Avoiding Kindergarten Jitters

Tips to Prepare Your Child and Tackle Separation Anxiety  

Beginning kindergarten is a major milestone for families – it’s often a day of excitement, sometimes tears, and even fears as children and parents navigate this major shift in the childhood journey.   

While these emotions are normal, it’s essential to ensure your child feels prepared and empowered to take on this first day.  

Local K-5 Principal, Kristan Haberstro, works with parents and children every year who are entering Florida Cyber Charter Academy (FLCCA). She shares perspective on three key areas parents can focus on to help take the pressure and anxiety out of starting kindergarten.   

Preparing Your Child for the Classroom  

Foundational basics are a great way to empower your child as they enter this new environment.  Students don’t need to have these skills mastered, it’s the familiarity in these areas that can make a difference in their confidence.   

Kristan shares that reading with your child each day is crucial to setting a student up for success. The benefits include expanding a student’s vocabulary, improving language skills, and aids in their ability to understand complex sentences and concepts. Additionally, exposure to books fosters a lifelong love of reading, introduces them to new worlds, characters, and ideas which encourages imagination and creative thinking.  

Additional exercises you can start doing at home leading up to the first day include:  

• Letters: Spend time with your child focusing on identifying and knowing the letters of the alphabet. 
• Shapes: Practice identifying shapes. 
• Numbers: Practice identifying numbers and counting. 
• Hands-On Experience: Spend time with your child and encourage practice with writing their name, holding a pencil, and working on their handwriting. A great exercise is writing their name in a sandbox or in shaving cream.   

Preparing Your Child Socially  

Helping your child practice socialization skills is just as important as preparing them to engage with new people.  

• Neighborhood engagement: Visit a local park and encourage them to make friends. The children they interact with do not have to be their age. They can be older and younger – the key is to expose them socially in different situations.  
• Encourage them to talk: Having your child talk about their experiences and speaking to family or friends will build social confidence.  

Preparing for Separation Anxiety   

The first day of kindergarten can unfold in many ways for new students. Some rip off their bookbags and excitedly wave goodbye, while others refuse to let their parents leave their side. Both reactions are normal.  

The key to navigating social anxiety at this age is having a pulse on what causes their response and how to anticipate the behavior that comes with it.   

• Start small: Encourage independent tasks at home, like brushing their teeth alone or getting ready in the morning.  
• Open communication: Connecting with your student’s teacher is a great opportunity to ensure you’re all on the same page. This can also encourage independence for your child by staying in the loop from “behind the scenes”.  
• Productive Struggle: It’s okay for your child to struggle. This is a changing time for the household, and it’s natural for emotions to run high. Your child will make mistakes, and it’s okay to let them happen but ensure you’re both learning from them.  

Jitters and anxiety over starting kindergarten or even a new school are normal and will pass. The important thing to focus on are increases in confidence and a decrease in worry. If worries continue or increase, check in with your child’s teacher or a counselor for advice on helping your child adjust. Just remember, this process can take time and adjustment could take days, sometimes weeks. Providing them the tools to handle change confidently is a big part of their growth and development.  

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