Preparing Your Child for the New School Year

Kids who are starting school for the first time or moving to a new school have the biggest adjustment, but even moving up a grade means coping with a new teacher, more academic demands and a changing social circle.   Start preparing now to make those first weeks easier for your kids – and yourself!  Here’s how:

1. Make sure your child is familiar with the school.  If she was at the same school last year, great! You only need to talk about any differences this year. (“Now that you’re in first grade, you get to play on the big kids playground, and go eat in the lunchroom with the other kids.” “Now that you’ll be in third grade, you’ll have homework every day.” “Now that you’ll be in middle school, you’ll be walking by yourself.  We’ll need to practice crossing Main Street.” ) 

But if this is her first year at this school, then you’ll want to take some trips there.  Even if there is a formal orientation day just before school begins, start now by taking a trip to the school.  If you can get access to the playground, that’s a terrific way to help your child bond with her new school.  If not, at least admire it through the fence and get her excited about the slide or climbing structure.

If the building is open, by all means walk in together to check it out.  If you’re allowed to poke your head in the library, peer into a classroom or two, and use the bathroom (important in making her feel more secure there) you’ve hit the jackpot.  You may not get much further than the office, where you can explain that your child will be starting school in the fall and wanted to see what the school was like, and introduce her to the front office staff.  Either way, the more your child sees of the school, the less she’ll fret with fear of the unknown, and the more comfortable she’ll feel on the first day.

2. Take advantage of any orientation opportunities.  Many schools let new students, especially in the younger grades, come to school for an orientation session before school begins.  If the school doesn’t have such a program, ask if you and your child can come by to meet the new teacher for a few minutes a day or so before school starts.  Teachers are busy preparing their rooms and materials at that time, but any experienced teacher is happy to take a few minutes to meet a new student and make him feel comfortable, since she knows that helps her students settle into the school year.

3. Facilitate your child’s bonding with the teacher.  All kids need to feel connected to their teacher to feel comfortable in the classroom.   Until they do, they are not ready to learn.  Experienced teachers know this, and “collect” their students emotionally at the start of the school year.  Obviously, if you can arrange for your child to meet the teacher in advance, by all means do so.  But there are lots of ways to help your child feel like he knows even a teacher he’s never met.

Once you find out your child’s classroom assignment, begin talking about the teacher in fond and familiar terms. (“When you’re in Ms. Williams class, I bet she’ll be impressed with what a great cleaner-upper you are.” “I’m pretty sure that Ms. Williams reads stories to the kids, she might read your favorite book if we bring it to school.”)  If you can find a photo of Ms. Williams, by all means put it up on your refrigerator and speak to it fondly (“Ms. Williams, you are a great kindergarten teacher and I just know you and my David are going to love each other!”)  If you know other kids who have been in Ms. Williams’ class, ask them to tell your child what their favorite thing was about her. 

Encourage your child to draw a picture to bring Ms. Williams on the first day, and to pick out a shiny red apple for her.  Note that it doesn’t really matter what kind of teacher Ms. Williams is.  Your child will feel a fondness for her to which she is likely to respond favorably.  Regardless, the feeling of familiarity will help your child bond with her.

If you notice in the first week of school that your child doesn’t seem to have connected with his teacher, don’t hesitate to immediately contact her.  Just explain that your child was excited before school started but doesn’t seem to have settled in yet.  You’re hoping that the teacher can make a special effort to reach out to him so he connects with her and feels at home.  Virtually all teachers understand this issue and will pay extra attention to your child during that first week if you make a nice request.   My own daughter cried every day at the start of fourth grade until I had a conversation with the teacher; a week later she loved him and couldn’t wait to go to school in the morning.

4. Facilitate bonding with the other kids. Kids are always nervous about their new teacher, but if they know any of the other kids, they’ll feel more at ease.   If you’re new in town, make a special effort to meet other kids in the neighborhood.  Often schools are willing to introduce new families to each other, allowing kids to connect with other new students in the weeks before school starts.  Even if your child is not new to the school, find out what other kids are in her class and arrange a playdate so she’ll feel more connected if she hasn’t seen these kids all summer. If you can arrange for your son or daughter to travel to school that first morning with a child he or she knows, even if they aren’t in the same classroom, it will ease last minute jitters.

5. Practice saying goodbye. If your child is beginning school for the first time and has not had previous daycare or preschool experience, his or her biggest challenge will be saying goodbye to you.  Explain that all children go to school to learn, which is a child’s job just like parents work at jobs.  Orchestrate small separations to practice saying goodbye, and develop a parting routine, such as a hug and a saying like “I love you, you love me, have a great day and I’ll see you at 3!”

You might give your child a token to hold on to that reminds her of you, such as a cut-out heart with a love note, your scarf, or a small stone you found on the beach together, that she can keep in her pocket while you’re apart and give back upon your return.  Most kids like to have a picture of the family in their backpacks.  Be sure to use the suggestions above for helping her bond with her new teacher; she needs to transfer her attachment focus from you to the teacher if she is to successfully let you go.

6. Ask the school whether you will be able to walk your child into the classroom and hand him off to the teacher.  Find out how long you will be able to stay.  If you suspect that your child might have a hard time saying goodbye, by all means speak with the teacher now and make a plan for how to handle the first day.  Maybe every morning you will read your child one story and then take her over to the teacher when you say goodbye, so the teacher can comfort and distract her.

Once you have a plan, begin describing to your child what will happen at school.  But don’t emphasize the goodbye, keep right on going with how fun the day will be:“Every morning you will pick a book for me to read to you.  When we finish the story, we will find Ms. Williams together.  We’ll give each other a big hug and say our special goodbye.  Then Ms. Williams will hold your hand and take you to the block corner where you and Michael can build a tall tower while I go to work.  You will have snack, and play outside, and read stories, and have lunch.  Every day when I pick you up I will be excited to hear what you built in the block corner that day.”

7. Start conversations about the next grade at school or about beginning school.  One good way to do this is to select books relating to that grade.  Your librarian can be helpful; some good choices include books by Alan & Janet Ahlberg, Stan & Jan Berenstain, Dianne Blomberg, Marc Brown, Lauren Child, Julie Danneberg, Bonnie Graves, James Howe, Beth Norling, Marisabina Russo, and Amy Schwartz.

Get your kids excited by talking about what they can expect, including snack, playground, reading, computers, singing and art.  If you know other children who will be in his class or in the school, be sure to mention that he will see or play with them.  Share your own stories about things you loved about school.

Encourage her questions by asking what she thinks school will be like.  Emphasize the things you think she’ll enjoy but be sure not to minimize her fears; kids can be stricken by worries that adults might find silly, like finding the bathroom at school. Normalize any fears and reassure her that she will have fun, that the school can reach you if necessary, and that your love is always with her even when you aren’t. Be sure to end every conversation with “and when school is over I will be there to pick you up and we’ll have a special snack while you tell me all about your day” so that every time your child thinks about school, she remembers this reassurance.

8. If a younger sibling will be at home with you, be sure your child knows how boring it will be at home and how jealous you and the younger sibling are that you don’t get to go to school like a big kid.  Explain that every day after school you will have special time with your big girl to hear all about her day and have a snack together.

9. Get your kids back on an early to bed schedule well before school starts.  Most kids begin staying up late in the summer months.  But kids need 9 1/2 to 11 hours of sleep a night, depending on their age.  (Teens need a minimum of 9.5; toddlers usually do best with 11). Getting them back on schedule so they’re sound asleep by 9pm to be up at 7am for school takes a couple of weeks of gradually moving the bedtime earlier.

Imposing an early bedtime cold turkey the night before school starts results in a child who simply isn’t ready for an earlier bedtime, having slept in that morning and with the night-before-school jitters.  In that situation, you can expect everyone’s anxiety to escalate.  So keep an eye on the calendar and start moving bedtime a bit earlier every night by having kids read in bed for an hour before lights out, which is also good for their reading skills.

10. Wake up your child’s brain.  You aren’t the teacher, and you don’t need to start school before the school year starts by pulling out the flashcards or assigning math problems.  On the other hand, research shows that kids forget a lot during the summer.  If your child has been reading through the summer months, congratulations!  If not, this is the time to start.  Visit the library and let him pick some books he’ll enjoy.  Introduce the idea that for the rest of the summer everyone in the family (you can include yourself if you like, or you can read to them) will read for an hour every day. 

And if your child has assignments to complete, don’t wait for him to remember the day before school starts that he was supposed to write a book report.  Get summer work out of the way at least a week before school starts so he can relax for the rest of vacation!

11. Let your child choose his own school supplies, whether from around your house or from the store, and ready them in his backpack or bag.

12. The day before school starts, talk about exactly what will happen the next day to give your child a comfortable mental movie:

“We’ll get up early tomorrow for your first day in Ms. Williams’ class.  We will drive there together and I will take you into her classroom and introduce you to her.  She will make sure you know all the other kids, because they will be your new friends. I will read a book to you and then we will hug and say our special goodbye.  Then Ms. Williams will take you to the block corner so you can build a tower.  Ms. Williams will show you where the bathroom is, and you can ask her anytime you need to go.  There will be games and books and blocks, and she will read to the class.  You will get to have fun on the playground with the other kids, and you will get to sit at a desk like the big kids.  And at the end of the day, Ms. Williams will bring you to me on the school steps, and I will be there to pick you up and hear all about your first day at school.”

Be alert for signs that your child is worried, and reflect that most kids are a little nervous before the first day of school, but that he will feel right at home in his new classroom soon.

13. Get yourself to bed early the night before school so you can get up early enough to deal calmly with any last minute crises.  Be sure kids – including teens! – lay out clothes the night before, that lunches are made, and that everyone gets enough sleep and a healthy breakfast.  Plan to arrive at school early so you have time for meaningful goodbyes.  And don’t forget that “first day of school” photo before you leave home!

14. If your child gets teary when you say goodbye, reassure her that she will be fine and that you can’t wait to see her at the end of the day.  Use the goodbye routine you’ve practiced, and then hand her off to her teacher.  Don’t leave her adrift without a new attachment person, but once you’ve put her in good hands, don’t worry.  Experienced teachers know about first day jitters and are used to bonding with their charges. Her tears won’t last long.  If your child continues to have a hard time separating, be sure to speak with the teacher.  Maybe she can give her a special job every morning, or facilitate a friendship with another child who has similar interests.

15. Make sure you’re a few minutes early to pick your child up that first week of school.  Not seeing you immediately will exacerbate any anxieties he has and may panic him altogether.  If your child cries when you pick him up, don’t worry.  You’re seeing the stress of his having to keep it together all day and be a big boy.  Your return signals that it’s safe to be his babyself again, take it as a compliment. 

This is true for kids of all ages, who may have uncharacteristic meltdowns during the first week of school, or just before school starts.  Chalk it up to stress, don’t be hard on them, and be sure you’re there to talk so they don’t have to resort to tantrums.  Before you know it everyone will be comfortable in their new routine and not even looking back as they race into school.

Source: Aha! Parenting

Grand Canyon School schedule for November 2010

Parents of our school age children please note that Grand Canyon School will not be open on Thursday November 11, 2010 in observance of Veteran's Day.  Please see Jeanne Yost if your child will be needing full-day care on that Thursday.

Also, Thursday November 18 is an early release day.

Wednesday November 24 and 25 school is closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Happy Autumn!

KLC to hosts Halloween Carnival on Saturday October 30

KLC will host a fundraiser at the Grand Canyon Rec Center from 5pm until 8pm on Saturday October 30 to support the daycare.

Booths are available to organizations or vendors for $10.00 each.  Participants may keep the funds they raise from their booths or donate a portion to KLC.  Booth set-ups are scheduled for 2pm.

Please contact Jeanne Yost at 638-6333 or our Fundraiser, Heather Lapre at 638-8979 if you would like to sign up for a booth or if you wish to volunteer.

The Chamber of Commerce will be on hand at 6:30pm for "Trunk or Treat" as they pass out candy to children from the trunks of vehicles!

Save the date and please join us for some family fun!

L.A. study affirms benefits of preschool

Study shows that gains at the L.A. Universal Preschool programs were especially significant for learners of English.


Children enrolled in Los Angeles Universal Preschool programs made significant improvements in the social and emotional skills needed to do well in kindergarten, according to a study released Monday. The gains were especially pronounced for English language learners, the study showed.


The findings confirmed observations of preschool teachers that children attending high-quality programs are better prepared for kindergarten. For the first time, the study provided data to back up those observations, officials with the nonprofit preschool organization said.

"This is unique because there's very little research in terms of cognitive progression in the preschool years," said Celia C. Ayala, chief operating officer for Los Angeles Universal Preschool. "We know there are differences, we see the differences, but this gives us a way to assess improvements."


The Los Angeles Universal Preschool is an independent organization funded primarily by a voter-approved tobacco tax and launched in 2005 to provide preschool to 4-year-olds in Los Angeles County. It serves about 10,000 children in 325 preschools.

The study, commissioned by the organization and conducted by the San-Jose-based Applied Survey Research, measured the readiness skills of 437 children at 24 preschools in the fall of 2008 and reassessed 364 of those children in spring 2009.

Skills that were assessed included proficiency in using crayons, washing hands, controlling impulses, expressing needs, counting to 10 and recognizing letters of the alphabet as well as shapes and colors.

The study found that the percentage of children scoring near proficient on all behaviors increased from 22% in the fall to 72% in the spring. English learners who scored significantly lower than their non-English learner peers in fall 2008 had closed the gap in most measures by the spring. In general skills, such as writing their first names, recognizing rhyming words and using books, their gains exceeded those made by non-English learners.

Julia Love, a research and evaluation specialist for Los Angeles Universal Preschool, said the improvements could be due to a number of factors including better communication between student and teacher throughout the school year and parent education.

The same assessment tool used in the study is now being used by all of the organization's providers to measure children's progress, Love said.

Joy Cyprian, who operates Joy's Kids Clubhouse in La Puente, said that because of the tool, she is better able to gauge children's strengths and weaknesses.

"When children come into my program, most of the time it's their first experience in any kind of preschool setting and they're still clinging to mom," said Cyprian. "If they're not prepared, they'll fall behind. But by the time they leave, I see an independent child. They're not afraid to learn."

(Source: Carla Riveria, LA Times, April 19, 2010)

What Does a Child Gain From Going to Preschool?

"There's increasing evidence that children gain a lot from going to preschool," says Parents advisor Kathleen McCartney, PhD, dean of Harvard Graduate School of Education, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "At preschool, they become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes. And, more important, they learn how to socialize -- get along with other children, share, contribute to circle time."

Statistics show that a majority of kids attend at least one year of preschool: According to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), more than two-thirds of 4-year-olds and more than 40 percent of 3-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool in 2005. "Children who attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not," says NIEER director W. Steven Barnett, PhD.

"Every child should have some sort of group experience before he starts kindergarten," says Amy Flynn, director of New York City's Bank Street Family Center. Music and gymnastics classes are great, but what preschools do that less formal classes don't is teach kids how to be students. Your child will learn how to raise her hand, take turns, and share the teacher's attention. What's more, she'll learn how to separate from Mommy, who often stays in a music or gym class. All of this makes for an easier transition to kindergarten. "Kindergarten teachers will tell you that the students who are ready to learn are those who come into school with good social and behavior-management skills," Smith says. (Source Parents.com)