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That Very First Day of Kindergarten
by Mia Cronan www.MainStreetMom.com Even 29 years later, I still remember my very first day of kindergarten. Yes, I cried. Yes, my mother walked out the door leaving me alone with strangers. And yes, I lived to tell about it. This year my oldest daughter starts school, and as certain as I am that I'll be more traumatized than her, I know that this is a very big step in her sweet life, and I want to make the most of it for her and later for her little sisters. Several mothers who frequent MainStreetMom.com have written in with suggestions and comments on this bittersweet topic. I'd like to share them with you in the hopes that something in here will strike a chord as an idea you might try. Dana writes: It has been 5 years ago since our only child started Kindergarten - wow time flies! Anyway something that we did as y husband and I both took her out to breakfast before school started. We both escorted her to her new classroom and indeed it as way more traumatic for us than it was for her - she did fine. I wish you well on this new adventure in your lives. Anne (Mia's sister!) writes: Yes, I agree that the first day of kindergarten is harder on the parents (especially Mom) than on the 5-year-old. I have two girls, ages 12 and 9, and the first day of school has always been fun. We plan the night before what is going to be worn. I believe that choices within their capabilities are a good thing: Not "what do you want to wear?," but "do you want to wear this, this, or this?" That way, the small ones are not overwhelmed with a big decision. And make sure the choices are special school clothes. One other thing I always do is take pictures the first day of school, even if they will be climbing on a school bus (bus drivers are very used to us compulsive mothers who are having a hard time letting go of our small ones!). And lastly, I drive up to school so I'm there when the bus arrives. I even take more pictures while the class is lining up. I guaranty you will not be the only parent with a camera! Good luck! I'm sure you'll do just fine on your first day of kindergarten! Cindy writes: I sent my oldest off to school in 1992 and my youngest off to school last year. (There were 2 more in between them!) It can be hard, but you both can make it through. I emphasized the fun parts of school. I also talked about my school days and how much fun I had. Not only did it encourage my kids, it helped me realize that this isn't so bad after all. I talked about similarities between pre-school and kindergarten. I also talked about what we did at home that was similar to school; reading, playing, etc. Finding someone who's child would be in my child's class was helpful. We were able to vent our fears (away from little ears) and introduce our kids beforehand. That way, our children knew at least one other student at school. Hope these tips help. It's okay to cry, but it's wonderful to see them tackle a new adventure and reach a new milestone in their lives. Then the tears can be ones of joy! DivotsJ writes: Be sure to take a picture! First day of kindergarten! And maybe a special breakfast. Laura writes: My little girl Rebecca will be off to 1st grade all my herself this year. It will be very traumatic for me because for her year in kindergarten she went to a preschool which the kindergarten teacher is my mother-in-law. This new school my daughter doesn't know anyone. I will pack her lunch with Hershey's hugs and kisses with a note telling her if she needs one( an actual hug or kiss) then its the next best thing. Marie writes: I had the same feelings with EACH one of my children starting Kindergarten. I have 4 children in school so far. Here are some of the things that helped me and my child. If you haven't already done so, take your child to the school and allow her to see the classroom and meet the teacher. Find out what the daily routine will be so you can talk about it at home. We discussed what would happen if they got sick or hurt or couldn't find the bathroom in time (these are fears that every child has when starting school). They felt better knowing that the teacher would know how to reach me if they ever needed me and I would come right away. On the first day of school some of my children were ready to ride the bus alone, some weren't. My third and fourth were ready, but wanted me to be at school when they got there. So I was in the classroom waiting for them when they got there. Then I stayed for just 15 minutes or so, promising that I wouldn't leave until they were ready. The teacher and I had already discussed this plan ahead of time, and she was happy to have a helper if I had to spend the day. But after about 15-20 minutes, my children were involved so much in the activities, that they didn't mind my leaving them. Kate writes: (NOTE: This one I saved for last, because it's my personal favorite!) I made the transition to kindergarten a little more smooth for both myself and my daughter by sending a camera with her to school. Of course, I ran this idea past her new teacher, who thought it was a wonderful idea. The day before school, my daughter and I bought one of those disposable cameras that prints funny captions on the pictures. I let her take a couple of practice shots at home, then told her I looked forward to seeing her pictures from school. When I picked her up that afternoon, we drove straight to a 1-hour photo processing site and picked out a photo album while we waited for the pictures to develop. Apparently, her teacher decided that taking pictures would be a great way to break the ice when class started, and she challenged the students to make their wackiest face. Luckily, she also helped my daughter take a few pictures, or all we would have seen were shoes and floors. Now that my daughter is in 4th grade, she loves looking at how much her friends have changed. Please feel free to write to me with comments on this article. I'm sure our moms who took the time to contribute would love to hear your feedback. And thank you to all of you seasoned mothers who participated in this article! I plan to keep a copy of it for my daughters!
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