Welcome to Kindergarten!
We are excited to meet your family and work together to build feelings of safety and confidence in your new school environment. Your school community and teacher will create fun learning experience, learn about your child's unique personality, and build connection to foster their love for learning.
We honour all parents and caregivers as the first teachers of their children; we welcome your valuable knowledge and insight in the best ways to nourish your child’s holistic well-being as they grow through the year.
Click on the dropdown boxes below for tips on supporting the learning your child will do in this first year.
Support Learning
- Explore, discover and be curious with your child. Spend time outdoors, observe the changing world around us.
- Share stories, songs, and rhymes. Your voice is mesmerizing, and repeating a favourite chorus helps your child create visual images and initial literacy skills.
- Have fun counting anything and everything! Be positive and have fun with numbers inside and outside.
- Play interactive board and card games. Introduce new vocabulary together as you play. Take every opportunity to learn names of people, places, things, feeling words, position words, colours and shapes.
- Have fun playing with a variety of materials on different surfaces (eg. blocks, boxes, sticks, rocks mud, shaving cream, sidewalk chalk)
- Celebrate your child's name in print! Invite opportunities to recognize it, decorate it and talk about the letters in their environment.
Build Social/Emotional Awareness
- Arrange play opportunities with other children in different settings, particularly outdoors. Encourage running, jumping and climbing activities where children can stretch and test their bodies.
- Help your child recognize their emotions and communicate their feelings. Offer calming techniques to help them regulate their feelings.
- Provide opportunities for your child to develop joy in relationships with people, place, materials, and ideas. Help your child understand and care about themselves and others, and to find and achieve their purposes in the world.
Nurture Independence
- Provide opportunities for your child to use public washroom facilities initially with you.
- Eat lunch with your child practicing using a lunch kit, opening/closing packaging, and cleaning up.
- Encourage your child to dress independently for outside play, including taking footwear on and off .
- Provide a style of shoe that your child can keep fastened.
- Support your child in doing more tasks independently.
- Help your child experience the care of other trusted adults for extended periods of time.
Click here to view the Welcome to Kindergarten Brochure.pdf
Tips to Feel Ready for Kindergarten
Click on the dropdown boxes below for tips to help your child (and you!) feel ready to enter kindergarten. Starting kindergarten is a big milestone for children and families. Feeling nervous is normal! However, with preparation, support, and encouragement, children can enter school with confidence, curiosity, and excitement for learning.
Acknowledge Feelings
- It’s normal to feel nervous, worried, or even excited.
- Encourage your child to talk about their feelings and label emotions (happy, nervous, scared, excited).
- Research shows that naming emotions supports self-regulation and coping skills.
Talk About Kindergarten
- Share stories, pictures, and what a typical school day looks like.
- Read books about starting school and explore how characters cope with new experiences.
- Knowing what to expect helps children feel confident and prepared.
Practice Social Skills
- Encourage turn-taking, sharing, and playing with peers before school starts.
- Role-play common school situations like greeting friends, asking for help, or lining up.
- Practicing these experiences builds confidence and friendship skills.
Build Routines and Independence
- Establish predictable morning, bedtime, and mealtime routines.
- Support self-care: dressing, using the bathroom independently, washing hands, and managing belongings.
- Children with consistent routines feel secure and ready for school.
Use Calm-Down and Coping Strategies
- Practice simple techniques like deep breathing, counting, or quiet reflection.
- Create a “calm kit” with a small toy, stuffed animal, or visual cue.
- Children who know how to self-regulate adapt more easily to new routines.
Gradual Exposure and Familiarity
- Visit the school, playground, or classroom before the first day.
- Attend open houses, StrongStart programs, or orientation events.
- Short separations or “pretend kindergarten” mornings can reduce anxiety.
- Familiarity builds confidence and comfort.
Encourage Curiosity and Resilience
- Talk about what’s exciting about school: making friends, learning, and play.
- Praise effort and bravery in trying new things.
- Encourage questions and problem-solving.
Model Calm and Positive Coping
- Your reactions influence your child.
- Show calm, confidence, and optimism when discussing school.
- If parents feel anxious, acknowledge feelings but model strategies for coping.
Connect with Teachers & Other Families
- Share your child’s concerns with the teacher—they can provide extra support.
- Build connections with other families to exchange tips and support.
- Family-school partnerships strengthen children’s adjustment and sense of belonging.
Seek support if needed. If your child’s worries are intense or persistent, consider talking with a school counsellor, psychologist, or family therapist. Early support can prevent anxiety from becoming overwhelming.
Click here to read the full Helping Your Child (and You!) Feel Ready for Kindergarten.pdf
More Resources
Ten Things You Can Do At Home to Improve Social Emotional Learning
Anxiety Canada - Kindergarten Confidence: Tips for a Calm Start