From the Counselor….

How to help transition your child to Kindergarten...

No mom or dad likes to hear that piteous cry: "Don't leave me!" Transitioning from being at

home to Kindergarten can be hard on your little one (and you). Below are some tips on helping

you prepare your child for this transition.

● Talk about the transition early. Take them by the school and talk about what their day is

going to be like including what it will look like when you leave them that first day. Practice

this with them. Say good-bye at the door or line up location. This in- creases

independence and self-confidence.

● Practice school during the summer. Set aside 15-30 minutes a day to color, practice

letters and write their name.

● Take them to “Meet the Teacher” night so that they can see their teacher and classroom

beforehand. -Come up with a good-bye routine so that they know when you do this it

means good-bye until the end of the day.

● Reassure them that you will be back at the end of their day and that you will never leave

them.

● Don’t create a big fanfare when leaving. If they sense you’re nervous, they often mirror

that same feeling.

● Have a ritual when you pick them up. Have them name 3 things that they liked about

their day so that they can be thinking of what they will say to you through-out the day.

*Involve the school counselor if mornings are still rough after the first few weeks.

Books that help…

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

I Hate Good-byes by Kathleen Szaj

When I Miss You by Cornelia Spel- man

Don’t Forget To Come Back ! By Ro- bie Harris

What does an Elementary Counselor do?

● Teach Social/Emotional lessons (We use the Second Step Program and Leader In Me)

● Small Group Counseling

● Individual Counseling

● Consulting with Parents and Teachers to improve educational experiences for students.

● Crisis Response

Our Curriculum:

Second Step Curriculum Overview : secondstep.org/elementary-school-curriculum

Leader in Me Overview : Leaderinme.org

My Contact Information: Lisa Anhder

lanhder@wsd.net

801-452-4305 (I’m part time, so contact the office if you need a quick reply)

Website: https://sites.google.com/wsd.net/mrs-anhders-counseling-site/home