Jump into Kindergarten with Girl Scouts!
Your child is facing some big life changes as they start Kindergarten – discovering their abilities, emotions, and interests, and trying new things. Naturally, you want to do everything you can to prepare them for it.
That’s where we come in. Consider Girl Scouts to be your one-stop-shop to building your rising kindergartener’s social skills, boosting their confidence, and providing an extra bit of stability in this ever-changing world.
Here are 5 ways to prepare them for a happy, safe, and fun start to their first school year:
- Dress for success.
Help your girl have a smooth first day by making sure they can move freely in their clothes. Kindergarten is a place to play, run, climb, and learn, so the fancy outfit you bought last week might be best left at home. Make sure they can put on and take off their own shoes and coat. Avoid putting them in anything with complicated closures (multiple zippers, toggles, or buttons can be tricky for little ones) and opt for leggings over tights, as tights can get snagged on the playground or slip down and cause discomfort throughout the day.
- Get to know the school.
Many schools set aside a day to let incoming kindergartners and guardians tour the classroom, so take advantage of the opportunity or ask to schedule a special visit. Also make sure to show your child the hallways, the bathroom, and other important places like the playground and library, too.
- Get them talking!
Take turns telling a story with your girl. Even if they’ve got a lot of friends in your neighborhood or are known as being talkative within the family, they still may need a little boost to help them communicate with others in a new setting. Tell a piece of the story as your child listens, then ask them to pick up where you left off. It will help develop the listening and communication skills that can give them a smooth transition into kindergarten. Even simply reading books together and asking questions about them (Would they have made the same choices? How would they feel if they were the main character?) can help. Try stories and books about kindergarten as the first day gets closer.
- Do a practice run.
A few days before school starts, set the alarm for the new wake-up time and visit the bus stop or walk the route to school. If you have neighbors who will be attending the same school, it might be a great time to find their bus buddy—or a friendly face to join them on the first-ever walk to school.
- Celebrate their friendship skills.
Reinforce the qualities that will help them make new friends, and let them know when you see those positive behaviors in action. Liked the way they shared with a younger sibling or neighborhood playmate? Tell them! Did they notice someone was sad and try to cheer them up? Let them know what a nice thing they did. It can also be helpful to help them practice introducing themselves to new people.
Girl Scout Daisies also address key competencies needed for Kindergarten, such as strengthening their social and emotional development and their approach to learning, increasing their motor skills and physical development, and improving their language and literacy skills.
By participating in the Girl Scout Daisy program your girl can:
- Join a circle of friendship and fun like no other
- Spark initiative and curiosity about the world around them
- Learn techniques on how to manage their emotions and behaviors
- Retain information and be flexible in their thinking in order to perform a task
- Maintain focus with little to no adult support and learn to do things for themselves
- Make a difference in their community through a leadership Journey
The best part? You’ll get to join the fun right alongside your girl and watch as they play, learn, and grow with the help of other caring adult volunteers.
Girls entering Kindergarten this fall are eligible to join Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee. Learn more today!