How to Help a Stay at Home Mom Prepare Kids for Kindergarten

Making the transition to kindergarten can present a challenge.

Moving into kindergarten represents a large step in a child's life. While this developmental step may be welcomed by stay-at-home moms who, up to this point were charged with caring for their youngsters from sun-up to sunset, it can also be challenging as it means watching their babies grow up and begin to move on. If a stay-at-home mom that you care about is readying herself and her child for this transition, give her some help in doing so to make the process a bit less taxing for all involved.

Instructions

1. Help mom get used to the idea. Sending kids off to kindergarten can be difficult for stay-at-home moms, as they are use to spending an abundance of time with their little ones. Before moms can help their kids get ready for kindergarten, they must mentally prepare. Tell the mom you are helping about the challenges of sending your kids off to kindergarten, showing her that the nervousness she is feeling about separation is perfectly normal.

2. Alert mom to kindergarten visits. If you have a child who already attends the school that the mom's child will attend, you may know a bit earlier about school visits and open house days. If you receive this insider knowledge, share it with this new-to-the-school mom.

3. Assist her in gathering school supplies. Though she may get a list from her child's kindergarten teacher, as a parent who has done it all before, you may be able to give her some additional supply buying tips. For example, if you know that when your child was in kindergarten she went through three packages of crayons during the course of the year, you might want to encourage the mom to over-buy while supplies are at a discounted back-to-school rate.

4. Remind mom of the importance of reading to her soon-to-be kindergarten student. While you don't want to seem preachy, it is wise to remind mom of the importance of early literacy building. Instead of telling her outright that she needs to read to her tot, if she isn't already, make your suggestion more subtle by asking her to bring her child with you and yours on a trip to the library.

5. Give her tips about making the transition fun. With all of the challenges facing this mom as she prepares her kiddo for kindergarten, she may forget about some of the fun things that many do as a part of back to school, such as taking her child's picture on the first day of classes. Remind her of these things to ensure that she doesn't, in her busyness, let the event slip by without capturing it.

References

• Hubbards Cupboard: Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten
• Today; How to Prepare Your Kids for Kindergarten; Ruth A. Peters, Ph. D.; July 2008