Today is our school’s Kindergarten Open House (the day when our new Kinder Kids come and meet their teacher and see their room), and as the lead Kindergarten teacher, I get to give a little spiel to all the Kindergarten parents before we whisk their children away and into our rooms for a bit. I’m supposed to give a quick talk about transitioning to the first day of day of school and helping parents prepare themselves and their children for that big day. I’ve never liked talking in front of grown-ups; give me a room full of hundreds of littles and I’m fine, but speaking in front of adults makes me sweat!

Anyway, just for kicks, I thought I’d share what I’ll be sharing with all our new Kindergarten parents today! Here ya go:

Good morning, everyone! On behalf of the Kindergarten Team, I want to welcome you to the very beginning of your child’s Kindergarten year… Our team is ready and excited for a year full of learning and exploring and fun with your little ones!

The first day of school is rapidly approaching and perhaps you are approaching that first day with a mixed bag of emotions. And that’s okay. Because as I’m sure your child will remind you throughout the year, Kindergarten is kind of a big deal.

As you and your child prepare for Tuesday, I want to share a few things that you should work on or practice or talk about with your child if you have not already.

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1. Transition: Prepare your child for that first day – talk about saying goodbye (and try not to cry as you talk about it!!), make sure your child knows how he will go home and that he also knows whether he will be buying lunch or whether he has brought lunch from home.

2. Bathroom: Be sure your child can use the bathroom completely independently – from unbuttoning and ahem, wiping, to zipping up and washing hands.

3. Lunch: Be sure your child can also eat lunch on his own – while the teachers will certainly be there to help, your child will be encouraged to open most packages and containers on his own. It might be a good idea to show or tell your child what he will be eating so he isn’t surprised come lunchtime!

4. Sleep: If your child is still napping occasionally (and, lucky you!), try going without a nap starting today since our rest times are short (when we have them). The first couple weeks of school are often long and exhausting for Kindergartners, so early bedtimes and lots of sleep at night will be most beneficial.

5. The morning of!: And lastly, have your child eat a big, healthy breakfast and have him use the bathroom before heading out the door on Tuesday morning. We will take care of the rest once they are here at school and it is our pleasure and privilege to do so!

What are you doing/have you done to prepare your child for the first day of school?