. It's helpful to think about routines and rituals like a security blanket. Children find real comfort in predictability. If you put things into motion now, it will help your child feel more confident on that first day of school. For example, practice getting up, getting dressed, brushing teeth, eating breakfast and figuring out the best order to accomplish those tasks and any others that must be done before leaving for school. Adapting your evening routine to how things will be during the school year will help as well.
There is one thing you'll want to be aware of: Being at school and holding it together all day long is exhausting. Your child might come home from school and want to take a nap or they might have a meltdown, especially as they are getting adjusted to their new routine. Comfort them, and help them put words to their emotions. In time, they will adapt and adjust.
Remind yourself repeatedly to let your child do for themselves what they are capable of doing. Things like dressing themselves, putting on their shoes and fastening them, going to the bathroom, pulling their pants up and even buckling a belt are important to know how to do.
If they are planning to buy their lunch at school, let them practice carrying a tray with their food and drink from somewhere in the kitchen to the table. That balancing act can be a little tricky. If they are taking their lunch, teach them how to pack it themselves. If they are riding the school bus, practice walking to and from the bus stop together.
Make practicing these things fun by turning them into a relay race or a game. When you do that, you'll be giving them a strong foundation to stand on as they head to school.
Work with your child to find a location in your home where all things school-related live, like backpacks, homework or notes that need to be signed. Helping them get in the habit of placing things in one location will make mornings easier for everyone.
If you aren't currently reading with your child on a daily basis, start now. Even if you aren't a fantastic reader, just holding a book, pointing out pictures, colors, numbers and words, or teaching your child to turn the pages from right to left, will help prepare them for kindergarten.
When your child is at school, they will need to be able to listen and follow instruction from their teacher and others. If you have told your child they don't have to listen to anyone but you, now is the time to change that. If you have never left them in someone else's care, try to arrange some times between now and the beginning of school where they are in the care of other trusted adults. It is good for them to know that others can take care of their needs, and teachers will appreciate that you have helped them practice listening and following instructions from other adults.
This year will be different for your child, so consider a technology plan for your home when school starts. They will be expected to sit, listen and engage in activities, but screen time is probably the last thing they need when they get home. Instead, playing outdoors in the fresh air can help them release stress and relax.
While you might be excited about your little one reaching this milestone, it would also be normal for you to feel some anxiety. Most of our children can read us like a book. If you are feeling uptight about the beginning of school and trying to hold that inside, your child will likely pick up on this and think you are not OK or that you do not want them to go to school. Acknowledging that, and talking with other parents who are ahead of you on the journey could be extremely helpful to you and your child.
Thinking about all that needs to happen before school starts may feel a bit overwhelming. The good news is, if you start now, by the time school starts you will already have your routine down. Both you and your child can head into the first day of school with confidence and great expectations for the school year.
Julie Baumgardner is president and CEO of family advocacy nonprofit First Things First. Email her at julieb@firstthings.org.