We all love children and they are the cutest things but let’s face it, they are not always easy. Almost all of us rely on teachers to teach them a few skills when we pack them off to kindergarten.
But if any of you have been a kindergarten teacher yourself or know one, you know how difficult the job is. Here are things one teacher suggests you do before sending the kids off to their first day.
It actually requires super human levels of patience to deal with a bunch of kindergartners at one time. What makes the job even more difficult is that most of the kids know very few practical things. But there are a few things you can try and teach your kids before sending them to school that can really help the teachers a lot!
Opening Lunches
Lunchtime is limited and the easier it is for the kids to open their lunch box, the more time they will have to eat it. That is why teachers suggest packing lunches in simple containers and teaching your kids how to open them so that they get all the nutrition that they need with time to spare!
Following Instructions
Unless kids know how to follow simple instructions like “sit on the carpet” or “line up,” teachers are going to spend all their energies and time explaining how to do these things instead of their most important job – teaching.
Dressing
This holds true especially during winter. Kids need to wear jackets, hats, and mittens before stepping out on the playground and if they know how to do that by themselves, it not only saves the teachers a lot of effort but also protects them from getting cold.
Looking After Things
One of the most frequent complaints that parents have is that their children end up losing a lot of things, but it is really unfair to expect the teachers to keep a track of them. That is why it is a good idea to teach your kids how to identify and store their things before they start kindergarten.
Good Night’s Sleep
Kids spend a lot of energy during the day. Also, with the busy schedules of parents, a lot of kids spend time in day care and after school programs as well. The only way they can get through this is by getting a good night’s sleep. You should also take care not to involve your kids in too many activities during the first few months of kindergarten.
Recognize Their Name
This one is extremely essential because if children do not recognize their names, they will miss out on a lot. There is no way teachers can help them learn things if they do not know that they are being addressed.
Bathroom Etiquette
While teachers may be on hand to help, that does not mean that you cannot make their jobs a lot easier by teaching your kids how to undo and redo any buttons or snaps, how to use toilet paper without the chance of flooding the bathroom, and how to wash their hands each time.
How to Read
Don’t worry, this does not mean that you need to teach your kids how to read words. After all, that’s what they are going to school for. But you should definitely teach them how to handle books and turn pages and more importantly how to treat books with respect. This also helps them develop a love for reading!
Being Away from You
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This is one of the most important things you should teach your children. They can get very upset when they are in an unfamiliar surrounding with unfamiliar people. Since that is something they have to do when they attend kindergarten, it is better if they are used to being away from you beforehand.
Enjoy Kindergarten
It is important for children to enjoy their time at the kindergarten and that means that you should not make a big deal out of it at home. If you fuss over them about going to school, they may develop a fear of it. So, it is better that you have fun with them, especially during the summers before the start of kindergarten.
These small things can help transform the environment of the kindergarten and make it more conducive towards learning and fun. So, don’t leave everything to the teachers and do teach your children these basic lessons of life.
