Although kindergarten should be one of the happiest years in a child’s life, it can often come with challenges and struggles that parents don’t anticipate. Children can be struggling with separation anxiety, long days, routine changes, new social stressors like best friends and bullies, or general unfamiliarity with their surroundings. Although these may seem like small difficulties to adults, these are big changes for young children.
Every parent wants their child to have a good kindergarten experience. Without a positive kindergarten experience, parents may worry that their child will hate school for their whole life and fail to thrive in adulthood from their lack of educational enthusiasm.
If your child is struggling with kindergarten, here are some ways you can help them excel in and enjoy their kindergarten year.
Supportive Home Routine
Brainstorm ways to do all you can to support your child from home, such as:
- Sleep: Ensure they’re in bed so they can sleep for 10-13 hours, which is the recommended amount for kindergartners. If your child plays a sport, they might need 13 hours on the nights they have practice or games.
- Screen time: If your child has screen time after school, ensure it is not right before bed, and that there are no screens in your child’s room at bedtime. The blue light from screens is very disruptive to quality sleep.
- School bus times: If your child has a very early pick up or late drop off bus time, consider driving your child to school so they can sleep in or come home early.
- Keep the same routine: Children thrive on routines, so try to keep everything consistent until your child gets acclimated at school. Don’t change things on a whim or have a different night routine every day of the week.
Discuss Solutions With the School
School administrations are usually open to accommodations for struggling students. Your child’s teacher can also give classroom-specific accommodations.
If your child is struggling academically, you can request an evaluation or observation so your child can get the academic help or tutoring they need. Guidance counselors can keep tabs on your child while at school. If your child is struggling socially, the school can usually assign another child to help them feel more comfortable.
Identify the Problem
There are dozens of reasons your child may dislike kindergarten, some more challenging than others. Some children may already be experiencing bullying, while others may just hate their lunchbox color. Parents must be thorough investigators to identify the true reason for their child’s dislike of kindergarten.
Before asking your child any questions, ensure your demeanor is calm and kind. Children will not respond openly to parents who are harsh or demeaning. Recall your own kindergarten experience and put yourself in your child’s shoes.
Ask your child thoughtful and open-ended questions. If your child is vague or evasive, it can be helpful to ask their teacher for help. They can have invaluable insight since they interact with your child each day.
Validate Their Emotions and Experiences
Although a child’s worries are generally small in comparison to adult worries and stressors, children still experience anxiety and stress in kindergarten. Children are greatly comforted when their parents validate their experiences and emotions. You can even share your own kindergarten experiences, which will help your child not feel alone.
Kindergarten Prep at Crestwood Preschool Academy
One of the best ways to avoid the challenge of beginning kindergarten is to enroll your child in a quality early childhood education program like Crestwood Preschool Academy!
Our outstanding curriculum not only gives your child a head start on academics, but helps them learn all the social skills and routine expectations they will encounter at kindergarten. Children can develop confidence and independence through enrollment in an early childhood education program so they are successful on their first day of school and beyond.
Contact us today to enroll your child in Crestwood Preschool Academy!