Getting My Child Ready For Kindergarten?
I have a 4 yr old son who would be starting kindergarten in September. i haven’t sent him to preschool because of some financial difficulties but i have homeschooled him so he knows to read and count etc. but he was never on a fixed schedule i.e. we never worked with a timetable. I would like to start now with a proper timetable to get him ready for kindergarten but I’m not sure if to use a kindergarten timetable or a prek timetable. Also, can someone suggest a proper one for me. We live in NY and I’m not familiar with US schools so I don’t even know if they have a special bathroom break or if they go when they need to during the day. I’ve been looking at many but I’m not sure which is best. Thank you.
I agree that you probably don’t need to start right now on that time table…but good for you to be considering it! It will definately pay off to have him somewhat adjusted to a schedule prior to Kindergarten. Someone mentioned August. Yes, a month is usually sufficient. Our Kindergarten is a full day…and I’m going to assume yours will be as well…at least by next year. Legislation.
Our son’s schedule is up at 7AM on the bus by 8….at school all day…home at 4:30P and in bed at 7PM and back at it. He requires a lot of sleep. Unfortunately for him, there is not a nap time in Kindergarten (not that he would rest during that time)…just something you are going to want to consider. Our son is a “weekend napper”. You’ll be amazed how quickly they adjust to a new schedule. Bathroom breaks depend on the teacher. Most of the time they have a bathroom in their classroom and the kids go when they need to go. If your son is dependent on you telling him when he needs to go (which is sometimes the case)…start now in refraining from telling him when he needs “to try”. It’s important that he recognizes his body needs…even when it’s a busy day. Kindergarten is BUSY!
Other considerations:
If you are going to send him in tie shoes…please teach him how to tie his own shoes prior to Kindergarten. Otherwise send him in elastic or velcro.
He should have a MINIMUM of a 10 minutes attention span.
If he hasn’t experienced being away from you…please provide opportunities for this to take place. It will help with the transition. Also, it’s benefitial if you can find a story time or playgroup in the area if he hasn’t had much social interaction with other children. It’s also benefitial if you do not have to be in attendence during these times, so he’s accustomed to taking responsibility for his own behaviors.
Please send him in snap or elastic pants. Even at Kindergarten…buttons do not work well. The teacher doesn’t have time to help out on a regular basis with self-help skills…dress him so he can be completely independent.
Please remember they WILL get dirty and you will have more holes in the knees of his pants then ever before!!! Dress him in play clothes!
If you are going to have a certain routine in the morning prior to getting to school…start that out in August as well. Setting his clothes near or in the bathroom the night before and having him go potty and get dressed (all by himself) prior to coming to breakfast has been a GREAT help for our family. That way time isn’t spent on making decisions. My son doesn’t care what he wears yet…but when he does…we will be making those clothing decisions the night before and no changing minds in the morning.
Good luck! Your son will definately benefit from getting into a schedule…even if it’s not exactly the schedule that he will be in for Kindergarten…just having a general routine of what will be taking place will help. If you allow him to go to sleep late and sleep in…adjust that over time…this is actually the hardest part …so you may need to start that a little sooner than August…that way you can take your time and change it in small increments.
I don’t think you need to stress about a time table right now. In August I would start getting him up at (around) 7:30 a.m.
They do have scheduled bathroom breaks, but they can also go anytime they need to.
As long as your child know’s and can identify his ABC’s and 123′s he will do great!
ehow.com
webmd.com
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You don’t really need any time tables or anything. Just start putting him to bed earlier and have him get up earlier about two weeks before. If he’ll be using an alarm clock, get him used to using it. It might also help if he makes friends with other kindergartners who will be in his school, so he’ll already have a few friends. Most schools have bathrooms in or near kindergarten classrooms, and are fine with them going whenever. The main thing is for him to be more flexible, because he may eat lunch a little late or have a fire drill during nap time one day. Don’t worry! Kindergarten is simple, and I’m sure your son will do fine.