How to Transition a Child from Preschool to Kindergarten

You might be excited about your child entering kindergarten and your child may be excited, too. But it's one of the largest transitions your child will face. Read on for suggestions on creating a successful transition for your preschooler.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Talk about the fact that preschool is over. Don't start too soon as children of preschool age don't have a firm grasp of time--next week and three months from now seem the same distance away to them. So start talking about leaving preschool about a month or so before the final day.

2. Make a celebration of the last day at preschool. It's a rite of passage for you and your child and it's worth pausing to celebrate. Go out for a special lunch or have cake and balloons at a local park to celebrate your child's last day with their friends.

3. Realize that your child will be sad and happy at the same time. Your child may be sad at leaving their preschool as well as being happy and excited about kindergarten. This mix of feelings can be tough for a young child. Sit with them and talk about the happy times they have had at preschool, how proud you are of their accomplishments and how much there is too look forward to at their new school. Let them know you understand that they might be sad and happy at the same time. Then listen to them and give them space to share their feelings.

4. Make visiting the new school a part of your regular weekly routine so that it's not such a strange place on the very first day. Use the playground, slide down the slide and peek in the windows. Elementary schools have a variety of physical spaces for children of kindergarten age, so it is important to find out how your school works and what's available for your child.

5. Talk about the first day of kindergarten, including where you will drop your child off and where you will pick your child up. If you have friends who have children at the same school, ask them what the day is like for their child and give your child a rough outline of how the day progresses. Check if your school has information about the structure of the day on their website. And, for your child's safety, make sure they understand clearly where you will drop them off and where they should meet you at the end of the day.

6. Include your child in buying any necessary supplies for kindergarten. Have them choose the new backpack and lunch bag. Look at pencils and crayons together, if you need to have those on the first day.