Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

I am seeing so many posts about your nerves so I figure us BTDT parents could give you some advice.

You will be amazed by what they learn this year! But be aware that when you ask them what they did today they will most likely reply with nothing. Last year my friends and I referred to this as the secret society of kindgarten. They gave up no info unless you ask very specific questions. Also be aware that they will be exhausted when they come home. I think the first couple of weeks my daughter didn't make it past 7:30, some nights even 5. This will pass as they get used to it.

Don't expect the same daily feedback you got from daycare but if you have questions definitely seek out the teacher.

The maturity that you will see by the end of the year is amazing.

Anyone else have anything to add?

Message edited 9/5/2011 5:50:04 PM.

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

When I taught kindergarten I sent this out to the parents right before the first day. I think it makes things a little easier.

Thoughts at the Bottom of a Beanstalk

Once upon a time there was a little boy named Jack who was about to climb his very first beanstalk. He had a fresh haircut and a brand new book bag.

Even though his friends in the neighborhood had climbed this same beanstalk almost every day last year, this was Jack's first day and he was a little nervous. So was his mother.

Early in the morning she brought him to the foot of the beanstalk. She talked encouragingly to Jack about all the fun he would have that day and how nice his giant would be. She reassured him that she would be back to pick him up at the end of the day. For a moment they stood together, silently holding hands, gazing up at the beanstalk. To Jack it seemed much bigger than it had when his mother had pointed it out on the way to the store last week. His mother thought it looked big, too. She swallowed. Maybe she should have held Jack out a year...

Jack's mother straightened his shirt one last time, patted his shoulder and smiled down at him. She promised to stay and wave while he started climbing. Jack didn't say a word.

He walked forward, grabbed a low-growing stem and slowly pulled himself up to the first leaf. He balanced there for a moment and then climbed more eagerly to the second leaf, then to the third and soon he had vanished into a high tangle of leaves and stems with never a backward glance at his mother.

She stood alone at the bottom of the beanstalk, gazing up at the spot where Jack had disappeared. There was no rustle, no movement, no sound to indicate that he was anywhere inside.

"Sometimes," she thought, "it's harder to be the one who waves good-bye than it is to be the one who climbs the beanstalk."

She wondered how Jack would do. Would he miss her? How would he behave? Did his giant understand that little boys sometimes acted silly when they felt unsure? She fought down an urge to spring up the stalk after Jack and maybe duck behind a bean to take a peek at how he was doing.

"I'd better not. What if he saw me?" She knew Jack was really old enough to handle this on his own. She reminded herself that, after all this was thought to be an excellent beanstalk and that everyone said his giant was not only kind but had outstanding qualifications.

"It's not so much that I'm worried about him," she thought, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's just that he's growing up and I'm going to miss him."

Jack's mother turned to leave. "Jack's going to have lots of bigger beanstalks to climb in his life," she told herself. "Today's the day he starts practicing for them... And today's the day I start practicing something too: cheering him on and waving good-bye."

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

Posted by PatsBrat

When I taught kindergarten I sent this out to the parents right before the first day. I think it makes things a little easier.

Thoughts at the Bottom of a Beanstalk

Once upon a time there was a little boy named Jack who was about to climb his very first beanstalk. He had a fresh haircut and a brand new book bag.

Even though his friends in the neighborhood had climbed this same beanstalk almost every day last year, this was Jack's first day and he was a little nervous. So was his mother.

Early in the morning she brought him to the foot of the beanstalk. She talked encouragingly to Jack about all the fun he would have that day and how nice his giant would be. She reassured him that she would be back to pick him up at the end of the day. For a moment they stood together, silently holding hands, gazing up at the beanstalk. To Jack it seemed much bigger than it had when his mother had pointed it out on the way to the store last week. His mother thought it looked big, too. She swallowed. Maybe she should have held Jack out a year...

Jack's mother straightened his shirt one last time, patted his shoulder and smiled down at him. She promised to stay and wave while he started climbing. Jack didn't say a word.

He walked forward, grabbed a low-growing stem and slowly pulled himself up to the first leaf. He balanced there for a moment and then climbed more eagerly to the second leaf, then to the third and soon he had vanished into a high tangle of leaves and stems with never a backward glance at his mother.

She stood alone at the bottom of the beanstalk, gazing up at the spot where Jack had disappeared. There was no rustle, no movement, no sound to indicate that he was anywhere inside.

"Sometimes," she thought, "it's harder to be the one who waves good-bye than it is to be the one who climbs the beanstalk."

She wondered how Jack would do. Would he miss her? How would he behave? Did his giant understand that little boys sometimes acted silly when they felt unsure? She fought down an urge to spring up the stalk after Jack and maybe duck behind a bean to take a peek at how he was doing.

"I'd better not. What if he saw me?" She knew Jack was really old enough to handle this on his own. She reminded herself that, after all this was thought to be an excellent beanstalk and that everyone said his giant was not only kind but had outstanding qualifications.

"It's not so much that I'm worried about him," she thought, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's just that he's growing up and I'm going to miss him."

Jack's mother turned to leave. "Jack's going to have lots of bigger beanstalks to climb in his life," she told herself. "Today's the day he starts practicing for them... And today's the day I start practicing something too: cheering him on and waving good-bye."

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

OMG I am not going to be able to read anymore of these posts as this one has me bawling

Thanks for trying to cheer us first timers up....I guess its a right of passage and we have to walk through it

Thank goodness for this board as I feel like I am a crazy person at school as all the moms at orientation day were beside themselves with excitement that their kids would be gone all day and I was biting my tongue and wondering when it would be appropriate to ask the teacher if I could drop off a hot lunch to my DD...I know I could send it with her but if the option was there and I could see her for 5 mins during the day it would be a golden pass!

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

Get a big box or buy yourself a portfolio for art projects, homework assignments you can't part with. Ours is from :
http://schoolfolio.com/

if it's not on there, LABEL what year it was, child's name, grade. You will think you won't forget it but you will. Also if you have a singleton, you will still want their name on it. There is something about seeing your own name, date & grade on your stuff versus just a date.

You can take photos or artwork to share with grandparents, aunts & uncles. Upload these photos to a website that you can download from at a later date, ie snapfish, kodakgallery, etc. this way you have another backup.

--------------------------
They will come home grumpy & exhausted.

Our rule is homework first, then play. it works for our family. I recognize it may not work for every kid but sitting down around dinnertime to do homework is brutal. if your kid is in an afterschool program, ask them to have them do their homework.

Friendships will change. If your child is friends with kids in other grades (neighborhood or otherwise), still arrange for playdates with kids in the class. Ask your kid who they want to come over.

This is where playdates are usually drop offs. If you're not comfortable with it, host them at your house.

If you are a SAHM & invite a kid of a working mom, ask them if you want their kid to their homework with yours before playing.

I will never forget the day when I had a call from a SAHM in the area who volunteered to take my daughter because school had ended early due to snow. I had arranged for my mom to pick up but I cherished that mom for ages for her offer.

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

Posted by Kidsaplenty

Posted by PatsBrat

When I taught kindergarten I sent this out to the parents right before the first day. I think it makes things a little easier.

Thoughts at the Bottom of a Beanstalk

Once upon a time there was a little boy named Jack who was about to climb his very first beanstalk. He had a fresh haircut and a brand new book bag.

Even though his friends in the neighborhood had climbed this same beanstalk almost every day last year, this was Jack's first day and he was a little nervous. So was his mother.

Early in the morning she brought him to the foot of the beanstalk. She talked encouragingly to Jack about all the fun he would have that day and how nice his giant would be. She reassured him that she would be back to pick him up at the end of the day. For a moment they stood together, silently holding hands, gazing up at the beanstalk. To Jack it seemed much bigger than it had when his mother had pointed it out on the way to the store last week. His mother thought it looked big, too. She swallowed. Maybe she should have held Jack out a year...

Jack's mother straightened his shirt one last time, patted his shoulder and smiled down at him. She promised to stay and wave while he started climbing. Jack didn't say a word.

He walked forward, grabbed a low-growing stem and slowly pulled himself up to the first leaf. He balanced there for a moment and then climbed more eagerly to the second leaf, then to the third and soon he had vanished into a high tangle of leaves and stems with never a backward glance at his mother.

She stood alone at the bottom of the beanstalk, gazing up at the spot where Jack had disappeared. There was no rustle, no movement, no sound to indicate that he was anywhere inside.

"Sometimes," she thought, "it's harder to be the one who waves good-bye than it is to be the one who climbs the beanstalk."

She wondered how Jack would do. Would he miss her? How would he behave? Did his giant understand that little boys sometimes acted silly when they felt unsure? She fought down an urge to spring up the stalk after Jack and maybe duck behind a bean to take a peek at how he was doing.

"I'd better not. What if he saw me?" She knew Jack was really old enough to handle this on his own. She reminded herself that, after all this was thought to be an excellent beanstalk and that everyone said his giant was not only kind but had outstanding qualifications.

"It's not so much that I'm worried about him," she thought, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's just that he's growing up and I'm going to miss him."

Jack's mother turned to leave. "Jack's going to have lots of bigger beanstalks to climb in his life," she told herself. "Today's the day he starts practicing for them... And today's the day I start practicing something too: cheering him on and waving good-bye."

Thanks, now I am crying like a baby over here

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

I'm a mess!

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

bumping this post because I was searching for the schoolfolio site that Barb posted and also stumbled on the poem that didn't really resonate with me then, but now that he's in K, it has a whole new meaning so I thought it deserved a second read

Message edited 6/8/2012 11:56:40 AM.

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

I sit here crying like a baby myself. DS will be graduating Kindergarten soon. What a beautiful poem that really captures a mother's feelings.

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

Expect an adjustment period. Be supportive and encouraging. Get as involved in the PTA as you can....it really helps you know what is going on in school. Take everything people say about teachers with a grain of salt....sometimes you will hear things about teachers that you completely agree with and other times you will scratch your head and wonder if you and other people are talking about the same person. Realize that different children have different learning styles just as different teacher s have different teaching styles. If you have questions don't be afraid to ask them....be an advocate for your child, if you don't no one else will. It's okay to cry when they go the first day....just try not to let them see you. Let them know it's okay to be nervous. If your child will be taking a bus put them on it from day 1....if you don't it may be harder to get them on the bus.

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

I read him/her the book 'Look out Kindergarten, here I come'.. great book for them!

Become very active with your LO 's class and volunteer if you can. I would always volunteer to come in and read a book to the class if I had a day off.

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

Okay I cried reading this last year and bawled like a baby just reading it again now and she is about to graduate kindergarten next week

I would second the sentiment about getting involved with the class if you can...I know if you work FT this is not always possible but if you arrange even one day here and there it would make a huge difference to your kids...my DD would flip with excitement when I would go in. I also had an email relationship with the teacher and she would send me updates/ concerns etc.

It was a HUGE step for me to send her off for the full day, I had so many concerns and she took to it like a duck to water, made a ton of friends, reveled in the different classes she took and LOVED her teachers.

Nothing i can say will help ease your worries but know this...I survived and you will too

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

Posted by PatsBrat

When I taught kindergarten I sent this out to the parents right before the first day. I think it makes things a little easier.

Thoughts at the Bottom of a Beanstalk

Once upon a time there was a little boy named Jack who was about to climb his very first beanstalk. He had a fresh haircut and a brand new book bag.

Even though his friends in the neighborhood had climbed this same beanstalk almost every day last year, this was Jack's first day and he was a little nervous. So was his mother.

Early in the morning she brought him to the foot of the beanstalk. She talked encouragingly to Jack about all the fun he would have that day and how nice his giant would be. She reassured him that she would be back to pick him up at the end of the day. For a moment they stood together, silently holding hands, gazing up at the beanstalk. To Jack it seemed much bigger than it had when his mother had pointed it out on the way to the store last week. His mother thought it looked big, too. She swallowed. Maybe she should have held Jack out a year...

Jack's mother straightened his shirt one last time, patted his shoulder and smiled down at him. She promised to stay and wave while he started climbing. Jack didn't say a word.

He walked forward, grabbed a low-growing stem and slowly pulled himself up to the first leaf. He balanced there for a moment and then climbed more eagerly to the second leaf, then to the third and soon he had vanished into a high tangle of leaves and stems with never a backward glance at his mother.

She stood alone at the bottom of the beanstalk, gazing up at the spot where Jack had disappeared. There was no rustle, no movement, no sound to indicate that he was anywhere inside.

"Sometimes," she thought, "it's harder to be the one who waves good-bye than it is to be the one who climbs the beanstalk."

She wondered how Jack would do. Would he miss her? How would he behave? Did his giant understand that little boys sometimes acted silly when they felt unsure? She fought down an urge to spring up the stalk after Jack and maybe duck behind a bean to take a peek at how he was doing.

"I'd better not. What if he saw me?" She knew Jack was really old enough to handle this on his own. She reminded herself that, after all this was thought to be an excellent beanstalk and that everyone said his giant was not only kind but had outstanding qualifications.

"It's not so much that I'm worried about him," she thought, rubbing the back of her neck. "It's just that he's growing up and I'm going to miss him."

Jack's mother turned to leave. "Jack's going to have lots of bigger beanstalks to climb in his life," she told herself. "Today's the day he starts practicing for them... And today's the day I start practicing something too: cheering him on and waving good-bye."

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

Thank you all for the wonderful advice. I cried reading that poem. Today was my son's last day of preschool and he "graduates" this weekend. I still vividly remember the day he was born, the day he started preschool thinking kindergarten was so far away, and all of those days in between. Oh how those years sneak up on you.

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

Jenn!! Loved that and I am going to put it as an insert for our graduating preschoolers this year

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

DD is in 1st grade...when she started kindergarten last year, it was a whole new world starting elementary school all together...but kindergarten was such a special year for her. within 3 months of starting school, she learned 92 sight words, was reading, writing, adding and subtracting and was maturing each day.

She enjoys school so much and LOVED her kindergarten teacher (and i did too)

I am excited for DS to start kindergarten this September...the only thing im nervous about is ME...missing no kids at home with me anymore!

keep in mind...your child will be absolutely EXHAUSTED after school...DD had to stop dance for a year, because she was just too tired after school to go. They will get homework daily (DD got 2 pages every night) but this year entering 1st grade she was fine, and used to a long day in school. DD loves going to gym, art, music, and the occasional assemblies they have. You will have parent/teacher conferences once a year to discuss your childs progress but throughout the year you will usually get something sent home, whats being worked on in class.

I wish all the kindergarteners starting in september,a wonderful school year...can you believe these kids graduate in 2025?! CRAZY!

Re: Advice for the new kindergarten parents-- feel free to post your own

Kindergarten is a big adjustment for them especially since they have to get used to full days. My son cried every morning until December…LOL The school always told me that after like 5 mins he was ok. And when I picked him up in the afternoon he was all smiles and when I asked how school was he always said “great”…