From Preschool to Kindergarten: How to Mark This Special Milestone (Final Week - 27)

Well, here we are, finally at last. I will miss coming to see you every single week and talking to you through this process. Still, I hope that you continue to apply the things you've learned and have wonderful educational memories with your children as they transition into kindergarten and beyond.

This is our last check-in video.

Look back over the last 26 or 27 weeks of the course and think about all the things that you've experienced with your child, all the stuff that they've learned. It's tough to remember what they were like, even just a few weeks ago.

They change so much and so fast.

But try to remember where they were at when you started this process and look at all the incredible growth and the new experiences that they've had up to this point. It really is amazing when you take stock of everything: how much you cover, how much they grow, learn, and change in such a short amount of time.

Reflecting on your child’s growth

Congratulations on leading them through this process and forging this educational partnership with your child. It's a relationship that will pay benefits far, far, far into the future. The time that you invest now in establishing that learning partnership with your child is invaluable.

You've learned letters and counting, and about science; you've made art projects and explored so many different concepts. No matter which activities you've chosen to do (or not do), I'm sure that your child has come such a long way.

That's what this video - and now this post -  is about: a huge pat on the back for you.

We tend to focus on the child's accomplishments, and certainly it is their learning progress and growth that we're celebrating here. However, what shouldn't go unnoticed is the work that it takes from you: the mom, parent, grandparent, or whoever is doing this course and project with the child. It's a tremendous amount of work that requires skill, perception, and a lot of adapting. It's not easy to lead a child through a curriculum and overcome all the hurdles. So not just a huge congratulations to your child, but also to you for being their leader through this process.

How to celebrate this milestone

What should you do now to celebrate? And I'm not talking about next steps educationally, you may already have that planned. Your child may be going to kindergarten next week, or you may be in for a relaxed summer. Whatever your plans are, that’s one thing.

But how do you celebrate? Because this is a momentous occasion.

It can be anything from a small acknowledgment all the way up to something bigger that you plan. This is a milestone, and we like to “bookend” our school years with traditions in our home.

For example:

• On the first day of each school year, we have chocolate cake for breakfast.
• At the end of every school year, to celebrate and say, “Okay, we’re done. Take a breath and congratulations on all your hard work,” we take our kids out for ice cream.

These small traditions can make a big impact. Give some thought to what traditions you may want to start with your child, because now is the perfect time. Whatever you choose, you could continue it after the end of every school year for the rest of their childhood.

Fun ideas for your celebration

• Bake brownies or cookies, or take them out for ice cream.
• Throw a small party, like a pizza party with friends.
• Visit the zoo, a skating rink, or a waterpark—depending on the season.
• Have a big sleepover in the living room with blankets, pillows, a movie, popcorn—an unforgettable treat!
• If you have kindergarten looming, consider a special shopping trip for a backpack or lunchbox.
• Make it a big deal: "You’re graduating preschool now and getting ready to head off to kindergarten."

Think about what you want to do and maybe incorporate something that can become a family tradition in the future.

Taking a well-deserved break

Take a break too! Sometimes a break for a mom is just an afternoon, right? But if you can take a longer one, do so. This has been a lot of work, and you’ve earned a breather now that your daily routine has eased up.

Maybe you’ve started new habits with your child: like a set reading time each day, or a Friday project you two enjoy. Think about whether you’d like to continue these. If your child is heading to traditional kindergarten Monday through Friday, you could move that project time to Saturday, for instance.

Give yourself time to relax, and then decide which parts of this educational journey you want to carry on after your break. You and your child both deserve downtime; it helps you come back fresher and ready to learn even more later.

Again, congratulations: this is a big accomplishment. It has been my pleasure to walk through it with you, and we hope to see you in the community. We’re always open to your feedback as we continue improving the course. I truly hope you’ve enjoyed this time with your child.

Best wishes to you! May this be the start of many wonderful learning adventures ahead.

Could you do us a favor? It would be a tremendous help for us and other moms:

Please watch this quick video and see if you can help us out :)