Although kindergarten is only mandatory for six-year-olds, it is not worth postponing the decision to send your child to kindergarten.
Here, children learn new skills, establish relationships and friendships, and learn to interact in a group.
The experience gained during preschool education can not be compared with anything else.
However, to make it a time of good memories, it is worth knowing how to prepare your child for kindergarten.
Preparing your child for kindergarten
Many of us associate kindergarten with a carefree time of fun and making friends.
These are, of course, valid associations, but it should be remembered that a kindergarten is also a place of education.
Both public and private establishments follow the core curriculum set by the Ministry of Education.
Thus, kindergarten is also a great place to learn new skills that will be useful later at school.
Kindergartens also fulfill another important function – socialization.
It is here that the child meets peers, acquires and develops social competence, learns to work in a group.
These skills will certainly come in handy in later life.
So we can say that kindergarten is the first important stage in the cycle of education.
How to prepare your child for the change of kindergarten – what is worth knowing?
Sometimes it so happens that a family moves to another neighborhood or city.
This is a major decision, a kind of revolution in the life of a young person.
It is also usually associated with a change of kindergarten and leaving the peer group already known.
The child may feel uncomfortable and this is fully understandable.
It is important to talk to him, explain why the change of kindergarten is necessary, tell about the new kindergarten positively, emphasizing that the child will certainly find new friends there and have fun. Transfer to a new kindergarten can take place at the beginning or during the school year. The former option may be better, because then in the group all the children will be strangers to each other and will just begin to make friends.
In the event that a child changes kindergarten during the school year, the following can come to the rescue adaptation classes in the kindergartenduring which the child will become more familiar with the group.
Thanks to such adaptation, the child will not later feel anxious about going to the kindergarten or staying there all day. Adaptation classes last several hours, for several weeks.
Their length will depend on the individual situation of the child.
The opportunity to participate in this type of classes allows Kindergarten Motylek 3.
How to prepare your child for kindergarten – things to keep in mind
In Poland, compulsory preschool applies to children aged six. They undergo one-year kindergarten preparation.
Although this sounds serious, you should not be afraid of it – the child’s stay in the kindergarten is intended to introduce him gradually into the world of school everyday life, teach him things useful in school, so to speak, to familiarize him with the first more serious duties.
The new situation may be incomprehensible to the child and cause anxiety.
So let’s talk to the child, devoting time to him whenever he needs it, patiently explaining all doubts.
Kindergarten layette
Buying all the necessary things, the so-called layette, is another very important stage in preparing the child to go to kindergarten.
We can participate in the shopping together, it will be great fun and one of the methods of getting the preschooler used to the new situation.
It is also worth allowing the child to make some decisions on his own, for example, choosing a particular backpack, pencil case or clothes – the toddler will then feel more confident and mature.
Information on what to prepare for a child for kindergarten is usually found on the kindergarten’s website, and you can also ask the group supervisor about the necessary layette.
Among the most commonly purchased items are:
▪️ hygiene items: tissues, toothpaste and toothbrush;
▪️ clothes for kindergarten and a second set for a change of clothes, slippers, and if the kindergarten organizes reclining – also pajamas and a set of bedding;
▪️ slipper bag, backpack adjusted to the child’s height and weight.
Kindergarten enrollment
However, before the child embarks on his preschool journey, the necessary formalities must be completed.
The procedure for enrolling a child in kindergarten differs depending on whether it is a public or private kindergarten.
Recruitment to public kindergartens usually takes place within a certain set time and requires the submission of various documents.
Parents can make a choice of several establishments, as the child will not always be admitted to the kindergarten of first choice.
In addition, the admission of a child during the school year depends on several factors and is not always successful.
In contrast recruitment to a non-public kindergarten reduces the formalities to a minimum – they come down to an interview with parents, adaptation classes and filling out an application form and paying the relevant fees.
For new preschoolers, Butterfly 3 Kindergarten offers adaptation classes, which are conducted in a normal class group.
The child has a unique opportunity to get acquainted with daily life in the kindergarten, make first friendships and relationships with the teacher.
In addition, children are invited to the classes with a parent, which helps reduce stress and get used to the new situation.
A child’s going to kindergarten is the beginning of the next stage in his life.
It is often associated with stress for both parents and their child.
This is, of course, understandable, but it is worth remembering that the stress and separation of the child from his parents can be reduced by reasonable preparations, as well as gradual adaptation of the child to stay in a new place.
