First time in kindergarten: How to prepare yourself and your child?

Attending kindergarten is stressful for both parents and children. In essence, we are talking about separation, the separation of the closest people from each other. This may be a complex, but in many ways necessary process. This is how the child begins to socialize and recognize himself, his own interests and preferences.

Sometimes it is almost impossible to cope with anxiety. The baby begins to be capricious as soon as the phrase “kindergarten” is heard, and the parents’ hearts are out of place. Yokosun advises how to help your child and calm yourself.

How to prepare a child for kindergarten?

A kindergarten for a child is a completely new and incomprehensible place in which life is built according to different rules. And in this world, where there is a daily routine, many other children, simply different toys and food, he finds himself completely alone.

Even though this world is not scary and far from cruel, it is better to dive into it smoothly and prepared. The responsible task lies on the shoulders of the parents. So how to prepare your baby?

1. Daily routine

Usually children are sent to kindergarten at 2-3 years old; psychologists call this age optimal. At this point, the child’s desire to explore the world awakens, and in the garden he will be able to fully satisfy it.

However, many children have a hard time with the daily routine in kindergarten. Still not at home here. Therefore, it is better to show the child what is called the “regime” in advance.

First, you should learn to wake up early and, accordingly, sleep during the day. It is also better to eat on a schedule and eat food that will be similar to the food in the garden.

2. First contact

You can introduce your baby to a new place before the first trip. During your next walk, take your child to the kindergarten: show him the territory and tell him what this place is. Talk about what the child will do: play with toys, learn new things, meet other children.

3. Shortened day

During the adaptation period, you should not send your child to kindergarten full time. Pick him up early the first time - before lunch. You can gradually increase the time you spend in the garden by 2-3 hours. This way, the child won’t even notice how he starts spending the whole day without you.

4. Farewell

Saying goodbye to your baby in the morning should not be a dramatic scene, especially on the part of the parent. You can ask a relative to whom he is less attached to take the child to kindergarten. Is there no such possibility? Then don't make long goodbyes. Tell us where you are going and how you will spend your day. Stay calm and don't show your anxiety.

You can introduce a pleasant morning ritual that the child will like - then going to the garden will be much easier. At the end, be sure to say how much you love the baby and that you will see each other again very soon.

5. Attitude towards the teacher

Tell your child who educators are and what kind of profession they are. Explain why they need to be obeyed.

After the baby has already met his teacher, maintain their contact outside of kindergarten. Casually tell your child that in a conversation with you you praised him and appreciated his talents.

6. Mindfulness

The most important thing in raising a child is attentiveness to his condition, both physical and psychological. Many problems can be avoided by establishing strong emotional contact. This way the child will know that he is not abandoned in the garden. And if problems arise, you will be the first to know about them and will be able to take action.

Be patient. If your baby is still naughty in the morning, restrain your negative emotions. Otherwise, time after time, going to kindergarten will be accompanied by violent reactions.

How to understand that a child is uncomfortable in kindergarten?

It happens that even after preparing for the first trip to kindergarten, parents still face protests. What to pay attention to?

• Baby does not eat in the garden
• Does not play games and cannot establish contact with peers
• Every morning the child cries and resists going to the garden in every possible way, in the evening the condition does not improve
• Baby doesn’t sleep well

Such manifestations are a reason to think. There can be many reasons for this behavior, but first you should rule out illnesses and mental characteristics of a particular child.

If experts have not found any abnormalities in the baby’s condition, find out whether there was a conflict in the kindergarten with peers or the teacher. If a child talks about this, you should not ignore the situation. You can unobtrusively intervene in the conflict, and the child will feel protected and safe.

It may turn out that the child simply does not have enough attention in kindergarten. You will have to replenish it at home.

Play games, read fairy tales and just show that you enjoy spending time together.

But if the whims do not go away for a long time, this is a reason to contact a specialist.

How parents can cope with anxiety and send their child to kindergarten

First, accept the fact that anxiety is normal. Just a few months ago you were absolutely inseparable, but now you have to spend the whole day apart. Naturally, at such moments, experiences arise, and you should not deny them - this will only stress yourself out more.

Establish contact with the teacher. Then you will be sure that you will be the first to know about the baby’s problems and difficulties. Don’t be afraid to insist on your own when communicating with garden employees, especially when it comes to conflict.

Even if the child is your copy, you do not become one with him.

His experiences should not control you and vice versa. You are an adult, a person on whom the child relies and whom he considers reliable. Do not convey your anxiety to him.

You can’t cope with your emotions, and anxiety develops into panic? This means you should contact a specialist. After all, happy children grow up with happy parents!