Kindergarten is the state of a fun time for your child. He or she will make friends and get into the school experience quickly. However, if your child is shy, you might need to do a bit of planning to better prepare them for the experience.
Set
Up Play Dates
There's a good chance there
may be at least one other child nearby headed to the same school. Getting a
chance to play with soon-to-be classmates helps alleviate many of the jitters
children might feel. If your child has a friend in the class, they are more
likely to be willing participants in classroom fun.
Read
Books About Kindergarten Together
Searching the children's
section at your library will likely yield some fun books about kindergarten.
While reading them with your child, talk about the activities depicted. Kids
will gain perspectives on everything from finding new friends to learning what
may go on during the school day.
Do
Some Role Playing
Playing school can be a good
way to help introduce your child to what kindergarten is like. You can use this
as a way to introduce your child to the school environment, such as working
from a table area and interacting with the teacher. You can also practice
introductions to other children.
Be
Reassuring
Your child should accept
their own personality traits and realize it's okay if they aren't as outspoken
as their classmates. This can also be a good way to teach tolerance of
differences. One takeaway could be your child accepting their more extroverted
friends' differences and treasuring them.
Get
Involved
Set aside some time after
school each day to ask your child about what he or she learned and a little
about their friends. Show genuine interest in any classroom activities your
child gets excited about. If the activity is something that fascinates him or her,
you may want to try to bring the activity home by getting books or toys that
relate to your child's new fascination.
Give
Your Child Some Quiet Time
The first few days or even
months of school might be overwhelming for an introverted child. Allowing some
quiet time after school is a good way to help your child make the transition
from school life back to home life. Let him or her talk about what they did at
school when they're ready, and don't push before they're ready to talk. You
want to make sure you hear about your child's actual day, not what they might
think you want to hear.A shy child will succeed as much as an extroverted child in school if allowed to adjust in a way that meets their needs. Given time, they will come to enjoy school and eagerly await their next school day. At Montessori Children's House, we understand the challenges students face when attending school for the first time. Our teachers work with both students and parents to ensure the transition is smooth and enjoyable for all parties. With the start of school approaching, contact us today to learn how to prepare your child for kindergarten.
