First Day of School Preparation: Kindergarten

Video Transcript

"So your babies starting kindergarten and you're a little nervous, and their a little nervous too. Hey I'm Debbie Noah, and I'm here to hopefully relieve some of those first day jitters with starting for you and your new kindergartner. One of the first thing you need to do is start talking early in the summer about what's going to happen at school. Rehearse their day, talk about first we're going to do this, next we're going to do that. Talk positively about school, talk about things that you loved about school, things that they're excited about. Things that they might be a little nervous about and maybe why they shouldn't be nervous. Start a night time routine, get those kids in bed early a week before school starts and start getting them up early. They're going to have a hard time getting out of that summer time schedule. And this will make your life a lot easier. Talk about what they're going to have for lunch, they're going to buy they're lunch or they're going to take their lunch. That's something that's important to a kindergartners first time eating at school. When you're buying supplies, there's lots of ways. You can go to school website and get a list that your school district requires. You can go to your school office, you can go to local stores. They usually have supplies lists. My personal favorite is what many school's PTA sells pre-packaged school supplies that have every thing that each grade level needs. Kindergartners you're going to need more crayons, they're going to need more glue, they're going to need more writing tablets, they're going to need handi-wipes. Those are the things that's specific to the grade level. So that's what I would recommend. Your kindergartner is naturally going to be a little apprehensive, and you are too. But believe me your expectations and your apprehensions will certainly rub off on them. So be very positive and try not to act like you're nervous like I know you will be, we all are. But don't let that happen. Walk your child to the classroom on the first day, don't forget to go the meet the teacher night, however. Most school districts have a meet the teacher night where the child can see the classroom, meet the teacher, you can drop off supplies that makes that first day so much easier. When you drop them off give them a big kiss and a hug and walk away. I promise you if they start crying, they're not going to cry very long. And it will be a better day for you, them and the teacher. Focus on them being brave, if they're a little nervous. I'm so proud of you for being brave and being so grown up. I promise you your kindergartner is going to love school, and they're going to survive, and you're going to survive."