Kindergarten is a unique and completely new stage in the life of a teenager who will be in a group of peers for the first time. The beginnings, however, are not always easy. How to help a child adapt to kindergarten? Above all, ensure a positive attitude and teach them some independence. Adaptation classes are also helpful, and sometimes the willingness to pick up the child at earlier hours for the first few days spent in the kindergarten.
Adaptation in kindergarten advice for parents
Adaptation in kindergarten and positive attitude of the child to kindergarten – how to take care of it?
In the process of a child’s adaptation to kindergarten, the child’s attitude plays a big role, which parents can take care of even before the first day at kindergarten. The simplest way is to simply talk and tell the child about what awaits them, what kindergarten is like or what activities they can expect. It’s worth delving into details that are interesting to a toddler, such as meals eaten with peers or locker rooms where each child has his or her own locker.
Many children enjoy and remember their parents’ stories from their own childhood. You can take advantage of this by preparing your child for kindergarten and telling him or her about your own adventures during this period of life, such as favorite activities or groupmates. This can also make adaptation to kindergarten easier.
When telling your child about kindergarten, it’s a good idea to watch out for words that may discourage them. It is advisable to avoid, first of all, scaring the child about kindergarten, for example, as a place where he will be forced to learn or obey, and showing your own uncertainty about whether the child will cope. It is also good to be careful about idealizing the kindergarten, for example, saying that the lunches served there are always delicious, and that all the peers you meet will turn out to be great playmates, as this can lead to disappointment in the child.
Independence training will help your child adapt in kindergarten
Adaptation to kindergarten is easier when children are independent. Once they master basic skills, they are able to handle many situations on their own without asking for help or drawing attention to themselves. As a result, kindergarten creates less stress for the child who, when praised, feels proud and motivated to continue learning.
In kindergarten, skills such as, above all, are useful:
- toilet use;
- hand washing;
- brushing teeth;
- use of cutlery;
- independent dressing;
- Recognizing and reporting one’s own needs (for example, regarding mood or thirst).
It’s normal for parents to be uncertain about how their child will do in kindergarten. The most important thing is not to show this uncertainty to the child, but instead to motivate them and simply believe in them, because this gives wings to several-year-olds. Is your toddler having difficulty brushing his teeth or putting on his shoes? This is not always a reason to delay sending him to kindergarten – many children learn very well in a group!
Adaptation in kindergarten – advice for parents.
Adaptation activities in the kindergarten
Many kindergartens, including Butterfly 3, organize adaptation classes for children, who are about to find themselves in a group of peers for the first time. For such classes, toddlers come with their parents and join the activities conducted in the actual group, including both free play and, for example, rhythmics.
Children can attend adaptation classes regularly, several days a week. The amount of time the toddlers will spend in the group is an individual matter. At first, it may be as little as an incomplete hour, so that the child, at his own pace, gets accustomed to the new situation and gradually stays in the kindergarten longer and longer. Usually it takes up to 4 weeks to adapt in the kindergarten. After such a time, the children stay in the kindergarten for the whole day and find the place well, which they learned step by step in the company of a parent. However, it should be borne in mind that the time of adaptation to kindergarten is a highly individual matter, adjusted to the needs of each individual child.
How to help a child adapt to kindergarten? Some tips for the first days in kindergarten
Is the first day of kindergarten approaching? It is worth ensuring that it goes as well as possible. A child’s first impressions of a new place can clearly translate into his attitude, and over time, as he becomes accustomed to going to kindergarten every day, he will become a little more flexible.
On the first day of kindergarten, several issues are important. The first is the child’s mood and attitude. The toddler should be rested and sleepy, comfortably dressed and possibly in a good mood. If he’s stressed, he can eat breakfast at home, because the stress of kindergarten can make it difficult for him. However, it is not worth force-feeding a child – a hungry child is more likely to eat breakfast in a group, and this is the first step towards adaptation.
Another important thing is to find time to say a peaceful goodbye to your child. When he is just beginning his preschool adventure, he is not used to separation, so this moment may be difficult for him. It is also extremely important to make the child aware of when the parent will pick them up from the kindergarten. At the same time, it is worth remembering that toddlers feel the passage of time differently. Instead of pointing out a specific pick-up time to the child, it is better to familiarize him with the schedule of the day, presenting one event after another. After breakfast there will be time for play and activities, then lunch with peers and afterwards a meeting with the parent – such information allows the child to control the passing of time in his own way and understand when he will return home.
