By Pam Moore 

Starting school for the first time can be anxiety-provoking (for kids and parents) — but it doesn’t have to be. We talked to the pros to find out how parents can set their kids up for a successful start to preschool or kindergarten.

Make Learning Fun — As parents, we are our children’s first teachers. Although this might seem like a lot of pressure, it’s an amazing opportunity to present learning as something that can (and should) be fun. 

According to Lisa Stratton, an educational services manager at an early childhood education center for preschool children, we can do this by encouraging kids’ natural curiosity. “For example if your child asks you, ‘How do bats fly in dark caves without bumping into each other?’ you can help them find the answer online or at the library,” Stratton said. 

By encouraging your kids to go where their interests take them, Stratton said, “You will be teaching them that learning is fun without them realizing [it].”

Encourage Independence at Home — Parents can support the learning process by fostering childrens’ independence with daily tasks. When kids come to school prepared to handle some of these basics, teachers have more time to focus on helping them develop academic and social skills. 

Try teaching practical skills, like tying shoes, buttoning and unbuttoning clothing, and washing their own hands. Being able to open containers in their lunchboxes eases mealtime anxiety. Recognizing their own name makes identifying labels on their things easier, too, especially in the case of another student having a similar backpack or jacket. Rules around getting a drink of water and waiting their turn sound like basic skills, but being prepared to put them into practice saves time and frustration at the school house.

“These day-to-day life skills and learning how to get along with others are more important at this stage than knowing how to write their ABCs,” Stratton emphasized.

Talk to Your Child — A children’s therapeutic services manager, Shari Karmen, recommends parents let kids know what to expect before school starts. “Let them know they will be making new friends, playing with different toys, having new snacks,” she outlined.

Karmen suggests parents describe what a typical day might look like or even visit the school in advance. “Telling children several times helps them to learn that a change and new routine will be happening. Include who will be picking them up from school so they know that they will see you again.” 

Sharing fun experiences children can look forward to is essential, as is preparing for any potential mishaps. Role-play ways to handle introducing oneself and responses to things that might not go as planned. 

Be Informed — As all parents know, kids are masters at picking up on their parents’ emotions; if we’re anxious, they’ll know it, and they may feel it, too. Parents can allay some anxiety by educating themselves. 

Shela Blankenship, a school district early childhood coordinator, encourages parents to visit the school’s website to learn about program information, hours, and drop-off and pick-up expectations. She encourages Parent Orientation participation to forge relationships with teachers from the start. Blankenship emphasizes, “The more parents know in advance, the more comfortable everyone will feel on the first day.” 

Pam Moore is an award-winning freelance writer, intuitive eating coach, and host of the Real Fit podcast. Get her free guide to improving your body image at pam-moore.com.