Today, I'd like to discuss with you the importance of establishing a routine that will, in many ways, reflect what your child will experience as they begin kindergarten.
As we approach the end of this course, many of you may be nearing a significant milestone: the first day of kindergarten.
How to help your preschooler transition to kindergarten
There are so many aspects of your child's day-to-day kindergarten experience that you will not be able to replicate in advance. However, you can establish several routines beforehand to ease the transition and help them get used to the experiences they'll encounter and what their kindergarten daily schedule will look like. By familiarizing your child with these routines now, you help prevent overwhelming them with too many new experiences and routines all at once.
5 kindergarten-ready routines to start practicing now
1. Bedtime routine for preschoolers: Preparing for tomorrow
One of the best ways to create a smoother morning is by preparing the night before. You can begin incorporating simple habits such as:
- Picking out clothes for the next day together.
- Organizing essential items like a backpack, lunch bag, or anything needed for the day.
- Setting up a designated spot for these items keeps everything in one place.
- Get them involved in that process with you. Let your child help you choose those items, especially the clothes.
Choosing clothes in the morning, especially if you have a child who's picky about what they want to wear, can be an exhausting experience, potentially making you late for the day and causing all sorts of havoc.
This small step can be a game-changer, saving time and stress in the morning!
2. Adjusting sleep schedule to match kindergarten timing
Gradually shifting your child's schedule to match their kindergarten routine is crucial.
Adjust their:
- Bedtime so they get enough rest.
- Wake-up time to align with what it will be once kindergarten starts.
This ensures they are well-rested and accustomed to the new schedule before school begins.
3. Creating a kindergarten morning routine for preschoolers
Another super important part is your morning routine itself. So, it's not just the night before, but this "get ready" routine in the mornings. Little children thrive on routines. Establishing for them what that's going to look like in the morning and doing everything in the same order every day is another easy way to prepare them for the kindergarten experience better.
When creating a daily routine for preschoolers, consider practicing the following steps in the same order every day (If these are part of their routine):
- Get dressed
- Brush hair and teeth
- Have breakfast
- Make the bed
Whatever steps you want them to complete in the morning before they head out the door to kindergarten, you should sketch them out in advance and start incorporating them in the same order every morning.
Even if your plans for the day change, keeping this sequence consistent will help them transition more smoothly once kindergarten begins.
4. Practice daily transitions to ease kindergarten anxiety
Kindergarten involves many quick transitions throughout the day. You can help your child prepare by practicing certain routines now:
- They can easily get into the car and buckle into their seats without procrastinating, delaying, or getting distracted.
- Practicing a pick-up and drop-off routine, especially if someone other than you (e.g., a grandparent or babysitter) will be picking them up from school.
For example, you can replicate the experience by dropping them off at a playgroup and then having a grandma pick them up.
So that becomes something they're accustomed to. So, I encourage you to take this time, if you're approaching the start of kindergarten, to consider these things.
5. After-school routine for kindergarteners: What to expect
Think about what your child's afternoon will look like after kindergarten. Will they:
- Take a nap?
- Have a snack?
- Play outside?
Establishing this routine ahead of time helps them adjust more easily and gives them a sense of familiarity after a potentially exhausting day.
How to build a daily routine that makes the kindergarten transition easier
Take some time to think about all the aspects of their day that you are in control of and how you can begin to incorporate those elements now, getting them used to them.
By proactively implementing these small but significant changes, you’re creating predictable daily routine activities for your preschooler. You ensure that the only new thing for your child on their first day of kindergarten is the school experience itself, because that's going to be the really big part and probably the most challenging aspect of the transition for them.
This approach minimizes stress and helps your child focus on adapting to their new environment.
It'll help you, too. It'll pay off in being a lot smoother and with fewer bumps for you as you make that transition to a formal kindergarten routine and actually take them to school for the first time.
Wishing you and your child the best as you prepare for this milestone! See you back next week.