Anyone Else Have a Kid Starting Kindergarten Soon???

[Princess_Aurora]

DD will start kindergarten on Tuesday. She is very excited about it. Things seem a lot different now than they did when I was in kindergarten. We got her supply list and they have markers and water colors on the list. I wasn't even allowed to touch those things when I was 5 and our teacher wouldn't even consider letting us use them in class. I don't think we used those in school until maybe 2nd grade.

Also, this is my first time to send a kid off to kindergarten, I'm a little nervous about it. I'm also worried that DD will be so bored! She's pretty advanced for her age. She already knows how to read most words and stuff so I'm worried she'll get bored going over all this stuff she already knows. I had that problem when I started school. I was so excited on the first day and I have a clear memory of getting in the car when my mom picked me up, crossing my arms over my chest and exclaiming that I HATED kindergarten! I was upset because all we did was color and I didn't like that. Hopefully they'll do something that will chalenge her. Is there any advice from anyone out there that has already gone through the kindergarten stage???

 

[snoopy]

I have one child who starts kindergarden next year, but my oldest is going into 3rd grade. When he started kindergarden I had some concerns that he would be bored, he is also a bright child that needs to be mentally stimulated. What I found out is that kindergarden is not the same as when I went to kindergarden. They expect these kids to be able to read and write pretty early in the year, and there is not a lot of the play time that I remember so vividly from kindergarden. Upon graduating from kindergarden, my child could read pretty fluently, and write his name in cursive. Most of those things he learned I didn't learn until I was in 2nd or 3rd grade. Of course, he couldn't tie his shoe, either. I remember spending a lot of time learning how to tie my shoe in kindergarden! The concentration on acedemics is strong, at least in our kindergardens in the DC area.

Best of luck to you and your daughter! Its a very exciting time for you both!

 

[Aristocath]

My oldest son is starting Kindergarten on August 18. I am very nervous for him. But he is very excited about his school and is looking forward to it. He also reads and writes already but I don't think he will be bored. He will be at the Applied Learning Center in our school district and they have lots of projects and problem solving activites. It sure isn't the kindergarten I went to thirty years ago. Thirty years??? Yikes, I'm getting old!!

 

[Pembo]

Ds #2 starts kindergarten on Aug. 25. He's excited but I know I'm going to cry! I can't believe he's this old already.

 

[RitaZ.]

My youngest child, DD (5), will be starting Kindergarten toward the end of this month. She is ready!

It's true that Kindergarten today is nothing like the Kinder that we went to. The focus is really on academics and children are expected to be able to recognize numbers, letters, know how to write their names, etc. The good news is that those children that may not be familiar with those concepts, once exposed to them they learn fast.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

My "baby" starts kindergarten the beginning of September. Her big sister is going into third grade. My younger one is a September baby so she will be turning 5 just after the school year begins. Even though she is young I know she is ready. She is very smart and has been looking forward to this since forever.

They keep the kids pretty busy in kindergarten. They do lots of different activities so it isn't just play time. Ours here is full day and they do work along with some play time. I was pleased with the "stuff" that came home when my older one was in kindergarten. And they learned alot. Although she knew her letters, shapes, colors and could write some -- the progress I saww in kindergarten was amazing.

Even if your daughter has already learned alot of the stuff I doubt she'll be bored. There will be new people for her to meet and new activities and a routine for her to get used to.

I hope they all have a wonderful time!

 

[Princess_Aurora]

DD will only be there for 1/2 a day. They don't offer an all day kindergarten here. I'm pretty mad because she got stuck in afternoon classes. I don't have my own vehicle (DH and I share our only car) and my mom will be able to take her to school at 12 but she has to be at work at 2 and DD gets out of school at 3 so I don't have a way to pick her up. The worst part is the bus rules state that you have to live at least 5 milies away from school in order to take the bus and we only live like 2 or 3 miles. So I'll have to put DS in the stroller and walk up there to get her in the 100-degree weather and then walk all the way back. I wouldn't mind doing it in the fall, but to have to do this for the rest of August in this awful heat is going to be a killer!

 

[tinaw]

My baby starts the big K this year too. I know she will do great. She already has two years of preschool "experience" so this will not be anything new to her. Mama on the other hand will probably be a mess. Preschool didn't bother me but kindergarten is for big kids! Not my baby! Can you tell she's my one and only?
Anyway! I was fairly worried about my daughter being bored so I talked to the teacher. She agreed that my daughter was ahead of the curve btu that there would be plenty of activities to keep her interested. She also gave me a check list of what she expected children to know coming into her class and what they should know when leaving her class to show me everything they are expected to learn.
You're right Arsitocath, it's not the same kindergarten we went to.

 

[FreshTressa]

My DS starts on September 2nd.

I had the same worry. He will be 6 on September 14th and will be one of the oldest in his class. He is reading chapter books at about the 3-4 th grade level and is doing math at about a late second grade level.


But I don't think he'll be bored. They will present stuff in a different way and "cement" the stuff he already knows.

I think my dd at 4 and a half is ready too, but she also has a fall birthday, and they are very strict about the cut off date here.

 

[Karista]

Just wanted to share something that my MIL told me when my "baby" started kindergarten.......

When I would get a little choked up or weepy thinking about the first day of kindergarten, she would always say, "Just be thankful that she's healthy enough to go to school." It might sound lame, but for what it's worth, it always made me feel exactly that, thankful, instead of sad that she was leaving home for a few hours.

Now, this probably sounds terrible, but I can't WAIT for school to start and will do the happy dance when I finally have my house to myself again during the day. When someone says, "Aren't you sad that they're going back to school?" my answer always is, "They aren't going to boarding school, they'll be home for dinner!"

 

[believe]

I have decided to focus on the logistics of getting everything ready for DD#1 to go to Kindergarten, they start 8/27. I am excited for her, but at the same time I know it is the beginning of her growing even faster than she is growing now. She has been to preschool for 3 years, so it isn't the leaving part that is upsetting...it is knowing that in 13 years she will be off to college. I am a planner, which doesn't help at times because I think too much into the future. I am happy that God has blessed us with our daughters and that they are able to get an education, but sad that they won't be our little girls forever.

 

[Rexfan]

My baby, my DS starts on Tuesday, and I am a wreck everytime that I think about it. He has some pretty major problems w. his feet and legs and will be in braces until he has another surgery next year. He can walk, but he falls a lot and I am so worried about him hurting himself or being picked on. He came home from orientation last night, started walking around the house with his backpack on and promptly tripped and landed on his face with a bloody nose. I am so not ready to send him out into the world!

 

[snoopy]

Awww, Rexfan, I bet you are worried! The good news is that little children are really usually so sweet to one another, I'm sure your son will make lots of friends. I love the way little ones tend to look after one another, as opposed to when they get a little older and are less inclined to accept everyone as they are.

To all of you who have children starting kindergarden this year, best of luck! I know I will be a wreck next year when my baby goes off to kindergarden - even though he has been to preschool, kindergarden is the real first step to my baby growing up. But as someone mentioned, I feel very blessed that my children are healthy and happy and do treasure each stage of their lives.

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by Princess_Aurora
DD will only be there for 1/2 a day. They don't offer an all day kindergarten here. I'm pretty mad because she got stuck in afternoon classes. I don't have my own vehicle (DH and I share our only car) and my mom will be able to take her to school at 12 but she has to be at work at 2 and DD gets out of school at 3 so I don't have a way to pick her up. The worst part is the bus rules state that you have to live at least 5 milies away from school in order to take the bus and we only live like 2 or 3 miles. So I'll have to put DS in the stroller and walk up there to get her in the 100-degree weather and then walk all the way back. I wouldn't mind doing it in the fall, but to have to do this for the rest of August in this awful heat is going to be a killer!

That sounds rough! Would it be possible for you to drive your DH or your mom to work so you can have their car for the afternoon pick-up? If not, the only other thing I can think of is to try to make a deal with another parent in DD's class. Maybe they can pick her up after school in return for you watching their kid a couple hours a week or something.

I agree, walking 5 miles (round-trip) in the August heat is not very tolerable. Good luck.

Peggy

 

[Cthia]

Princess Aurora I am surprised they don't offer bus service for the kindergarten children. Our state picks up the children no matter how close they live to the school.

I remember the first day my DD started kindergarten three years ago. They had the parents spend the first day with them so we could see what they would be doing in class. I too was worried she would be bored since she had been to preschool for three years but she made many friends and they kept them busy. School is very different now from when I was growing up. They expect alot more from the children at an earlier age.

Best of luck to all of you parents with children entering kindergarten. Treasure every moment with them, they do grow up very fast.

 

[FTWFAN]

I have been excited all summer that all 3 of my kids will finally be in the same school. Oddball(13) started the 8th grade, DS(Shelby/7) went into the 2nd grade and my baby, Savannah(5) started Kindergarten. Our school is K-12 with only around 500 students. I thought finally I would have a little freedom from going to 2 or 3 different places each day and that they would all be out of school on the same days.

This past Tuesday, the day they started to school, that feeling of freedom totally left me. I realized that Oddball(Ashton) is going to be graduating before I know it. Shelby, who is his own little man, has surprised me by not wanting to go to school this year. He has always made friends and been comfortable wherever he is. Maybe he just knows he is going to have to work a little harder this year and he also doesn't like having to "Share" his school with his little sister. Savannah, my baby, has been left at school each day this week with crocodile size tears in her eyes. Yesterday, her teacher told me that she has cried a little each day. "She misses her Mommy!" After she has her little bout of crying, she gets to playing and doing her work and has a great day. But it still kills me to leave her that way each morning.

It seems like yesterday they were all so tiny and I was holding them in my arms, rocking and singing to them. I know I have to let them grow up, but do I have to do it now??????

OK, it is getting close to time to go pick them up! I know there will be smiles all around because today is Friday. Let's just hope that Monday things will be a little easier and each day after that the tears come a little less frequently!!

 

[Princess_Aurora]

peg2001, unfortunately my mom doesn't get home until 1a.m. and I wouldn't want to wake the kids up at that time to go pick her up. DH gets off work at all kinds of different times plus he usually needs the car for work to do off-site things. The sad thing is, he bought a motorcycle last spring so he could take it to work and I could keep the car...he just doesn't want to ride it in the heat. Go figure

The guy at the bus service we called was very strict. If you didn't live five miles or more away there was no way a bus would come to your house...no ifs, ands, or buts. All the kids in this neighborhood are older and go to a different school, so I won't know any of the parents at this school until after she starts school.

 

[Pooh93]

Youngest dd is starting kindergarten on Aug 26. She is so excited and I am excited for her and selfishly me! It will be nice to have both kids at the same place for pick up. Oldest dd will be in 2nd and I'm sure she will have no qualms about showing her litle sister the ropes at the big school.

 

[mskani]

My baby Cameron is starting kdg on Friday the 15th. He is very excited because he has his Spiderman bookbag and accesories. He has successfully completed two years of preschool so he knows what to expect.

I took him to get his school physical yesterday and the receptionist who checked us in remarked to me that she remembered when he was a tiny baby and had a super-large afro ( think Jackson 5 in the early '70s).

time marches on...

 

[Desnik]

My DD will be starting kindergarten in Sept. I was looking foward to it because I know she will love it, it is full day so more free time for me and the baby(he's almost 5mo). Now I am stressing!! I'm going to miss her!! I am worried she'll be doing this "big girl thing" all by herself! Will she be ok on the bus?? Will she go to the bathroom ok alone? I keep telling her what to do if such and such happens. She is my first child and my little buddy. I have been ASAHM and we literally do everything together. I know she'll be fine, she is the type of kid that was pushing me out the door at pre-K!!! I could just see me and DH following the school bus on the first day and peeking through the windows of her classroom!!!