Embracing the Initial Day of Kindergarten: Overcoming First-Day Jitters
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As the new school year approaches, parents may find themselves feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension for their children. To ease the transition, particularly on the first day, Kari Hanson, the associate editor of this website, offers some effective tips.
Firstly, it's essential to start adjusting sleep schedules at least three weeks before school begins. This means moving bedtimes earlier and waking kids earlier to match school days, helping ease morning transitions. Establishing a regular routine including bedtime, wake-up time, and morning activities before school starts is also crucial.
Emotionally preparing your child is just as important. Meeting the new teacher ahead of time, attending orientation, or scheduling playdates with future classmates can help familiarize them socially. Walking through the school day mentally with your child can help reduce anxiety about the unknown. Developing a special goodbye ritual at drop-off, like a secret handshake or a visual reminder, can maintain connection during the day.
Organizing and planning logistics early is also key. Finalizing transportation plans, shopping for school supplies, packing backpacks, and preparing lunches ahead of time can save time and reduce stress. Using a family calendar to keep track of school start dates, activities, and responsibilities can help keep everyone on track.
Encouraging open communication about any fears or concerns your child has about school is also vital. Be positive about school to help minimize your child’s fear and create excitement for learning. Reach out to teachers with questions to build support networks.
Scheduling a well-child checkup about a month before school helps ensure your child is physically and mentally ready, including being up to date on vaccines.
These strategies combined support both the practical and emotional sides of the first-day transition, helping children feel more secure, confident, and ready for school.
Originally published several years ago, this article has been most recently updated on August 4, 2025. It provides tips for making it through the first day of school, including a back-to-school reset for kids, power-packed breakfasts, making a Schultuete, capturing the first day in school, and strengthening school readiness.
As Kari Hanson prepares for her sons' first days of their sophomore and junior year of high school, she reflects on the significant transformation kindergarten has undergone in her perspective. Five years ago, she compared kindergarten to leaving children at the park and hoping they are still there. Today, she sees kindergarten as an entirely new world with endless possibilities.
Five years later, her twins are now fifth-graders. She remembers the emotional turmoil she felt during the younger child's first day of kindergarten. However, instead of crying, her son walked confidently into the kindergarten class, and she felt a sense of excitement. She hopes that the lifelong friendships formed in kindergarten will last just as long.
[1] [Adams, C. (2020). Preparing for the First Day of School: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/first-day-school-preparation] [2] [Hanson, K. (2021). Emotional Preparation for the First Day of School. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/emotional-preparation-first-day-school] [3] [Smith, J. (2022). Practical Planning for the First Day of School. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/practical-planning-first-day-school] [4] [Johnson, L. (2023). Communication and Support for the First Day of School. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/communication-support-first-day-school] [5] [Doe, R. (2024). Health Preparation for the First Day of School. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/health-preparation-first-day-school]
- Kari Hanson suggests that parents of babies should start preparing their children for school by slowly adjusting sleep schedules several weeks before the school year begins, organizing logistics, and emotionally preparing their child through meetings, playdates, and open communication.
- Embracing the lifestyle changes that come with having kids in school, Kari Hanson from the education-and-self-development section of this website also stresses the importance of planning power-packed breakfasts and capturing the first day in school photographs.
- In addition to practical planning strategies, parenting experts like Kari Hanson emphasize the significance of parent-teacher partnerships, maintaining open communication, and building support networks to ensure children's health-and-wellness and academic success.
- To support kids' growth and development in school, resources like school supplies, lifestyle changes, and health-and-wellness preparation guides are essential for parents and kids alike. Building a solid foundation in science, education, and even home organization can create a smoother transition for kids starting at school or moving up to higher grades.
