Kindergarten Readiness (& How We Are Preparing for Kindergarten)

Kindergarten is the mark of an important stage in a child’s life. It’s a big deal for parents and kids alike. I have five tips on getting prepared for this and other new adventures.

How to Prepare Yourself for Your Child Entering Kindergarten

As my daughter prepares to enter Kindergarten this year, I think back to my Kindergarten experience. I LOVED IT! My best friend and I have known each other since preschool. I’m looking forward to my daughter developing the same type of friendships.

I know I will feel like I’m getting older, it will seem like she’s not my “baby” anymore, and that I will worry about whether she’s safe/having fun/missing me…

Although this is my second time experiencing this, I’m older and hopefully wiser and more experienced. It has been seven years since I had a Kindergartener and my son is starting his second year of middle school.

How to Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten

My daughter is sweet and outgoing. She’s excited to be seeing all of her friends, riding the school bus, and entering an exciting, new phase in her life. Although she’s made a lot of friends in Pre-K, they will attend different elementary schools starting in the fall.

During the spring, we had to make sure paperwork, supplies, and plans were in order.

On the school’s website, they shared the bus routes and schedules, school schedule, calendar, menus, policies, registration information, and more.

What will you need to have done before Kindergarten?

In Virginia, kindergarten readiness is:

A ready child is prepared socially, personally, physically, and intellectually within the
developmental domains addressed in Virginia’s six Foundation Blocks for Early Learning: literacy, mathematics, science, history and social science, physical and motor development, and personal and social development. Children develop holistically; growth and development in one area depends upon development in other areas.

What paperwork will you need?

In Virginia, we were required to submit the following during enrollment:

• Birth certificate
• Proof of address
• School Entrance Health Form
• Social Security Number

Vaccinations Before Kindergarten

In Virginia, my daughter was required to have Tdap, Hib, Hep B, MMR, Polio, and Chickenpox before being allowed to attend the first day of classes. Thankfully we had that taken care of at her last well checkup. All I had to do was pick up a form from her pediatrician documenting it.

 

School Supplies for Kindergarteners

Kindergarteners are commonly required to have:

• Change of clothes – Recommended
• Rest mat & towel – suggested
• Book bag (opens at top-not side and no wheels) – suggested
• 4 large glue sticks – more needed all year
• Canvas zipper pouch – suggested
• 1 pack of magic markers – suggested
• 1 4-oz. bottle of white glue (no blue gel)
• 1 Black & White PRIMARY Composition Journal – suggested
• 1 pair small scissors
• 1 Dry Erase Black marker (wide) – suggested
• 2 boxes crayons (24 count)
• Baggies – gallon size (boys only) small plastic cups (girls only)
• 1 Box of tissues – suggested
• Baby wipes – suggested

Consult your school’s specifications and requirements.

As far as wardrobe goes, with a little planning, strategic shopping, and timing, you can be clothing children inexpensively and in a jiffy.

Related: Back to school: Supplies shopping made easy

Childcare

She’ll be attending the after school program at a church near her school. They’ll pick her up from school, provide an afterschool snack, help with homework, and keep her occupied for a few hours until my husband and I are off from work. There’s a time gap before her older brother is out of school, so she won’t be able to stay home with him after school.

What to Expect in Kindergarten

On the school’s website, I reviewed the general overview of concepts she will learn like an in-depth review of letters, seasons, foods, citizenship, holidays, and more. I also took a look at their most recent newsletter to see what types of topics, events, and announcements to expect once she’s begun the school year. Naps are gone and graded assignments are coming.

Talk to your child:

• Get advice from others on preparing for a new school
• Discuss new routines
• Allow independence
• Show your excitement
• Praise their growth

Related: Summer Reading List (Kindergarten – 2nd)

Visiting Kindergarten

My daughter’s Pre-K class visited a Kindergarten class in the spring. They walked the halls, ate lunch, observed students in class, and took an overall tour. We attended the schools’ orientation in late spring so I know a little more about what to expect. She also attended a practice day, where I dropped her off, she met the teachers, and had a trial run of the school day.

We will also participate in the “Back to School” night, usually held during the first week of school, to meet teachers and see my daughter in this new environment.

Related: Preparing for a New School

Parenting is the ultimate adventure – from a simple trip to the grocery store, to the curious creatures (read: boogies and poo) lurking around each corner, each day can feel like you’re exploring a bit of unchartered territory. While some adventures take you abroad, like flying to grandma’s for summer vacation, others can take place at home, like watching a TV show or movie with your child and meeting new characters or visiting a fantastical world together.

This summer, Hiccup and Toothless, from the critically acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon films are embarking on unparalleled adventures in the all-new Netflix original series Dragons: Race to the Edge – and inviting you along for the dragon ride.

Soaring beyond their home on the island of Berk in search of new dragons, Dragons: Race to the Edge introduces some of the most exciting dragons yet, each with its own amazing abilities — shock waves, cannon balls and fire blasts, just to name a few.

With the magical Dragon Eye, an artifact Hiccup finds aboard an abandoned ship, Hiccup learns there is more outside the confines of Berk, and that a little curiosity and determination can make every day an exciting journey. In Hiccup’s own words, “this changes everything.”

View images on Instagram

Because Netflix couldn’t send us on a family vacation to the Island of Berk, they instead sent us “To the Edge and Beyond” with a viewing kit to provide everything we need to create fantastical dragon adventures, in our own backyard!

If you get a package this big delivered (2.5 x 1.5 ft), you know it’s going to be good! We were so excited to see what’s inside. We were exploration-ready with top secret map, sidewalk chalk (to mark trees along the path), and photo booth party props for fresh out of the forest selfies. If you are wondering what kind of snacks adventurers eat? Dragon claws, Dragon scales, and Twizzlers in a vintage lunch box.

What are your favorite Kindergarten memories? What tips do you have for kindergarten readiness?

I am a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam. I received a complimentary subscription and device. All opinions and selections are my own.