By Jeannine Tocco
Beginning Kindergarten is a major milestone filled with new experiences—classrooms, teachers, friends, and routines. It’s natural for children to feel a mix of excitement and nervousness.
As adults, we look forward to this big step for our daughter/son as they enter elementary school. Parents announce it with pride, grandparents ask about it with joy, and neighbors and friends love to talk about it. But this momentous milestone may also bring some uncertainty for your child—and that’s completely normal.
Sacred Heart Greenwich Kindergarten Lead Teacher, Mrs. Jeannine Tocco, says, “Rising Kindergarteners often need a little reassurance that they’re ready— and that they’ll know what to do once they walk through those classroom doors. The truth is, many of the things parents already do at home will prepare their child for Kindergarten. When school begins, we, as teachers, build on those skills with joy, care, and community—ensuring your child feels confident, connected, and excited to learn.”
Mrs. Tocco has suggestions for some playful, confidence-building ways you can help your child feel prepared and excited for the start of Kindergarten:
Sing together: Let your child sing her heart out with funny, happy or silly songs. Singing helps children grow comfortable using their voice, expressing joy and connecting with classmates.
Rhyme aloud: Read aloud rhyming books to your child. Play ‘call and response’ games with nursery rhymes. For example, the adult says, “Little Miss Muffet,” and your child chimes in, “sat on a tuffet!” Rhymes are fun and strengthen early literacy.
Do puzzles: Puzzles encourage problem-solving and spatial awareness. They can be completed independently and collaboratively. Puzzles can be fun or frustrating – and both experiences build resilience.
Play board games: Games teach turn-taking, patience and social interaction. They also offer a chance to practice winning and losing gracefully. All skills that support school readiness.
Explore outdoors: Walk, play, run, climb, jump! Outdoor play fuels curiosity, builds confidence and gives children experiences to bring into the classroom.
Before the first day of school:
Practice dialogue for making a new friend: Role play on how to say hello and ask to play. Make it fun and silly. Practicing basic conversational skills at home will build a ready social vocabulary.
Set an example for thinking out loud: For example, work a puzzle with your child and think aloud: “This piece looks like it fits…maybe if I turn it a little…” Encourage your child to think aloud as well by modeling listening and responding. This builds collaborative conversations and skills.
Offer a bravery token: A little comfort item like a drawing, picture, or even a stone tucked into your child’s pocket can be a brave-day reminder that they are loved and ready. Just make sure it is replaceable since children can lose things. Although this memento will carry important meaning for your child, be careful not to give it so much sentimental value that it adds pressure to keep it. Part of the fun can be picking or creating a new one each day.
Remind your child that many of the things you do together will be same activities that happen in Kindergarten. Mrs. Tocco adds, “The most exciting part then, is that your child will be the one leading the way, teaching you new things at the end of every day!”
Mrs. Jeannine Tocco has been a Kindergarten Lead Teacher at Sacred Heart Greenwich for 16 years. Mrs. Tocco has a B.A. in Economics from St. Lawrence University, and a Master degree in Teaching.
