Tips for teaching kindergarten
Teaching Kindergarten: 50+ Tips, Tricks, and Ideas
Kindergarten teachers are magical people. It takes a special person to be able to manage the littlest students without breaking a sweat! Teaching kindergarten is also a special opportunity to introduce children to school and instill in them a love of learning. In honor of you who teach this grade, we’ve scoured our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook to bring you the best tips, tricks, and ideas for teaching kindergarten.
Getting Your Classroom Ready
1. Integrate all of the tech
Source: Enchanted Kinder Garden
With so many teachers receiving new devices, make sure you’re using them fully as a normal part of your day. Check out some of Keri from Enchanted Kinder Garden’s favorite tech tools for a kindergarten classroom.
2. Prepare yourself for kids with a wide range of skills
“Be ready for kids who are readers, kids who have never seen letters, and everything in between. I love my kinders dearly and find so much joy in watching their little lightbulbs go on for the first time! They’re a different bunch to be sure, but they’re a blast!” —Maggie V.
3. Create an inviting classroom
Need ideas? We’ve gathered real-life kindergarten classrooms for you to browse!
4. Be prepared for changes
Source: The Daily Alphabet
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The science of reading has been all the buzz lately. Are you aware of what it truly means for your classroom and your students? Check out this article to learn more about the science of reading.
5. Gather all the supplies
Not sure what exactly you need for the kindergarten classroom? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this list of essential kindergarten classroom supplies.
6. Plan your circle time well
Source: Growing Kinders
Make circle time short, sweet, and active. Incorporate these amazing carpet spots for easy seating.
7. Get a jump start on lessons
In kindergarten, teacher planning and prep time are precious! It makes life a lot easier when you can purchase existing lessons, bundles, books, and pages.
And why not support other teachers while you do it? Check out our favorite Teacher Pay Teachers sellers.
8. Put together an irresistible classroom reading nook
Source: Pixie Chicks
If there’s one thing you want your kindergartners to walk away with at the end of the year, it’s the message that reading is fun! Make reading time extra special for them by setting up one of these awesome reading nooks.
9. Fill your classroom library with these classic kindergarten books
Here are our favorite books for teaching kindergarten.
10. Set up sensory tables
Early childhood teachers know that hands-on learning is essential. Sensory play encourages open-ended thinking, language development, and collaboration and builds fine motor skills. Sensory materials are magically both engaging and calming. Here are our favorites!
11. Set up a writing area
Source: Enchanted Kinder Garden
Writing is so important for our early learners.
Even when students are just learning to write, it’s important to encourage the process. Having a dedicated writing time helps shift a child’s focus. Some classrooms even have a dedicated space for writing. Here is an easy setup for a writing center.
The First Days of School
12. Take your class on a mini-adventure on the first day
“I teach routines and rules, but I also go on some kind of ‘adventure.’ My adventure is going through the school to find where everything is: the bathrooms, the nurse, the front office, the cafeteria (which we practice going through the line), library, etc. I’ve done fishing where I have fish (or a jungle animal if that was my theme) hanging at each place and they collect them in a bucket as we go around taking turns and collecting through the whole school. They love it.” —Dana H.
13. Keep in mind that the kids have expectations too
Source: Rainbows Within Reach
“Kids go to their first day of kindergarten expecting to learn how to read that very day.
So you have to do some choral reading of big books or poems so that they know that they have begun to learn to read. Just one big book. Read it many times that day. If they go home seeing themselves as scholars on the first day of school, you will have set the tone for the whole year.” —Becky N.
14. Help the parents of your students on the first day because it’s a tough transition for them too
“You will have a room full of parents on the first day, so to have a smooth goodbye, I wrap a box with Kinder Bear (any stuffed bear) inside. After the kids are sitting on the carpet, I tell them that I have a friend I’d like them to meet, but that he’s shy. I pretend to listen to the bear and tell the kids he wants you to say bye to Mom & Dad so he can come out and play. The parents will ‘get’ the message and leave, and the students will be eager to meet Kinder Bear!” —Denise B.
15. Start at the
very beginningSource: Pre-K Pages
“Don’t assume they know how to do anything.
Teach them everything. How to knock at the bathroom door, how to close it behind them, how to wash hands, throw away towels … routines, routines, routines.” —
Shannon T.
16. Keep in mind how close to “baby” your students really are
“Remember, they are 60-month-olds! That always gives me perspective the first few weeks teaching kindergarten.” —Michelle K.
17. Choose amazing read-alouds for the first week of school
Source: Enchanted Kinder Garden
Go ahead and “add to cart” on Amazon to get first-week read-alouds and back-to-school books they’ll love.
18. Make keepsake drawings that will show growth from the beginning of the year
Source: Splish Splash Splatter
“I would have them do a self-portrait the first day and then another one the last week and look at the difference! You will want to start and demo one of yourself just to give them an idea of what to do. You might be surprised at the results and your parents will save it forever—mine did.
I still have one I drew as a kinder or first grader.” —Julia A.
19. Start the year with firm expectations and clear routines
“Don’t worry about the curriculum. Just focus on the routines and rules. One of the best bits of advice I got from a professor was that the kids WANT to love you so don’t be afraid to be strict with the rules and set down your boundaries right out of the gate. I’ve been teaching for 20 years, and I learned that the hard way. Have fun, play games, let them see your playful side, but take the time to let them know what is expected of them.” —Julie S.
Check out these first day routines and procedures for more ideas!
20. Teach kids
exactly how to listenSource: First Grade Garden
Don’t expect that they will come to you knowing what listening looks like. Here’s how to teach them.
21. Teach kids how to make friends
Source: First and Kinder Blue Skies
Some of your students will make friends naturally.
Some of them will need your help. How to be a friend is one of the most important lessons they can leave their first year of school with. Here’s an activity you can do to help them.
22. Find fun ways to teach all of the routines your little ones will need to know all year long
“For my lines in the hallway, I say ‘There’s a cloud with marshmallows falling down (wiggle fingers like they’re falling from above), everyone catch a marshmallow!’ Pretend to catch and say, ‘now put it in your mouth and chew chew chew chew and keep your finger on your lips so it doesn’t fall out’ until you get to the cafeteria, playground, etc. They’ll walk around with their cheeks puffed up pretending to chew. Some might say they ate it, so tell them to catch another or it’s too big to eat the whole thing and keep chewing! I’ve heard teachers say ‘catch a bubble.’ It’s the same concept. When I need instant silence I say, ‘Catch a marshmallow!’ and there is quiet immediately.” —Heikel F.
Here is our list of must-teach classroom routines and procedures.
Classroom Management Tips
23. Use anchor charts
Creating anchor charts for and with your students helps them learn and remember lessons about topics like friendship, shapes, counting, letters, beginning writing, and more.
24. Keep your kids moving all day long
Source: You Clever Monkey
“Plan lessons/activities that last no more than 15 minutes, with some kind of movement activity in between. (Moving from the circle to the table counts, as does clapping a pattern, or Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.)” —Anne H.
25. Do proper assessments
Teachers need to ultimately adapt their teaching to suit students’ needs. You want all of your students to be successful; that’s why these kindergarten assessment ideas are so important.
26. Combine multiple objectives into a single lesson
Source: Childcareland Pre-K
Teach children number sense and fine motor skills at the same time.
The kids will love using the hole punch in this activity and will improve their number sense at the same time.
27. Teach with centers
Teaching with centers is one of the easiest ways to work through your curriculum while teaching kindergarten. And kids love them! Check out our kindergarten literacy centers for more ideas.
28. Get the wiggles out
Incorporating brain breaks will help all of your students when they just need a break from learning!
29. Give your kids visual cues to help them follow your directions
Source: Mrs. Maya’s Kinders
“I have my kids line up on numbers. They stay on the same number all year. This saves so much time. We can line up in less than 15 seconds. Their toes touch the number but don’t cover it so I can see it.” —Debbie N.
30. Keep little fingers cleaner with this trick
Source: Lucky Little Learners
“Glue sponges! There are several videos online for making them. So awesome to not deal with the bottle of glue mess or those littles who can’t close the bottle and spill glue in their supplies!” —Anita D.
31. Use a washable stuffed animal as a class pet
Source: A First for Everything
Low maintenance (essential for teaching kindergarten), high fun! Kids will love taking turns bringing it home to care for it over the weekend.
32. Routine, routine, routine
Veterans who’ve been teaching kindergarten for years said this again and again on our Helpline: Probably more than any other age group in elementary school, kindergartners thrive on their routine. “Plan fun and easy activities for the first week so you can keep focused on the routine.” —Sarah S.
Curriculum Tips and Tricks
33. Tailor your science to their needs
These fun and free science activities were put together just for your kindergarten students! They’ll learn how the world works through play and experiments.
34. Try daily STEM challenges
These STEM challenges are designed with your kinders in mind. Try one each day or each week to get their minds thinking outside the box.
35. Use these strategies for writing instruction
From invented spelling to punctuation and using words in context, these tips will help your newbie writers catch on quickly.
36. Use hands-on alphabet activities
Go on a scavenger hunt, play with shaving cream, and much more. These alphabet activities are perfect for your class.
37. Incorporate daily writing prompts
We’ve gathered writing prompts that you can download and use to get your kinders practicing their writing skills.
38. Use “space people” to help your beginning writers learn to use spaces between words
Source: Time 4 Kindergarten
Put an astronaut stick down when you get to the end of a word, so you know where to start the next one!
39. Put sight words front and center
Source: Life With Moore Babies
Keep track of important sight words in fun ways and keep them visually front and center like this growing word-a-pillar.
40.
Teach word familiesSource: Teacher Karma
This method is tried-and-true among kindergarten teachers. Check out the link for seven simple steps for using word families to teach reading.
41. Bring technology (in small doses) into the classroom
Check out our guide to teaching kindergarten online for tips using technology when teaching kindergarten.
42. Sneak in the learning with games
“I like playing ‘I have, who has’ games. I take their picture on the first day of school and create an ‘I have who has’ game with their photos. It’s a great way for them to learn names, plus I use their picture for everything.” —Lisa G.
Check out our favorite educational toys and games for kindergarten.
43. Organize your instruction around themes
When you structure your lessons thematically, you provide your kids with more “hooks” for learning. Check out this blog by Fun-a-Day for some great ideas.
44. Find hands-on ways to teach number sense
Source: The Printable Princess
Number sense is key in kindergarten.
You’ll want to cover it again and again. Here are some ideas for teaching number sense.
45. Incorporate kindergarten math games
Kindergarten offers so many opportunities to help students find learning truly enjoyable. These kindergarten math games teach concepts in fun and meaningful ways.
46. Watch math videos
Making math more engaging for kids can be difficult. But teaching math will be anything but boring when you introduce students to some of our favorite subtraction and addition videos on YouTube.
47. Begin teaching shapes
Learning shapes is one of the earliest concepts we teach kids. Shapes ready them for geometry in the years ahead, but it’s also an important skill for learning how to write and draw. Get started with these activities.
48. Count the days of school and celebrate when you reach 100
There are so many different fun ways to celebrate the 100th day of school. We’ve got a whole collection of activities for you!
49.
Use music for everything“Music is needed and is a good way to transition. Find a welcome song and an afternoon song (can be the same tune with different words) to start and close your day. It makes a world of difference.” —Anne H.
50. Keep activity sticks on hand so you never have a terrifying “What do I do with them
now?” momentSource: Keep Calm and Teach On
One of the most repeated pieces of advice in our Helpline group about teaching kindergarten is that you should always overplan for this age group. These activity sticks are a fantastic safety net when you suddenly find that your lesson went twice as fast as you expected.
51. Go on a field trip
Kinders are a wild bunch, and taking them anywhere might seem daunting, but field trips provide kids with the kind of real-world learning that really sticks with them. These kindergarten field trips will keep your young students interested and (mostly) out of trouble.
We even have virtual ones!
52. Incorporate LOTS of art
Hands-on learning is best for little ones. We’ve gathered our favorite fun and interesting projects.
Taking Care of You
53. Take care of yourself
Teaching kindergarten requires a different kind of energy. Eat well and try to get an extra hour of sleep if you can. “When I switched from teaching second grade to teaching kindergarten, I was exhausted for the first two months. It’s physically taxing.” —Karen E.
Here are some teacher self-care ideas to consider.
54. Connect with a community of educators outside of your own school
Teaching is hard! Join our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE Facebook group and connect with other teachers to talk about challenges and triumphs and ask questions.
55. Follow kindergarten teachers and bloggers
Keep a pulse on what’s happening in your grade level with our favorite teachers sharing on topics ranging from crafts to addressing important multicultural issues.
56. Laugh with your kids
Kindergartners love to laugh as much as the rest of us! These funny books will add some humor and levity to your day. Plus, check out these jokes just for kindergartners!
57. Keep a “sub tub” on hand for those days when you just can’t make it into school
Source: Supply Me
Fill your sub tub with all the lessons and activities your sub will need in case you have an unexpected absence.
58. Plan fun annual events for your students and their families
Source: Kindercraze
Whether it’s Cupcakes With Caregivers, a fall feast, or a spring BBQ, kindergartners love traditions. And they love to include their families. Here are some tips on making these events inclusive for all your students.
59. And last, but certainly not least, give them lots (and lots) of time to play
“Playtime teaches kids how to get along with others so that they can effectively learn in a classroom. It’s so important, especially in kindergarten.
” —Michelle S.
Check out our educational toys for kindergarten and why dolls belong in the classroom!
We’d love to hear—what are your favorite tips and tricks for teaching kindergarten? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, check out our guide to the kindergarten classroom.
12 Tips for New Kindergarten Teachers
Kindergarten is a magical world all of its own. It is the foundation upon which students develop as students and as individuals, socially, emotionally, and academically. Students in Kindergarten will grow as thinkers before your very eyes. Whether you are a new teacher about to jump in or you are making the move from another grade, below are 12 tips for new Kindergarten teachers.
Tip #1: Have Patience
The first and foremost tip for new Kindergarten teachers is to understand that for many students, this is their first schooling experience. This may be the longest they have ever been away from mom or dad – or their house and comfort space.
Some may have never walked in a line before or needed to wait their turn to talk.
It is so important to have realistic expectations for the first week of Kindergarten. To learn more about setting these realistic expectations along with other tips for Kindergarten teachers, check out this blog post.
The good news is, they will adjust and they can be taught. The first day of Kindergarten takes a lot of patience, but friend, I promise you it is so worth it. After a few weeks, they’ll get the hang of it and you’ll look at your students and won’t even recognize them because they’ve come so far! I always think of it this way, we get the chance to help shape how our students will feel about school from now on. That is a pretty special job!
Tip #2: Prepare for the Unexpected
Let’s be real. Sometimes kids have accidents. A little one may have a bathroom accident or spill their chocolate milk down their shirt at lunch. It happens, believe me.
As part of their school supplies, consider asking parents to send in a change of clothes for their students (including underwear and socks).
Place them in gallon-size, zip-top bags and label them with each student’s name. You can keep the change of clothes in the child’s backpack, locker, or the classroom. Then if a student has an accident, you’ll have a change of clothes available without needing the parent to come to school.
My advice is to call or message the parent to let them know about the accident, that way they won’t be surprised when their little sweetie comes home in different clothes! Be sure to remind parents to change out the clothes as the weather changes or if an item needs to be replenished. These kiddos will grow FAST, so they may need a bigger size by mid-year.
Tip #3: Minimize the Tears
You may have a few students that cry on the first day of school. It’s totally normal. It will get better. These little people have a lot of changes headed their way, which means a lot of adjusting. The good news is, there are things you can do to help students cope.
To combat the tears, you might consider having a stuffed animal that they can hold or an enjoyable activity waiting for them.
Take time to sit by all of your students and chat with them to help them feel welcome and more comfortable.
One teacher I know invited students to bring in pictures of their families and created a mini-bulletin board display. If you want more tips, check out this article for eight practical tips to help students cope with separation anxiety.
Tip #4: Double Check Dismissal
This tip for new Kindergarten teachers is ultra important! There’s nothing worse than nearing dismissal time only to realize you’re unsure how a student is going home. During orientation is a great time to ask parents and then confirm again on the first day of school.
Make sure parents know what time dismissal is and what the procedure is. Double and triple-check how each student will be going home. Write it down or add it to your lesson plans so you can take that with you when the bells rings.
Another piece of advice is to create name-tags or color-coded paper wrist bands so you can easily identify how each student is going home.
For instance, car riders have one color wrist band, while bus riders have a different color (write the bus number on the wrist band). If they are meeting a sibling, make sure you or a para walk them to the older sibling. Do not take the students’ word on how they are going home, always verify with a parent or guardian.
Tip #5: Ditch the Duty-Free Lunch
As teachers, duty-free lunches are the time of day where we get things done: use the restroom, make copies, check our mailbox, oh…and eat! Unless your cafeteria has a lot of helpers, plan on not having a duty-free lunch the first few days of school.
Students will need help getting through the lunch line, holding those wobbly trays, finding their lunch table, and opening packages or containers. Plan to be available to help your students navigate the cafeteria. If you’re able to give your students a tour of the cafeteria prior to lunch, that can help make the transition smoother.
Once you get them all sat down and ready to dig in, sit down and have your lunch with them.
They will feel safer and be more likely to eat knowing that you are there right beside them.
Tip #6: Allow Time for Adjustment
So much is new for incoming Kindergarteners. They have a new school, a new classroom, a new teacher, and new friends. Allow the students time to feel comfortable in this new space and with all of the new faces that come with it.
Don’t plan much for the first week of school. You don’t need to dive into teaching students to read and spell right away. Simple activities like setting out play dough, blocks, plastic bears, and other math manipulatives will keep their attention. Kindergarten morning tubs are a great example of a resource to utilize when thinking about differentiation and exploration.
Remember to keep things simple at the beginning of the year. The last thing you want is a child to feel frustrated on the first day because something was too hard.
Tip #7: Have All of Your Supplies Ready
Kindergarteners aren’t known for their attention span or their ability to sit still.
It’s important to use your planning time wisely so that you are prepared for activities. You want to limit downtime so that students aren’t waiting for you. Have your copies made and all of the tools or manipulatives you will need ready and nearby.
Sometimes your activity will take ten times longer than planned and other times it won’t take the full time, so make sure you have back-up activities or extra read aloud books ready to go. This tip for new Kindergarten teachers will help you feel prepared and less overwhelmed.
Tip #8: Practice Procedures Again and Again
This tip goes for any grade, but is especially important for new Kindergarten teachers. Most of what you cover the first few weeks of school will be procedures. You’ve got to take the time to train your students now so that you can teach them later.
You will need to teach your brand new Kindergarten students every procedure you will want them to follow throughout the year, and have patience in the process.
You may feel like you are overdoing it, but whatever you do, don’t skip this! Trust me, you’ll be glad you took the time early on to do this.
An excellent first step is to make a list of every procedure that they will need to know. This list might include unpacking/packing up, how to use the restroom, how to get their lunch, how to ask a question, where to sit on the carpet, and how the papers will be passed out. The list goes on.
Allow extra time during transitions (like cleaning up, getting ready for lunch, and dismissal) so that you can model and practice the procedure. I think it’s important to provide examples and non-examples, which is why I like to model what not to do. Feel free to be silly when demonstrating the wrong way. Your kids will laugh and you can laugh with them, explaining how silly it would be to do it that way. Remember that each day is a new day, so you’ll need to model, practice, and repeat.
Another thing to mention is counting. No – not teaching your students to count (yet).
Count heads often to make sure you have all of your students. Before you leave the classroom, count to make sure everyone is in line and there’s nobody in the bathroom. Before you leave the cafeteria, count to make sure you have all of your students in line. Anytime you leave the room, the playground, specials, lunch, etc – always do a head count!
Tip #9: Read Aloud. A Lot.
All students, especially young students, love when somebody reads to them. Read alouds are an easy activity to plan for and one that you can do several times throughout the day. In fact, I highly recommend reading aloud several times a day, especially in the beginning.
Select books like We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, First Day Jitters, and No, David! as some great starter examples for discussions on impulsivity, classroom rules, and emotions. Books are also a great way to extend vocabulary and get kids talking by asking questions.
Tip #10: Don’t Skip on Social Skills
Social-emotional development is a big deal in Kindergarten.
This time of year is where students learn to interact with others, take turns, share, and solve problems. It is important that you allow students time to interact with each other. Another piece of advice is to mix up your students so they can all get acquainted.
One activity that is easy to implement in your own classroom is partner draw. Pair students up with a partner in the class, and have them work together to create something unique. Have them trade-off after 30 seconds at a time, until 5 minutes is up. Each pair can then talk about their drawing with the rest of the class. This activity can be great following a class read aloud. It allows students to practice taking turns and sharing while working together with a new friend!
Tip #11: Keep It Short. Take Lots of Breaks.
We’ve already established that attention spans are short, so keep activities short and on their level. I already mentioned read alouds, but brain breaks and songs are another great way to break up the day and get the wiggles out.
Go Noodle, Dr. Jean, and Jack Hartmann all offer fun songs and activities to help get the wiggles out.
Learn a few age-appropriate transition games and activities to tuck in your back pocket. You’ll want games that are simple, quick, and require no-prep or materials.
A quick game could be having each student take turns saying words that begin with certain sounds. For instance, the first student starts by saying a word that starts with A. The next student says a word that begins with B. Then, the next student says a word that starts with C. The game continues until you get to Z. Students need to pay attention so that they know what letter they need a word for when the chain comes to them. Check out this blog post for lots of Kindergarten appropriate time-filler ideas and advice.
Tip #12: Make Connections.
One might say we saved the best tip for new Kindergarten teachers for last, because this is the MOST important. Connections are vital to the success of your classroom.
Your students need to know that you genuinely like them and care about them. Find out what their interests are, what they like, what excites them. For more ideas on making connections, check out these tips for How to Build Student Relationships.
Making connections with your students isn’t the only important relationships you should build. It’s important to make connections with other teachers in your school and even online in Kindergarten Facebook Groups. Having other teachers to talk to who understand your life makes it more fun and less stressful.
As a teacher, it is so important to have a big heart and an open mind. Don’t forget to laugh with your students, celebrate their successes, and enjoy the year. These Kindergarteners will be honest, true to themselves, and utterly resilient, so just remember to be your authentic self!
I hope these tips and tricks support you as you take on your role as a new Kindergarten teacher for the school year ahead! What are some tips that you use in your Kindergarten classroom? Tell me about them in the comments below!
Tips for Raising Little Preschoolers - Child Development
Isn't it amazing how quickly your little one turned into a mischievous preschooler? He became so restless and playful.
Now you will need a lot of strength to cope with his seething energy and curiosity, as well as direct it into a productive direction.
Studies show that by the age of five, the human brain is 90% developed. Therefore, this is the time when parents need to pull themselves together and help their growing preschooler develop harmoniously and comprehensively. It's no secret that learning begins at home, in the family.
The following are tips to help you learn the basics of raising energetic preschoolers.
1. Develop your child's communication skills. While in kindergarten, the child should be able to verbally communicate his needs and interact with people around him. In particular, good communication skills will help the child communicate with the teacher, clarify any questions and dispel doubts, and simply ask to go to the toilet.
2. Teach your child to listen carefully. Unlike at home, in kindergarten, children should be able to keep quiet and listen to what the teacher says.
The child needs to get used to being in one place all day and listening carefully to what you say to him. You can develop this skill by telling your child various interesting stories.
3. Give instructions. A 4-5 year old child is ready to take instructions from you or a caregiver. Play various games with him that require you to set out certain step-by-step directions or steps necessary to complete the task of the game. This will teach your preschooler to follow instructions correctly.
4. Encourage group activities. In kindergarten, some tasks are performed by children in groups. At home, you can also arrange children's parties. Invite neighborhood toddlers and preschoolers into your home so your child can interact with them.
5. Develop your child's motor skills. At preschool age, the child already knows how to hold a pencil, use scissors, felt-tip pens or colored pencils. You can train your child's fine motor skills by inviting him to draw curls and zigzags and, of course, color.
6. Introduce your child to kindergarten. Take your child to kindergarten before the start of the school year and give him the opportunity to get to know the staff and spend some time there. So he can get acquainted with the local situation, observe what is happening there, and when you soon leave him there alone, he will feel calm.
7. Clarify any questions and dispel any doubts of the child. Talk to your child about kindergarten and help him feel the joy and excitement about it. Help your child get rid of any kind of fears by dispelling all his doubts and make sure that you completely eliminate all his fears and worries about attending this preschool.
8. Help your child become independent. Children who are able to take care of themselves are more confident, especially in preschool. It is important to teach and motivate the child to wipe his nose and mouth, use the toilet himself, etc.
9.
Prepare a set of spare clothes for the child. In kindergarten, a child may get wet or dirty, for example, when he drinks compote, washes his hands or draws with paints. Provide him with a spare set of clothes to keep in his locker so he can change if necessary.
10. Provide the preschool with complete information about the child's health. When your child interacts with other children in day care, he can easily get an infection. In the event of an emergency involving your child, preschool officials will be able to take immediate action if they are informed in advance of their medical history (including your child's immunization records).
11. Stick to the daily routine. It is often difficult to stick to a routine with young children. It is important to set rules for children so that there is no need to constantly remind them of what they should do during the day.
12. Use a sense of humor. A little humor will make your conversations easier.
Humor will also help your children connect with you, understand you better, and be happy.
13. Do not overuse reward training. The more often you use rewards as an educational technique, the more children will expect gifts from you for completing even the most insignificant, small tasks and assignments. Be reasonable. Help them understand the importance of small tasks.
14. Teach your children to prioritize. For children, play always comes first and learning comes second. But parents should teach their children the importance of doing homework on time. The key issue is teaching children to be able to prioritize.
15. Discipline children. Reprimands and suggestions do not help in matters of discipline. If the child has splashed paint on the wallpaper, ask him to clean everything himself. So he will understand the seriousness of the sloppiness shown. Don't put off the lessons of discipline. If you want to postpone the disciplinary action for another day, the incident may simply fly out of the child's mind.
16. Have fun together. Try to have fun with your child more often. Be creative, listen to music, dance together.
17. Don't be too hard and strict. Parental severity breeds stubbornness of the child. It is important to show him your love. Speak kind and gentle words to him.
18. Prevent your baby from tantrums. Give your child the right to choose. If he throws tantrums, redirect him to another activity. Identify situations that trigger his temper tantrums and try to avoid them. Even hunger, the need for sleep, or fatigue can trigger similar emotional outbursts.
19. Try not to say no. When a child hears the word "no" too often, it makes him feel unloved. This also creates a rebellious spirit in the child, and he may refuse to listen to your instructions and instructions.
20. Remember that your child is too young to understand everything. Don't expect your baby to understand your every word.
His horizons are not yet so wide that he can recognize significant and serious things. So adjust your expectations according to your child's age. Look for creative ways to mentor him.
21. Talk to your child about the consequences of bad behavior. It is extremely important to teach the child to understand the impact of good or bad behavior. Let him know that when he behaves well, everyone around him appreciates and supports him. On the other hand, bad behavior leads to reprimands and negative consequences. This will help him be attentive.
22. Do not overreact, do not take the child's behavior to heart. It is natural for children to try to hide their little missteps. Just accept the situation and say that you perfectly understand who is to blame for the mess.
23. Don't overload your child. Parents tend to expect their child to study hard. But do not overload the baby with too many activities. The less classes, the better he understands them and learns new knowledge.
24. Set a good example. What you do in your daily life has a huge impact on your child's behavior. Every time you put your things away, ask your child to follow your example and put his toys away.
Preschool is when your child is no longer a toddler and is old enough to follow your instructions. This is the time when parents should allow the child to fully and freely develop and explore the world around them!
Child education: when? Children are very smart creatures, so the sooner you take care of them development, the better their studies will be given in the future and the easier will be to you. Of course, how specifically to develop a baby you should feel themselves, since development will necessarily be associated with the character child. Might be better to check it out at Kindergarten . For example, if the baby is constantly acting up, then you should give attention to making him interested in the learning process and focus on a longer period than he is used to. For this is very suitable for a computer. On the Internet you can find a lot of different children's educational programs and games. But, since your baby is very moody and irrepressible character, then it will constantly spin. For this, select the desired height chair from catalog office chair and secure it so that the baby can sit as straight as possible. In general, an individual approach to each child is the most optimal and reasonable option. Reach out to someone for advice on this case it will be absolutely optional, because who, if not mom, knows everything features of your child better? The main thing is to start training, and then you will find your bearings according to the situation. Do not be afraid of difficulties, you will overcome them Psychologist's advice What does the word "discipline" mean. Discipline is not such a big problem if you mean by this word the following: to help the child to help himself, help him learn to live and play with others, explore new things carefully, deal with his feelings, what he knows how to do, develop the interests of the child. Discipline does not mean forcing a child to do what you want to. Of course, after your screams and slaps, the baby, pleasing you, stop doing what you don't like. Children are the most naughty when their parents are unhappy, stressed or worried Hard times. Pay attention to yourself: your baby today is too noisy and cranky? Or do you have no sense of humor? More praise than punishment. Babies love to please. They want to be noticed. If you reward behavior you like, baby, so you to please, tries even harder. Hugs, smiles, expressions of interest what they do is the best reward. Don't need lollipops or new toy. Be reasonable in your expectations. Energetic babies simply do not perceive such concepts as “carefully”, “quickly”, “quietly”, “wait”. Avoid battles you cannot win. You cannot force your child to eat, sleep and go to the toilet exactly when you want it, you will not achieve anything in terms of disciplines, invoking ever new conflicts. Understanding how children growing into behavior you like is not a sign your weakness. Distract the child . It's usually easy to divert your baby's attention from something you don't like it, for a more enjoyable activity. Distraction doesn't mean that you have "surrendered" - it can work wonders. If a child is playing with buttons on the TV, offer him an old lantern to play with. If daughter plays with your makeup, give her different differences in the old handbag. Be persistent in what is important. Threats and nagging are useless here. Toddlers quickly learn to ignore a constant stream of phrases like: "If you touch the TV, I will slap you", which basically mean nothing. Be consistent. Of course, it depends on your mood of patience. But don't next: do not praise the child for feeding the cat today, and do not yell at him for spilling milk past the cat's bowl Tomorrow. Think ahead to avoid problems. It will be much better if you put things somewhere far away on for a while than sawing the baby so that he does not touch them: it is better not to let him play with a ball in the living room than scold him for something later broken. Don't take your mistakes so harshly. Of course you're often in vain make noise and shout. Don't get upset over trifles. As long as the overall atmosphere is joyful and welcoming, your child will perceive positive emotions. Offer choices that suit you. Avoid saying things like, “Do you want to go to bed now? You do you want to wear shoes? … It’s better to say: “Do you want to wear pajamas near crib or near the heater?” - when you decide it's time for him to sleep. Ask for forgiveness. If you have yelled at a child unfairly, do not be afraid to tell your baby, what do you feel when you are tired, irritable and violent at everything react. Having a frank conversation with your child will help you work things out—and teach your baby to say: “I'm sorry”, “I'm sorry” ... Make the punishment momentary. Never threaten to do something later, don't leave a moment punishment for the other parent. And remember: if you spank a lot child - you can only spank harder when things get worse. If you scream, you can only scream louder. Children are different respond to methods of punishment: for some - sufficient punishment - a strict face, for others - isolation in a chair or deprivation of a loved one toys. Strongly and irritably. The whole trouble is that we very often use the word "No!", only expressing their impatience. Listen to your voice when pronounce prohibitions. It sounds irritable, angry. Understand the reasons for actions. Remember that a small child is completely captivated by his desires. It would take years for him to learn how to manage them. Our sharp the prohibition only slows down the child's actions, not at all canceling his desire. Therefore, always explain WHY exactly you forbid doing this or that. or take things. And this should be done even with the most small children - they will understand everything! It is also worth agreeing that sometimes the baby will have to obey you immediately, without explanation. For young mothers. Beware, boiling water! The kitchen is one of the dangerous areas for a curious little fidget. How many amazing and interesting things are happening here! something there bubbling and burning? It is necessary to touch it with a pen, and what will happen, if you pull the edge of the tablecloth? To avoid accidents, try to follow the simplest safety rules. Never place hot drinks and soups on the edge of the dining table. Cook for rear burners, handles of pots, pans turn back. Keep matches and lighters out of reach. Never leave a child alone next to an open fire (for example, with a candle). At in case of an accident, call an ambulance, and before it arrives, cool skin with water, apply wet towels. Speak quietly! If the child is brought up in a family where they speak very loudly (for example, grandparents are hearing impaired, or mom and dad are constantly speak in raised tones), then the child is most likely not will speak quietly, but will always shout. Legalization of dirty pants Probably many of us at least once tried to shame the returnee from walks of the kid: “Again I was taken out in the mud from head to toe!” In the book "Oak Roots" Vsevolod Ovchinnikov (well-known correspondent, who worked in England for a long time), talking about English customs, describes an interesting case. In one of the London parks he saw such a picture: two kids - one, just a baby, crawling along the edge of a puddle, the second, older, marches through the center of this puddle, splashing the younger one. Not far away, on a bench, my mother sits and reads. Seeing this, the author could not hide your amazement. Mom, noticing interest in her kids, politely smiled and said: “Oh, they love this puddle so much, every day we we come here, and they are tinkering with it with such interest!” Dirty researchers. Unfortunately, for many parents, the desire for cleanliness becomes so overwhelming that they begin to accustom a child to it almost from cradle. At first glance, there is nothing wrong with this, but often one has to observe the following picture: a baby (from a year to two), dressed with needles, goes for a walk with his mother or grandmother, and they diligently they drive him away from puddles, do not let him into the sandbox with sand wet after rain, where other kids are happy to mess around, and even more so they don’t allow crawl on your knees. Under the pressure of prohibitions, the baby becomes only passive observer and is deprived of the opportunity to touch with his hands what piques interest. But for him, this is the most important way of knowing. the surrounding world! And if parents keep repeating: “Don’t go, quit, don’t touch, look, don’t get dirty ... ”- thus they only limit it research interest, but also tune in to the fact that to know the world not safe. Cheap and safe. Soiled clothes - that's what most often scold fidget. But not Is it easier to dress the baby according to the situation? By the way, if you develop in your child the habit of playing and going to visit in different clothes, he will treat with great reverence a smart suit or dress. Walking clothing should be simple, comfortable and inexpensive. IN old, washed out to the holes overalls, you can crawl with impunity on kneeling on the asphalt, draw little men with crayons or, for example, dilute the clay with water and mold something from it, and then relish play in the sandbox with other children. But to the circus or for a day birthday to a friend or girlfriend you need to wear something elegant. Some time to choose together with the child clothes for games and for "going out". In no case do not make fun of his choice, offer your own options and explain why, in your opinion, preference should be given to this thing, not that one. How to Raise an Optimist ChildEvery modern parent wants their child to go through life with easily meeting any troubles, with a smile seeking new and new success. Agree, because smiling people are much easier to around themselves. Such optimistic people are more benevolent, friendly. But to protect the baby from all future problems on the path of life is simply impossible. Yes, it's not necessary at all. because any such obstacle is our test and is given not just for us, but for us to take a lesson and learn from the situation the necessary knowledge. The whole question is how we will meet such tests. Agree, with a smile and optimism it will pass much easier. It is in the education of optimism that the main question. According to experts, a mother's optimistic mood can transmitted to the child while still in the womb. After all, the baby is always tuned to the same wave with mom, and feels all her experiences. To bring up an optimist in a child, parents themselves must be optimistic be. If you consider yourself an optimist, then it is desirable for your child with from an early age, begin to instill such an attitude towards life and all life tests. Our children are our reflection!…so when there is a problem with a child's inappropriate behavior in kindergarten, first of all, psychologists and educators establish contact with his parents to identify and eliminate the cause - perhaps it is the parents themselves. Adult behavior patterns are often transferred to the child, therefore, if you notice unpleasant behavioral traits in your child - think and analyze yourself: how do you behave with the baby and what speak. If you swear and quarrel in the family - do not be surprised that the child will begin to show cruelty and rudeness towards others or in the game, and then completely cease to respect adults. Or maybe the mother constantly complains about her job and says how tired she is of it - in this In this case, the child may develop a negative attitude towards work. Outstanding psychologists and educators have long proved that preschool age (3-7 years) is a sensitive period for the formation personality. At this age, children absorb everything like a sponge. On whose example will they learn to act? From whom will they take the model of communication and behavior? With you, parents! Try to give them the best - care, love and peace in the family. "Long farewell - bitter tears", Or what to do in case of severe adaptation?The heart breaks at the sight of a crying baby, which the mother leads in the morning to kindergarten. I want to calm, distract, protect, if only not to see this longing and pain in children's eyes, not to hear the plaintive or piercing scream. And what about a mother who may be in a hurry to work? At many women lack the experience and grit to deal with the situation. Let's talk about how to help yourself and your baby if it's hard and long getting used to kindergarten. In previous materials, we have already said that the best help for a child is preventive or preparatory work family and preschool. If this happened to your baby, you should, first of all, think and answer a number of questions for yourself:
By honestly answering these questions to yourself, you will surely determine the cause of your own suffering and be able to deal with it. All children react to insult and pain in the same way - they cry. Need to know:the child must not cry without interruption more 20-30 minutes. If all this time he goes into crying, not paying attention attention to any attempt to stop him, this may lead to serious mental breakdown. Especially if such a situation repeats over a long period of time. Today our task will be to determine in which case the situation become dangerous for the health of the child and how to correct it mental condition? So, what should adults pay attention to when they are with a child at home and in kindergarten? Physical condition: Child loses weight, appetite and sleep are seriously disturbed, complains of weakness, malaise ("headache, tummy, legs, etc. Mental state:Tearfulness turning into hysterics. extreme irritability and propensity for aggression. There may be depression and withdrawal. The child violently demonstrates his emotions, while being very excited, it is difficult to calm him down and switch. There is anxiety and fear. If the baby reacts extremely painfully to kindergarten, it is necessary change tactics, give him the opportunity to calm down, feel in security, to be with him for a walk, during games. The most difficultfor so many mothers and children, this is the moment of farewell when the child must leave the locker room and enter the group room. How not to do it
How to do the right thing
Finally, I would like to remind you that there are no hopeless cases, understand what IS THE REASON FOR YOUR DIFFICULTIES , show patience and endurance Good luck! First time in kindergarten:about adaptation at an early age How many anxieties and worries the family experiences when the baby has grown up and going to send to kindergarten? What a difficult time for mother and child. The process of adaptation in the broad sense of the word implies habituation, adaptation of the organism to new conditions of existence. Adaptation a small child to new conditions of social life for him involves the restructuring of very many biological, actually psychological, everyday and social stereotypes. This period quite a serious test for the psyche of the baby and his body in in general. Therefore, it is especially important how we prepare ourselves and ourselves for this period. your child. First of all, it is necessary to approximate in advance, 2-3 months in advance home regime, as well as the rules of nutrition, sleep and toilet to the requirements kindergarten. This means that the time of rising, feeding and daytime sleep must comply with sanitary and hygienic and medical age norms. A significant role is played by the child's habit of a certain type of food and how it is organized. Must be trained in advance child to solid food, eat on their own, do not play or read food Time. If the baby is breastfed, attachment of the baby to the breast should not change dramatically during adaptation. Parents are better off taking care of their child's education. to the potty, namely the habit of using the potty instead of in pants. In the first stage of adaptation, which begins even before direct attendance by the child of the kindergarten and the first 2-3 weeks already in kindergarten, the main task of parents, educators and psychologist is to reduce stress reactions and the formation emotionally positive relationship. At this time, mom can not demonstrate their anxiety, which is transmitted to the child, not fix your attention on negative details, only confident positive attitude. The very first step towards emotional well-being is to collect information about the individual characteristics of the baby and drawing up recommendations based on this information that help educators to build the most adequate and comfortable relationship with every child. The more complete and objective information about the child received from the mother, about what the baby is used to in the family, the easier it will be for the teacher to create the most comfortable conditions for communication for the child. Time of stay a child in the garden without a mother should increase gradually from 15-30 minutes up to 30 - 60 minutes depending on the emotional stress of the baby in separation period. Mom must remember that her emotional connection with a child of an early age is still very strong, and therefore any of her strong the experience "makes" the baby more anxious.
The adaptation process can be of varying severity at different stages. Easy adaptation:the child normally gains weight, behaves adequately in the team, does not get sick during the first 2-3 weeks of visiting the garden. Medium: shifts in behavior normalize within a month, the child loses weight for a short time, a single illness may occur lasting 5-7 days, there are signs of mental stress. 
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Give them time and help learn all this. 
Not surprising, that at such moments the child does not consider you his friend. 'Cause you're just give the order in the most categorical tone, and this is a direct condemnation and unwillingness to communicate. Who will like it? Many parents, understanding their wrong, try to control themselves for a while, not at all making comments, then break down, and everything returns to normal. Inconsistency leads to the fact that the child generally stops respond to prohibitions by becoming uncontrollable. 
For example, when you cross a busy highway, he must not pull his hand out of yours. At a life-threatening moment, only the child who forbids the word "No!" did not hear for nothing. 
This is not only negative affect the state of the vocal cords, but will also inevitably affect mental development of the baby, as a rule, in such families, children grow up capricious, irritable, unbalanced. Often they have problems in communicating with other people. So try to talk quieter at home. 
As a result, the child loses confidence and faith in own strengths. 
however, this should primarily apply to ceremonial clothes, and on the street let him play in what he comfortable. 
But there are situations when, due to many social or personal reasons, such training did not take place or did not become effective. Sometimes even during preliminary work with a child, his adaptation is protracted. 
crying children differently. Someone stronger, someone less, someone calms down, distracted by a toy, and someone does not even open his eyes, of which bitter tears flow endlessly. One suffers hidden, not throws tantrums, doesn’t throw toys, doesn’t fight, the other one is open expresses aggression and protest. At the same time, both children experience severe stress, which can turn into serious psychological trauma. 
"). Baby looks pale and tired. Vomiting and diarrhea, enuresis can be observed. 
But any difficulties can be overcome if you show patience and enlist the help of a specialist. Let's figure out at the beginning what happens during this period time with the child. 
Therefore, in families where children go to bed late, namely, daytime sleep from 14-15, and night sleep from 23-24, parents must advance gradually rebuild the children's mode so that it corresponded to the regime of the kindergarten. 
From how open the mother is to the teacher, trusts him, and is willing to cooperate with him depends on the adaptation of the child. 
Therefore self-control and stabilization of the mother's own condition is prevention disorders in the child in the process of his adaptation. Child adaptation passes easier and faster if the parents themselves observe certain rules . 
