Always follow directions!). And now that she so desperately craves interaction with someone other than her parents, any shred of shyness has been replaced by bubbly extroversionshe will literally talk to anyone we pass on the street. Now, hurry up and get home and tell me all about your first day! I know you will have the same experience and I am so happy that you get to live this life that will bring you so much joy. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Sure, there are the practical things you can do to be ready for school, like, labeling their clothes with their name and having them practice putting their shoes on the right feet, says Taylor. of our fun learning activities delivered straight to your inbox, A letter to my daughter on her first day of school, Separation Anxiety: A Guide to Recognising and Alleviating the Symptoms, Privacy A girl who takes care of her baby brother with so much pride and love. This isnt how I pictured my kids first day of school. And you might feel a bit fed up at the end of the day just because youre so tired. Although Im shocked to still have my job and my sanity, I know Im lucky to have enjoyed aspects of this unprecedented amount of forced family time. I realize Im privileged to have these fears. Log in. Without the comfort of her peers, Im now her favourite person to cuddle with and the one she comes to when she has a really great idea. More than just being her mom, over these long months, weve become friends. Kindergarten Sight Words List and Printables, The New Back-to-School Supplies: A Guide for Parents During the Pandemic. I have all kinds of negative thoughts about how this and the last few months will have a lasting affect on her psychologically. If Ive learned anything from months of lockdown, its that there are good and bad things about every situation. Because although I know you are ready for this new start, Im not sure if I am ready for this. If your child is new to formal education they might find the busy mornings even more of an adjustment. We should be laying foundations to help them be happy, confident little souls who are as independent as they can be. Please enter the 4-digit code we've sent you. But instead, Im haunted by the images from the news of small kids in masks, separated by markers that keep them six feet apart as they quietly line up to enter the school building. And now that its arrived I know that youre ready to start your brand new adventure. Even now, her long legs almost touch the ground when she crawls up into my lap, and when she leaps into my arms, it takes my breath away. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Your arrival into this world changed all of our lives in a way that can only be described as transformative. Required fields are marked *. With you in my life, I knew I could do anything. I remember the first time I held you. Lets not forget the time you had a blow out diaper all over your nervous moms face or the first time you scored your first soccer goal. Get our monthly magazine delivered to your home! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Some great choices according to the teachers we asked include: September can be a tricky month for parents as kids have to adapt to early morning starts after a lazy summer. I understand that all of these safety measures are necessary and put in place to protect the most vulnerable. To say that 2020 has been a strange year would be an understatement. But the excitement in my voice and the smile on my face they're a little bit of a lie. 5 Tips for Your Childs Morning and Bedtime Routine, Take the Trip | Inside Katies Paris & London Dream-Come-True Trip, 5 Reasons to Encourage Commitment in Kids Sports/Activities. So here it is. I was proud to see you so brave and prepared to face all the new adventures that await you at school. Squeals of excitement are replaced by the intermittent beep of the thermometer as it takes each kids temperature and the hiss of the disinfectant spray sanitizing their school bags. That I have loved every moment of the last five years with you, my favourite little person by my side. Little kids need to know how to take care of their own needs when they enter big school. Small things, sure. I was happy to be close to you on such an important day. | Heres who to call! It will all be OK. As we walked hand in hand towards the school gates I wanted to tell you that I was not ready to let go. You were right. Just be you. Kindergarten is a time for making new friendships and learning how to get along with others. I wish I could protect you from all the meanness in the world. I don't worry about how she'll do in kindergarten. Its OK though, my sweet girl. Please dont ever sit in class with butterflies in your tummy because youre too scared or worried to even start your work. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, once children are off at school parents need to let go and allow their child to explore their new learning environment. Without a summer orientation, I have no idea who her teacher will be, where her classroom is, where shell eat lunch or who will be in her class. As I stood there watching you start a new chapter of your life, I had so many feelings at once! Copyright 2022 St. Joseph Communications. That caring heart you have beating inside your chest will make an impact on others this school year. You are so strong, personable and independent. But you are also just a beginner and you should never feel worried if you dont know how to do something. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The marks on the full-length mirror that chart her growth are reaching ever higher, and each day she amazes me with her intelligence, her curiosity and her ability to absorb information. I will be anxiously awaiting! If class will be offered virtually, kids can still meet their new teacher on video conferencing or with a quick phone call so that they can make contact and become acquainted. (Photo: Simone Olivero). Instead of feeling sorry for myself because I have to let you go I am thinking a different way. I blinked and now we are getting your backpack and lunchbox ready. Baby girl, lets take this year one day at a time. As I helped you dress in your new pinafore, I wanted to tell you how big youve become and how grown up you looked in your first school uniform. My daughter has been talking about starting kindergarten since she understood what kindergarten was. Just give it time and dont be sad if you feel a bit jiggered at first. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. As I kissed you and waved goodbye I put the biggest smile on my face and held back the tears that were threatening to fall. Spring at the Silos a local perspective! A really little one.. Nature activities for kids: 14 easy and fun ways to explore nature, The best way to offer kids easy and fun things to do when bored, 12 easy and special homemade ornaments to make with your kids, Struggling with parenting anger? That Id miss holding your hand as we walked along together to the shop or to feed the ducks. The Big Day. That means Mom here is wrapping her head around all the Pregnancy & Postpartum | Local Business Guide, Guide to Dentists & Orthodontics In & Around Waco. The start of kindergarten is a little more bitter than sweet for me. The hallways are free of chaos, clutter, life. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. As I helped you buckle up your new shiny shoes I wanted to tell you that as you learn new things you will also make mistakes and thats ok. We all do and we all learn from them. And that was enough. While the start of every new school year is a special occasion, the first day of kindergarten may be the biggest learning milestone there is. On a sunny Thursday afternoon in August, I said goodbye to my daughters early childhood. We call it the fox door, ever since the morning when, in an effort to distract her from a tearful tantrum whose origins I dont even recall, I made up a story about how it was a special door that only small animals could fit through. Small children can care for themselves this way they just need to be shown how.". How did that happen? And although Ive always said I would be honest with my daughter, I find myself covering up an essential truth about this transition. I know you want me to stay little, but I want to be eleven already!. I know these words may not quite make sense yet, so I will simplify it for you. It's about learning life skills, not just school skills," she says. I cant wait to see what is in store for you this school year. But these are details parents get because they help everyone ease into the transition. Every September, my social feeds are flooded with images of kids decked out in their backpacks, with fresh haircuts, ready to take on the school year. STAY CONNECTED! That includes going to the bathroom, dressing, and washing their hands. I want Kindergarten to be fun for you. I hope that my daughter will read these words later in her life and enjoy them as much as I have. I walked for the last time through the heavy, swinging door, touched the brick walls that have sheltered her for the past five years, and headed to her locker, where I packed up the detritus of an active 5-year-olds life: the spare pairs of socks, the scribbled drawings, the craft projects heavy with Elmers glue and thick with glitter. This is also a great time for parents to ask questions and to clarify any information before the start of the school year. And in the blink of an eye youve become this beautiful young girl standing in front of me, ready to start a new chapter. If you join, well send you alerts about activity in the I still remember the day we brought you home from the hospital, this tiny little bundle asleep in your car seat. "I explicitly teach my little ones the phrase, 'Please, can you help me?'" Please click the button to the right if you consent to the use of cookies. I told you simply to have a lovely day and that I loved you. Read my whole disclosure here. Weve been talking to our daughter, my husband and I, about how exciting all this is going to be. Always ask, my sweet child. Your email address will not be published. When I tell her how exciting it is that she's starting school, how much fun it will be to ride the bus and play on the playground with her new friends, how much she'll get to learn and discover at her new school, what Im saying is true. The best way to get them ready for these expectations are to practice, practice, practice! I worry she wont be able to understand her teacher if shes wearing a mask and that shell lose interest in school before she even gets started. Above all, always choose kindness. The best recipes, crafts, gift ideas, family travel tips, and kids activities from one modern mom to another! As I helped you pack your school bagI wanted to tell you that I know youll make friends. Go out there and show them little one, be brave and be great! Time went by so quickly, and I know Ill miss spending more time with you, holding you in my arms at nap time, going to the park together in the mornings, enjoying tons of hugs, smiles, and kisses you offered me every single day. An in-person visit will help them feel prepared for this big change in their little lives, and it will also help to alleviate fears about knowing where the bathroom is and where to put their belongings. Life is too short to not have fun. Subscribe to Today's Parent's daily newsletter for our best parenting news, tips, essays and recipes. A girl with a spunky attitude, big beautiful eyes and a smile that could light up a room. Your Proud Momma (Not ready to be called Mom quite yet), Created On: August 14, 2018 |By: Michelle Hancock Our Family, Your email address will not be published. So as we buy school supplies, try out first-day outfits and fit her for new shoes, I'm looking back at the baby bathtub that's tucked up in the attic, and the crib mattress she now uses as a play mat, and Im realizing that this is it the end of the preschool years. The authors daughter practicing for the first day of school. If you join, well send you alerts about activity in the group to ensure that you stay up-to-date. A child that asked me to stop the cart at the store, so she could pick up a box that fell off a shelf to hand to the employee. St. Joseph Communications uses cookies for personalization, to customize its online advertisements, and for other purposes. 2022, Modern Mom Life. "A key thing to consider when starting school is to focus on making the unknown known as far as possible," says Julie Keyes, a teacher of more than 15 years and founder of The Educational Consultant. Ill ask her. I hope everyone who meets you today sees the goodness in you like I do. These are the moments we both will learn from. With each day it got easier for both of us. I am honored I get to share your sense of wonder with others as amazing as you are. And thats OK. Youll find your way, my love, even if everyone else seems to be confident and chatty and to have tons of friends already. I hope you dance no matter your age or where you are. Children who have a few basic skills under their belt tend to feel more comfortable in class, says Mary Reede, a kindergarten teacher of 18 years.