Walk to the school or drive the bus route with your child prior to next Tuesday
Practice getting up and getting ready at the “September” time
Involve your child in first day preparation (selecting their clothes, preparing their snack, packing indoor/outdoor shoes, packing their knapsack). Sneak in a surprise snack with a love note from you
Have them practise washroom routines, hand washing and opening snack containers
Tell them how excited you are for them as they begin this new adventure
Show them a picture of you on your first day of Kindergarten
No matter how old they get or how busy you get, ask about their day, talk about their day – celebrate their day!
Know your child’s timetable – post it somewhere visible. Access the school website and read the newsletters to receive information
Encourage them to participate in school events, clubs and activities
If you want to better understand something you hear from your child, call their teacher to check it out
Resist the urge to rescue your child when they have a challenge. Support your child’s learning, help a little but don’t do their schoolwork for them. If the challenge is a social situation, listen and let them find solutions with your guidance. Encourage them to talk to their teacher, guidance counsellor, student success teacher, special education teacher or Principal when they need help.
Hold high expectations for your child and show them in your words and behaviours that you know they can succeed.
Don’t fill out the university applications this week/year. Celebrate your child’s hard work and achievement of any kind.
No matter how old they get or how busy you get – ask about their day – talk about their day – celebrate their day!