{"id":12820,"date":"2018-05-24T17:29:10","date_gmt":"2018-05-24T17:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/ftf\/?post_type=first-things&p=12820"},"modified":"2023-02-01T23:12:07","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T23:12:07","slug":"a-parents-guide-to-planning-for-kindergarten","status":"publish","type":"first-things","link":"https:\/\/www.ftf-stg.magnetry.com\/es\/first-things\/a-parents-guide-to-planning-for-kindergarten\/","title":{"rendered":"A parent\u2019s guide to planning for kindergarten"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you look up the word \u201cparenting\u201d in the dictionary, \u201cplanning\u201d should definitely be in the definition. As parents we plan for everything \u2013 dinners, play dates, birthday parties and what to bring when we leave the house with the kids. But planning for kindergarten somehow wasn\u2019t on my radar.<\/p>\n

As the time for my daughter to start school drew closer, I started to get questions from my friends. Questions I had no idea how to answer, like, \u201cWhen is your daughter\u2019s first break? Do you know what time you have drop her off? Do you know what you\u2019re going to do for her care before and after school?\u201d<\/p>\n

In a bit of a panic, I made some calls to the school district to ask about what I needed to do to be prepared for the first day of kindergarten. Once I did, I realized how important it is to plan ahead. Everything worked out, but I would have saved myself a lot of scrambling had I started earlier.<\/p>\n

Kindergarten Readiness<\/p>\n

A growing resource for parents and caregivers looking to help children be prepared for school success.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/p>\n

So, from the parent of an almost-first grader, who is still working on her planning skills, here are some things to check out before your child\u2019s big day.<\/p>\n

Start early so you can plan ahead. <\/strong><\/p>\n

In January or February of the year your child is going to enter school, start by making a basic timeline. While you may not have to get into the specifics of everything about kindergarten, it\u2019s helpful to know, well in advance, when applications for enrollment are due, when all paperwork to the school district office is due and, most importantly, the date school starts.<\/p>\n

Take the tour. <\/strong><\/p>\n

I admit, I didn\u2019t think kindergarten would be that complicated to figure out, and honestly, I missed the official tour of the school when it was offered. The first week of school would have been so much smoother if I had gone. Typically you can tour the school before the prior school year ends in May or a week before the new school year starts, which for us is July.<\/p>\n

Ask the simple but important questions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

You and your child can be much more prepared for the day-to-day realities of kindergarten by knowing some basic things about your school\u2019s policies and procedures. Things like:<\/p>\n