There comes a time when every child has to grow up and start going to kindergarten. Starting a full-day program can be a difficult transition for both parents and children, especially if you are a stay-at-home parent. Luckily, at Ivy League Academy in Port St. Lucie, we offer a free VPK program to help your little one get ready for kindergarten. At Ivy League Academy, we not only help children prepare for kindergarten, but we also offer high-quality education for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. If you’re interested in providing your child with all of the tools that they need for the future, then you want Ivy League Academy. Browse our website to learn more and give us a call today!

It’s important for your child to build a strong educational foundation, and kindergarten is the best way to do that. However, entering kindergarten is a big step that can be difficult for many children. If your child is getting ready to start kindergarten in the near future, it’s best to start preparing now so that it doesn’t come as a surprise later on. In today’s post, we will provide you with a few tips on how to ease your child into the transition. If you think a VPK program could be beneficial, be sure to contact Ivy League Academy to sign up today!

Work on Social Skills

Social skills are very important for a child to learn at an early age. Many parents think that VPK is the perfect time for their children to learn how to interact with others, but in fact, it’s better that your child learns to socialize before they reach the pre-kindergarten stage. If your child hasn’t had many opportunities to socialize with other children, their first time in a classroom setting can be overwhelming, resulting in crying or tantrums. Additionally, you will want your little one to know how to share and use “please” and “thank you.”

Growing up with siblings is an easy way for your kiddo to socialize with others, but for children who don’t have any brothers or sisters, proper socialization may be more difficult. If you are looking for ways to give your child experience interacting with other children, you may want to consider joining a moms’ group or enrolling your child in a daycare program.

Encourage Self-Help Skills

Before your child enters kindergarten, it’s important that they have a basic foundation of self-help skills. We’re not saying that your child should be able to do everything on their own, but they should be able to pick out their own clothes or tie their shoes. Because your little one will be in a classroom with many other children, they can’t count on the individual attention that they received when they were home with a parent. Learning skills like how to put away their toys, get dressed on their own, or how to put on their shoes will help them feel more independent.

Reading and Writing

Similarly to how your kiddo needs a basic understanding of self-help skills, it is also beneficial if your child already has a foundation of reading and writing before they start their formal education. Practicing the letters and the alphabet in a comfortable environment like your home will help your child feel more confident. Providing your child with the basic knowledge that they need isn’t as difficult as it sounds. For example, reading to your child on a daily basis, teaching them colors and shapes, and how to properly hold scissors are all good skills that will help them when they go to kindergarten.

Keep Your Routine Stable

Providing your child with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills before they go to kindergarten is important and will help them get the most out of their education. That being said, the transition to kindergarten can also be emotionally difficult on your little one, and it’s best to try and keep your routine as stable as possible during that time. Your child’s first day of kindergarten isn’t the right time to start going back to work or to introduce a new babysitter. It’s important that during this huge transition that your child is able to rely on everything else in their life being the same as before.

Visit Ivy League Academy Today!

At Ivy League Academy, we proudly offer a free VPK program that will help to prepare your child for kindergarten. Our courses are designed to promote early child development and help your little one reach their full potential. If you are interested in learning more about our programs and curriculum, be sure to browse our website and contact us today.

We look forward to seeing you soon.