TRANSITIONING INTO KINDERGARTEN: What to expect...

At this time of year, the end of the school year is just a few months away. Our children are all settled into their routines, even our youngest. However at this time a year thoughts are turning towards the transition of our UPK students to Kindergarten. During the months of March and April, school lotteries are being held, school choices are being made, and parents and teachers are discussing the options or lack of options the children have for Kindergarten. It can be a very stressful emotional time for families and children.
Although this change to Kindergarten is not until September, children have a limited understanding of how long that is and often make assumptions that September is very soon. Children at this age view time sequentially – that is they understand changes, but not the actual length of time. So it is important to explain things sequentially for example– first Nursery School needs to end, then you will go to summer camp, then we have our family vacation to Canada, then we will come back home and then it will be time for Kindergarten. This is the same reason why predictable routines are comforting to children – they cannot comprehend that at “4:00” their grown-ups pick them up at school, but they know that after they go to the park or after the story it will be time to go home from school.
Children sense the nearing of the end of their time at Nursery School. They have made attachments to friends and teachers. Many children may begin to exhibit many regressive types of behavior. Children begin to act out, test limits, become irritable, hurt friends both physically and by hurting their feelings, begin having separation issues again or suddenly not want to attend school. These behaviors can be because children are anxious about the changes to come, are unsure about when exactly they will happen, or because they feel a bit betrayed by Nursery School –They wonder why they can’t continue to come school here. Explanations about age don’t really make sense to them. Children don’t always understand that all the children in the class will be moving on, they feel the class will be “going on” without them. There is comfort in the classroom and it’s routines that they know so well. So what do we do to help them?
In the classrooms, teachers understand that these feelings are being experienced. Teachers will gradually begin preparing the class for the end of the year. Children will participate in activities that will help them understand these changes, provide closure and build memories. Teachers will also involve children in packing away the class and preparing it for next year’s students, leaving behind artwork or messages for the children who will be moving up.
At home, it is important not to begin talking about Kindergarten too early, as mentioned earlier children’s sense of time is not well developed yet – even if they have all the language related to it. Reassure them that Kindergarten is still quite a while away. Even when the school year ends, focus on vacation and summer fun for awhile. It is also important to reassure your child that they may continue to see friends from their Nursery School. Keep up with play dates – or just visit the Train Park, always a gathering place for alumni! It is so important to acknowledge their concerns, but remind them how well they coped when beginning Nursery or the start of this school year.
When September is about 2 weeks away, begin preparing your child by driving by or walking by the new school, plan play dates with children who will be attending the same school and if known, familiarize your child with the teacher’s name. When the new year begins, use all the “tools” we suggested last summer! Get to bed early a few nights before school begins to get in sync, establish a comfortable morning routine and try to maintain a stress free morning. Expect there may be some separation tears the first few days of school, there may not be – but be prepared for it. Show your child that you trust their new teachers. When a child knows you trust them, they too will feel more trusting.