Tip #4 to Future Parents of Kindergarteners

Always be involved in your child's education. Don't just depend on the school to teach your child everything they are supposed to know. I feel so sad when I see a child not living up to their potential simply because the parent doesn't step in. Talk to the teacher. Ask him/her how you can help your child be a better student from home. See what their weaknesses are and ask when the next milestone test will be so your child will always be prepared. Cramming may work for you as an adult, but kids crack under pressure. Don't make them study for something the night before and expect them to get 100% the next day. Baby steps.  Also, If you have a schedule that permits it, VOLUNTEER IN YOUR CHILD'S CLASS! Not only will the teacher appreciate the help, but your child will love it too. If you can't physically be there, ask their teacher if there's anything you can do from home or financially if your budget allows it.

Teachers pay for most of the materials they use in class out of their own pocket. Throughout the year I ask JAM's teacher if she is running out of school supplies and usually it's dry eraser markers, crayons, and glue sticks. All of those usually come in big packs for really cheap so I usually have no problem donating those things to the class. The kids could care less what brand the school supplies are. It just needs to get the job done (Keep that in mind when going school supply shopping!). Also, the kids have a lot of events that they celebrate throughout the year that you can easily help with from home. JAM had a Watermelon picnic and they needed volunteers to come and cut up the watermelon, but my school schedule didn't allow it. As an alternative, I just bought some watermelon the night before, cut it up at home, and sent it with him when I took him to school in the morning. There are endless ways you can be involved. All you have to do is ask!

Learn how to make this butterfly craft here

Well I hope everything works out for you parents out there who are about to start this new chapter in your child's life. Deep breaths and know that everything will work out. Stay in complete communication with your child's teacher AND your child, and get involved as much as you can. Everything they learn in school must be reinforced at home no matter how busy you are. Take it all in and enjoy every minute of it because you only get one chance to go through this with your son or daughter. Our baby boy is growing up before our eyes! Excited to see what 1st grade brings! Check out my other tips to future parents of kindergarteners: Tip #1,  Tip #2, and Tip #3.

First Day of School

Last Day of School

If you have any questions and concerns about the experience just comment below! I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you're a veteran momma and have any advice for us rookies, I've love to hear your thought as well!

Tip #3 to Future Parents of Kindergarteners

Always talk to your child. Make them feel comfortable to open up to you even if it is something bad. Ask more than yes/no questions. I personally ask JAM every day what his favorite thing about today was, and he's not allowed to use the same answer two days in a row (hehe). One day JAM came home telling me he was getting picked on in safekey, and my first instinct was to find that kid! haha. Can you blame me? Instead, I talked about it with him to help him find solutions to the issue. I'd sometimes see the issue in person and instead of stepping in to fix it, I pulled him aside to make him aware of the situation and guide him on how to fix it himself. It was something we struggled with on and off through the school year, but by the end he was good to go. The gift/curse about children is that they are so forgiving. Most of his "bullies" are some of his closest friends now oddly. He actually guided them how to be nicer and do the right thing instead of acting out and being mean. From that point on, we talk about everything. The good AND the bad. If I never asked or encouraged conversation, I probably would have never known about the issue. JAM even comes to me about other kids having issues in school too and what he should do. Take it day by day. It'll all work out if you give your child the right tools.

As far as Safekey goes, I know some of you may be concerned placing your child in an after school program, but the program is pretty great. They help the kids with their homework and they make is so fun for the kids that sometimes JAM asks me to put him in safekey even when he doesn't need to attend! I feel that it's also beneficial because JAM made friends with kids of all ages in safekey. I was always worried about the bigger kids messing with him, but he made friends with some of them in safekey, and they actually watch over him when they're in school. So don't be afraid to utilize the programs the school has to offer. Check out my other tips to future parents of kindergarteners: Tip #1,  Tip #2, and Tip #4.

Were any of you bullied in school? How would you handle the situation if you found out if your child was being bullied?

Tip #2 to Future Parents of Kindergarteners

I personally didn't have the best experience in Kindergarten, which set up my paranoia for JAM starting Kindergarten. I was bullied by a 4th grader on my first day of school. My mom always told me that if someone picked on me to tell her and tell the teacher, but what do you do if you're getting bullied on the bus? When I got to school I was so nervous. I didn't know where to sit or what to expect. Then, at recess I tried to tell my teacher that I had to use the bathroom, but she told me to hold it since we're about to go back inside. How can you tell a 5 year old to hold it?! So, I peed in my pants and tried to play it off when kids asked me if I did. To top it off, my bus ride home was horrible. I saw the bus driver keep passing my house until I was the last one on the bus. He asked me for my address, but I had no clue what it was so we had to go back to the school to figure out where I lived. Now you understand where my paranoia of JAM starting Kindergarten came from.

As the days started to approach his first day of school I talked to JAM about what to expect in Kindergarten so there wouldn't be any scary surprises. I mentioned some of the stuff I went through hoping to prevent him from going through the same horrific experience. I talked about bullies, making sure you teacher knows it's urgent when you have to use the bathroom, don't talk to strangers, I taught him our address, and taught him both of our cell phones numbers. I quickly learned that it was a lot for a 5 year old to handle. Learning you address is actually pretty hard to learn! Where the numbers go and where the words go. I tried to explain the street name vs. the city name and apartment number vs. zip code to help, but he just looked at me like I was crazy. Instead, as he was learning his numbers and letters in school, I introduced parts of our address and my phone number little by little.

I also decided right off the bat that JAM will not ride the bus to school. It was more for me feeling comfortable taking him to school myself instead. With me being a full-time student I also had to sign up JAM for safekey, which is the after school program the school offered until I was able to pick up JAM since my classes got out at 5:30pm and he got out of school at 3pm. At orientation I filled out the paperwork that stated that JAM either gets picked up or goes to safekey. His first day of school was the same day as my first day of class so he would go to safekey after school. Instead, they put him on the bus! Imagine my horror when I found that they left my son at the bus stop since I wasn't there to get him. Luckily a mom saw him and stayed with him until I arrived. Yes, there was a lot of drama and words exchanged between the school and I, but this is where my communication advice comes into play. Although I'm not happy with what happened I learned that communication is key. JAM's teacher has a class of 34 students and she's only human. From that point on I personally went up to her every day when I dropped off JAM to tell her if I'm picking him up today or if he's going to safekey. So, I suggest if you have an arrangement like mine that you do the same to avoid any possible heart attacks. Check out my other tips to future parents of kindergarteners: Tip #1, Tip #3, and Tip #4.

What traumatizing experiences have you had in school growing up or for you veteran parents, what heart attack experiences have you had with your child's school to help future parents from experiencing the same thing?

Tip #1 to Future Parents of Kindergarteners

When it's time for your child to start school, there's so many things running through your mind. What school do I put him/her in? Public or private? Do I buy the name brand supplies or the cheap ones? Do I let him/her ride the bus or take them to school myself? Will they have a nice teacher? Half day or full day? Will they make friends? What if they get bullied? Now that JAM has completed Kindergarten, I decided to give a little insight to future parents of Kindergartners. Everyone's experience is different, but maybe if I share mine, your experience will be a little less rocky.

 

The biggest piece of advice I can give any parent going through this is communication is key. Keep in complete contact with your child's teacher. Also, talk to your child about their school experience every day. Miscommunication is very easy to do, but also very easy to fix. Volunteering can strengthen that bond and communication with your child's teacher AND with your child. Also, just relax!! Both Mahal and I had our heart strings tugged when taking JAM to his first day of Kindergarten, but know that everything will be ok. He'll have his moments throughout the year, but you have to teach him/her how to handle the situation NOT fix it for him. This little trick will pay off in the end run no matter how hard it is for you to just sit back and watch. We all learned most of our knowledge through experience. Now it's time to let your little one do the same. All of this seems like common sense and so easy to do, but we all know what they say about common sense, and when it comes to your kids things don't always come so easy when you have to let go a little. Check out my other tips to future parents of kindergarteners: Tip #2, Tip #3, and Tip #4

If you are a veteran Kindergarten mom or dad, what are some tips that you have?