What to Know as Your Child Leaves Kindergarten

By: Frances Traughber, Kindergarten Teacher


Children grow and change so much during their kindergarten year.  They have made new friends, worked with a partner, solved group problems, and shed a few tears (and probably some teeth too!).  They have learned many new words to expand their vocabularies.  They can add and subtract, count by ones, tens, and fives all the way to 100!  They’ve learned more than could possibly be listed here.  
What can you do to help your child retain all this knowledge and stay ready for first grade?  Here are a few suggestions for ways to keep your child’s mind engaged without playing school.
  • Send your child to a camp this summer.  We are offering many fun and educational camps that will provide your child with enriching activities plus social time with other children. 
  • Communicate with your child.  Language development has taken off this year and you can continue this growth by having conversations with your child.  When cooking dinner, working in the yard, or taking a day trip explain to your child what you are doing and why. 
  • Continue reading aloud.  Even though your child is beginning to read themselves, they still need to hear a fluent reader.  If they want to read, share by reading alternate pages or let them say the words they know.
  • Talk about whether the story is real, fiction, or fantasy.  Discuss characters and the sequence of events in the story.  Talk about ways the story could have ended differently.
  • Allow your child to be in the kitchen with you.  Measuring, stirring, watching how a mixture changes as things are added. Count the chocolate chips, marshmallows, etc.  being added to the mix. Cooking is fun, educational opportunity for your child. 
  • Educational apps and videos make learning fun.  Homer Reading App, Moose App, Draw and Tell, and Kids Academy are just a few.  We love Jack Hartmann videos for review.
These are just a few ways to enjoy the time you have with your child and retain and build on what they have learned in kindergarten. 

Anxiety in your Child

By: Alicia McQueen, School Counseling


It is not uncommon or abnormal to experience some levels of anxiety in our every day lives. Adults and children alike have every day life situations that can be anxiety inducing. However, with children, parents and schools should be aware of the increase in children with anxiety that can become hindering to a child’s activity. Some research shows that 1 out of every 8 children has the potential of developing an anxiety disorder.  While this may sound like a frightening thought, there is good news!  One, just because a child may have a tendency to be more anxious, it doesn’t mean they have an anxiety disorder.  Two, there are ways to notice and help your child to cope with their anxiety in a healthy way. Whew!

A key to helping children cope with anxiety and not develop a more complex problem, is to notice some of the common signs of anxiety in children. This can be a tricky task when considering that there are a wide range of symptoms.  However, noticing that symptoms present frequently and possibly around the same situations can be an indicator of an unhealthy anxiety.  One of the number one things to consider is whether or not the anxiety is hindering a child from every day activities.  If your child begins to withdraw from something they otherwise would enjoy doing because of a fear or anxiety, this is a sign of anxiety reaching an unhealthy stage. Additionally, children that complain of constant tummy aches, have trouble sleeping, become very clingy, lack focus, or begin having emotional outbursts that seem to be extreme may be showing signs of anxiety.

Treating and working through anxiety is key.  Avoiding or punishing the behaviors/symptoms above can lead to bigger problems.  Children need to understand their anxiety and learn to cope with it in healthy ways. Untreated anxiety can lead to confusion, poor performance in school and social situations, and problems with self-esteem.  Often, children that talk with their parents and address anxieties gain reassurance and coping strategies that help them when they find themselves getting anxious.  Reaching out to a school counselor, a community counselor, and/or a pediatrician can also be a great avenue for parents needing a little help in how to work with their anxious child.

So, what is the good news about anxiety?  Anxiety, while increasing in children, is pretty well-researched, with many successful and helpful tools available.  Knowing the signs and symptoms to look for is key in helping your child to cope in healthy ways. As always, sitting down and chatting with your child, going out to do something fun, unplugging and spending time together, or reading a good book together sparks conversations and healthy ways to work through what is stressing them.  Being in tune with how they are feeling is the best way to catch anxiety early.

Begin Your Journey.