How to prepare a child for kindergarten: from skills to medical records

When preparing your baby for kindergarten, many questions arise. What things will the child need? How is the health of children going to kindergarten for the first time checked? And most importantly, what skills should a child master in preparation for a completely new environment? In this article we examine these and other questions.

When to start preparing your child for kindergarten?

Most often, children go to kindergarten for the first time at the age of approximately 2.5–3 years. But they can start attending private kindergartens earlier. In general, this issue is resolved within the family - it is the parents who have the right to determine at what age the child will begin to attend kindergarten..

When the bureaucratic processes have already started (you have queued up and are waiting for enrollment), another stage begins, the preparatory one. It is believed that the optimal time for preparation is about six months. During this time, the child can be taught independence skills, prepared psychologically, and then undergo the necessary medical examination.

What should you teach your child before kindergarten?

There are no strict requirements for a child’s skills for enrollment in kindergarten. But some skills will simply help the child adapt to the new environment faster, increase his confidence and make his stay in the garden more comfortable.

• • Self-care skills. These include the ability to wash oneself, wash one’s hands, and get dressed. It is important that the child knows how to use a spoon and a mug, and also goes to the toilet himself or asks for it. It is advisable to wean the child off the bottle and pacifier.

• • The ability to talk. In a kindergarten, one teacher looks after many children; he cannot guess what a particular child needs at the moment. Therefore, the ability to speak clearly to children is very helpful - so, they not only make friends, but literally tell their teachers about their needs or well-being.

• • Staying without parents. Perhaps the most difficult skill to master over time. Experts advise visiting public places with your child more often, as well as leaving him with other people for short periods of time. This way the baby can quickly get used to being without parents.

• • Follow the regime and obey the teacher. To make the first days in kindergarten easier, parents can gradually introduce a routine into their child’s life. Getting up, eating, walking and sleeping can all be done according to a schedule at home. It is also worth explaining who the teacher is, why you need to obey him and never scare the child with the teacher.

• • Communicate with other children. Some kindergartens literally prescribe in their regulations the rules of behavior with other children. Usually they prohibit offending each other, “fighting back,” fighting, taking other children’s personal belongings and toys, and breaking crafts. It is important to explain all this to the child in advance. It’s also useful to stimulate the desire to participate in group games or just make new acquaintances.

If a child does not possess any of these skills, this is far from a reason for refusal to enroll in kindergarten. However, they will be useful for the baby himself; being in kindergarten can quickly stop causing stress.

Which doctors should you visit before kindergarten?

To enroll in kindergarten, you will need a medical card in form 026/u, it is issued at the clinic. In essence, it duplicates a regular children's medical record, but then it is kept in educational institutions: kindergartens and schools.

To get a card, you need to undergo an examination in advance: donate blood and urine, make an appointment with a neurologist, dentist and other specialists. The pediatrician will tell you in more detail; he is the one who issues the card to the parents. Registration of a card can take a month or even more, so you need to take care of this in advance.

What should I buy my child before kindergarten?

Information about what a child needs when enrolling in kindergarten can be found in the kindergarten itself. But there are minimum requirements that usually apply to all kindergartens.

So, the child will need a change of clothes and shoes: sandals, tights, underwear. Pajamas for sleep or a simple T-shirt. For physical education, you need sportswear - a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers (shoes). You will also need a comb and a hat in the summer.

Some kindergartens may ask you to bring toilet paper and buy stationery yourself. All requirements can and should be found out in advance.

The first weeks of kindergarten. How should parents behave?

No matter how parents prepare their child, the first weeks in kindergarten can be stressful for him. To begin with, you should prepare for the fact that leaving your child in the kindergarten for the whole day will not work out right away. Experts recommend first bringing children for a few hours (2-3), and then gradually increasing the time of stay.

If after the first days the baby throws tantrums and refuses to go to kindergarten, you can take a break from visiting for a day or two. During this time, do not arrange holidays or surprises, but tell them about what awaits an interesting child in the kindergarten.

Talk to your baby every time you pick him up from kindergarten: what you liked and what you didn’t. Ask what he did today and what impressions he received. Discuss how tomorrow will go: when you go to kindergarten, what the child will do there, when you pick him up. This will help the baby in a new environment and uncertainty.

In addition to preparing your child for kindergarten, it is also important for parents to prepare. After all, a long separation from your baby is also new to you. Try not to instill your anxiety in your child - it will already be difficult for him to get used to the change in environment. Tune in to the positive and pass this feeling on to your baby.