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June 25, 2007
Getting Ready for Kindergarten
Last week and for the next couple of weeks, I'm meeting with groups of parents about things they can do to get ready for kindergarten. These parents all have their children in a program called Smart Start and that it is. It's a several week program for entering kindergarteners. It helps the children know what happens at school, meet some of the other children they will be with when school starts, and find things like the bathrooms. It also help in a big way with something many people don't think about at all-separating from Mom.
Small children depend on their parents for everything. School, whether it's preschool or kindergarten, is a situation in which Mom or Dad aren't around for an extended period of time. This may be the first time that has ever occurred in the life of a child and for some it can be pretty traumatic.
I remember one school year when I started the year by helping in the kindergarten class. My group wasn't starting for another two weeks so I could be useful there. The first day I watched as several of the children walked in, went straight to the fish tank or the bunny and didn't even remember to wave to Mom. Those Moms were a bit unprepared for the task. Others clung and cried, afraid of staying without Mom around. It took a bit of coaxing to assure everyone, Mom and child, it was going to be okay. This was a safe and fun place to be.
I thought things were settled as the group got started on their first activity. Until out of the corner of my eye I watched one young man edging toward the door. The veteran teacher nodded to me and I edged closer. Soon he was at the door. As he opened it I moved behind him, but not wanting to scare him I waited to see what he'd do. He was out the door in a flash walking down the sidewalk just as fast as his little legs would take him. He wasn't running yet, but close. Again I didn't want to scare him so I followed. When he got to the sidewalk, he took off running and so did I. At that point I wasn't worried about scaring him. I was scared he'd run in the street. I caught up to him, scooped him up, and tucked him under one arm. He wasn't going to go back willingly or with logic. As i deposited him gently back in the room I knelt down and explained that he needed to stay here. Mom would be back later and get him, but for now he needed to be here. We picked out something in the room that he really liked and I stayed with him, trying not to gasp for air, until he got engaged.
Folks don't always realize what a shock this is for a first timer-parent or child. Smart Start really helps take some of that away. What we talked about the other evening was how to help their child as they begin to learn to read. I'll share some of that with you tomorrow.
Posted by Dr Joni at June 25, 2007 10:03 AM
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