An irreverent, inclusive, alternative parenting community
Ugh. School. Kindergarten. Help.
So, when I joined OS El D was just a little nugget - not even a year old... and here it is the Summer before he starts kindergarten. Srsly, where did the time go?
Hive mind, I ask you to bequeath your parental knowledge, funny stories or just straight up warnings to me:
1) What are the top 5 things you wish someone had told you before your kid started kindergarten?
2) What did you do to 'prep' your kid for it?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Herasmus B. Dragon on
-
If he can't read yet, so what. The switch will turn on soon.
Kindergarten is for play, not for school. And to civilize the kids.
Put his name on EVERYTHING.
Buy an extra lunchbox becuase those cheap things won't last the year.
Let him pick out his backpack.
I don't think we prepper Big O for anything, because she'd moved from preschool to pre-K with ease, so this was just the next step.
-
Permalink Reply by The Oracle on -
1) That it's way more demanding than it used to be.
2) That, therefore, my kid would be way more drained by 6 1/2 hours of it than he was by 10 hours of daycare.
3) That the school administration has an agenda that isn't necessarily aligned with my family's priorities.
4) That public schools are way poorer now than they were when I was a kid, to the point we would be asked to buy a bunch of supplies, including Kleenexes, to share with the class.
5) That, despite it all (and despite the fact that we ultimately chose to leave), both he and I would meet some kids and parents that we expect to be friends with for a good long time.
We did nothing to prepare him for it because we didn't think we had to: He had the same teacher and many of the same kids for K as he'd had for PreK (Montessori: mixed-age classrooms). We didn't realize how drastically the expectations would change from one year to the next, even within the same class. But even if we'd known it, I don't think it would have changed anything. The Dragon was never going to abide a traditional classroom, and he's just damn lucky he was born into a family that felt like homeschooling.
-
Permalink Reply by The Oracle on
-
Also: Wow, five years since OS began? I think I still think of everyone's kids as about the same age as they were back then.
-
Permalink Reply by kommishoner on -
Well, when I started reading here, the little man was in utero, and he just turned 4 in March. So here we are! ;)
-
Permalink Reply by Andromeda on -
so wait, i was around at the beginning? i thought OS was well established by the time i joined, but D was only 2 and now he's 7 so I must have joined very near the beginning!
As far as K goes, i think everyone has it right, especially about the lunchbox. you don't know how hard it is to find a good one (ie: one he'll use) halfway through the year.
Turns out D's K teacher is doing BOOK REPORTS this year. BOOK REPORTS IN KINDERGARTEN! WTF? D's not even doing them yet in 1st.
Oh, and it turns out you CAN leave your child there w/o you on the first day. I don't know how long all those other parents hung out, but i left after about 20 minutes because for goodness sake, let the teacher teach! ;)
-
-
Yeah, I turned to you all for help when Ebay flew out. I know OS started in the summer, before August, when we moved to the new house.
-
Permalink Reply by mightyninjamom on -
Depending on the Kinder, they can demand ridiculous amounts of work. It may stress him out. Bento boxes rule. Put his name on everything. Always have a change of clothes ready to go. Be prepared to start buying shoes every few months.
Five years? I must have started either just before or after our big move to TX. Ahhh, good times! I'm just glad I've gotten to meet so many of you in person!
-
Permalink Reply by ks on -
Also pants. Seriously--N goes through pants like nothing and it started around kindergarten. Something about the playground at that school causes knees to magically blow out of pants. It is amazing.
Otherwise, yeah, names on everything (and I mean everything) and don't stress it too much. And be prepared to contribute supplies to the classroom, especially if it is a public school. Their budgets have been cut so much that if parents don't contribute, teachers (here, at least) have to pay out hundreds of dollars out of pocket for a lot of everyday classroom supplies.
mightyninjamom said:Depending on the Kinder, they can demand ridiculous amounts of work. It may stress him out. Bento boxes rule. Put his name on everything. Always have a change of clothes ready to go. Be prepared to start buying shoes every few months.
Five years? I must have started either just before or after our big move to TX. Ahhh, good times! I'm just glad I've gotten to meet so many of you in person!
-
Permalink Reply by TommysMommy on -
Also, be prepared that he could be just fine! My little guy walked away from me the first day of school and never looked back. He loves kindergarten. Wants to know why they have to have summer break and when he can start grade 1. I expected *something* about wanting to stay with me, didn't want to go to school, tears etc. NOTHING.
A labelled change of clothes (full set) in a plastic bag to hang on his hook at school. Be prepared for foods you cannot send (ie. peanut butter).
I first got here after listening to a podcast about Offsprung. Himself must have been only a few months old. He's turning 6. Sigh.
-
Permalink Reply by The Oracle on
-
At some point we'll have to change the search terms from "children," "school," and "diapers" to "grandchildren," "nursing homes," and ... well ... "diapers."
-
Permalink Reply by Joe Mama on -
Its okay to put limits on school expectations. If you are in a class or school district that has very high academic goals YOU will need to protect your child. Some little kids LOVE school and school work but can make themselves crazy trying to be perfect. Some little kids love school but can find reading/spelling/math/fine motor work/fill-in-the-blank frustrating. Close the books and send your munchkin outside if school work is frustrating ... and send an email to the teacher letting her/him know.
The Oracle is right on the mark (as usual!) about kids being wiped out after a full day of school...most schools expect them to have huge amounts of self-control in a class. They will need to eat and run around, or crash and cry, or be really mouthy and cranky...its not their fault.
Having said that, treat kindergarten work with respect - it is their first "job" and you want them to be proud of their work. Set a time and space aside after snack and outside time but well before bedtime. Have a work space (even if it is just a lap board) and supplies (new crayons, special scissors) that is just for school work. Turn off the radio and tv...you'll be setting the standard that you will be living with for the next 12 years! When my boys were in kindergarten they did about 10 minutes of "work" and at least 10 minutes of "reading" every afternoon.
(5 years?? cripes! Although I used to call the boys "Short-Blond-Troublemakers #1 and #2"...and now one is more than 6 feet tall...)
-
Permalink Reply by G to the G on -
And you guys are just as awesome as ever! Thanks for the feedback.
Lurkers and others chime in!
HBD - thank you for the reading comment. Srsly. I'm SUPER stressed about that one.
O - The tired thing I'm already seeing... If El D stays past Noon at his pre-school that kid wants to come home, sit on the couch in his undies and watch cartoons for an hour. I can't blame him...and I'm usually sitting next to him.
A - What prompted me to ask was I have a local friend that said her 1st grader has TWO hours of homework a night. Scared me. I can imagine book reports are just around the corner from that... Eesh.
MNM - That's what those are called! Bento Boxes! Thanks!
ks - I've heard that the public school lists here are epic. I'll start saving now.
TM - I actually carry around a full set of clothes for El D (in the trunk of my car)... and good point El D may just say I've got this and that be the end of it.
JM - thank you! I actually just emailed myself your response.
Thanks again!
© 2013 Created by Offsprunger.
Powered by
