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Schools

Getting Ready for Kindergarten: Advice From Darien Educators

Useful techniques to help children thrive in kindergarten.

Kindergarten is a big deal. Even if a child has already been enrolled in a daycare or preschool program, entering the first of 13 or more years of formal education is a major milestone.

Parents and children both can experience excitement and trepidation.

Kids can be eager, nervous or most likely a combination thereof and each has a vision of what awaits based on their own exposure to school-age kids and the school setting.

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Parents are prone to feel a gamut of emotions, including amazement that time has so quickly passed, excitement caught from their eager child and apprehension that their child will adjust and perform well.

But local educators have a wealth of advice to help kids—and parents—prepare for the very first first day of school.

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“Trust that your child will have a very successful year in kindergarten,” said Julie Vallo, a kindergarten teacher at Mark DeLay School.

Since parents are truly their child’s first teacher, most have already been preparing their children for kindergarten, but Vallo gave some helpful suggestions based on her classroom experience.

“I believe that one of the most important ways to help your child get ready for kindergarten is to read to them on a daily basis,” Vallo said.

Vallo suggested parents ask children specific questions about the story: “Why did [the character] do that?” “ What do you think will happen next?”

Kingswood Academy principal Lisa Grundon echoed verbatim Vallo’s words, saying that reading is “the best thing parents can do on a daily basis.”

Grundon gave advice for expanding comprehension and vocabulary.  “After children can read on their own, the book being read [with parents] should always be above what they might be able to read for themselves,” she said.

Beth Orr from Ready, Set Grow in Darien coordinates curriculum for the Pre-K program and just last year sent her daughter Gracie to kindergarten. Making time to read to Gracie and her two other children is a priority.

“Besides reading, I focus on constantly exposing them to print and text,” said Orr, who points out words in grocery stores, traffic signs and other everyday situations. She added, “I’m always looking for learning opportunities.”

Counting, knowing the alphabet, writing his/her name and color recognition are all components of a kindergartener’s curriculum.

Introducing children to math skills can be achieved easily, suggested Vallo, by counting stairs or using M & M’s for sorting by color, counting and adding groups.

Grundon, Vallo and Orr all emphasized that academic capabilities aren’t the only tools needed for a successful transition.

Orr believes teaching compassion at home is crucial too.

“Bullying is such an issue in today’s society,” said Orr, “and guiding children to solve peer issues in a kind way is important.”

Vallo pointed out how important parents are in modeling behavior, saying, “Parents should model how to be a good friend and how to share with others.”

Self-help skills such as zippering, tying and managing an easy-to-eat lunch are also helpful, Vallo said.

These abilities can reduce a child’s stress in the classroom. And that helps develop self-confidence and, as Grundon points out, “maturity for functioning in the classroom.”

“Students who have never had strict limits, or had to sit for a long period of time or clean up after themselves might not have the self-discipline to function in a classroom setting,” Grundon said. She advised parents to encourage their child to sit through meals, help with chores at home, and participate in group conversation among siblings and adults.

Michelle Brown, director for local Camp Invention programs, sent her daughter Isabella to school confident of her academic ability but more concerned about her social adjustment–making new friends, dealing with failures and possible separation anxiety.

Turns out, Brown worried for nothing.

“If I had to change anything, I would have relaxed,” said Brown, referring to Isabella’s positive transition into kindergarten. “We were very fortunate to have a strong teacher who not only encouraged [Isabella] but me too to be active in volunteerism.”

Kindergarten teachers are a parent’s best resource, one that Vallo encourages parents to use.

“Kindergarten teachers are very approachable,” Vallo said. “If you have any questions or fears, contact your child’s teacher for assistance.”

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