The transition from preschool to kindergarten is an exciting time for your child and for you! Kindergarten marks the beginning of your child’s formal education. In preschool, children spend much of their time playing, exploring, and developing social skills with their classmates. In kindergarten, they continue building on those skills in a more structured environment with higher expectations.
This transition can bring up some big feelings as children adjust to a new building, make new friends, learn new routines, and spend their days with a new teacher. With so much change happening in a short time, here are five things parents and caregivers may notice during the first few weeks of the school year.
1. They will be tired.
The first few weeks of kindergarten are filled with new classroom expectations. Children are meeting new friends, practicing new routines, and following a new schedule. All of these changes can be exhausting!
Five-year-olds need 10 to 13 hours of sleep each night, which is especially important during a major transition. Plan for a consistent bedtime that allows your child’s body to rest and recharge. If you are implementing an earlier bedtime for the school year, consider starting at least a few days before school begins so your child has time to adjust.
2. They may act out.
Holding in big emotions at school, combined with the exhaustion of learning new rules and routines, can cause unexpected behavioral changes. Consider giving your child time to decompress after school with a snack, quiet play, or even some monitored screen time before asking about their day.
3. They may have trouble falling asleep.
Despite being exhausted, children may feel anxious or excited or simply have too much for their brains to process. As a result, it may take time for them to fall asleep. Keep a consistent bedtime routine so their bodies understand when it is time to begin winding down from the day.
4. They might get sick.
Being exposed to a new environment and a larger group of children in an enclosed classroom can increase the chance of getting sick. Young children may have difficulty remembering to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze and wash their hands afterward, making it easier for germs to spread.
Remind your child about proper handwashing and encourage them to wash their hands thoroughly after coughing or sneezing, after using the bathroom, and before eating.
5. They may resist going or say they don’t like it.
This is more likely to be a response to change than a true reflection of how they will feel about kindergarten over time. It is important to validate their feelings instead of challenging them. You might say, “Starting a new school year can be rough. Is there something specific that is making you not want to go?” Then, work with your child to understand the source of the resistance.
Are they having trouble making new friends? Try practicing social situations in which they approach other children and ask to play.
Are they experiencing sensory overload at school? Consider asking the teacher whether noise-canceling headphones might help in the classroom.
Are they nervous about academics? Reach out to the teacher to see whether there are apps or games you can use at home to build foundational skills in a low-stakes way.
The transition from preschool to kindergarten is exciting and can bring unexpected changes for children and their families. We hope knowing what to expect will help you feel better prepared to support your child through this milestone.
Remember, these adjustment bumps are temporary. Most children settle into their new routine within the first month or two. Be patient with your child and yourself during this season, celebrate the small wins and know that the extra clinginess, tears or exhaustion you may see are simply signs that your child is doing the hard work of growing up.
Before you know it, kindergarten will feel like second nature, and you will both look back on this transition with pride.