What are the changes that rising kindergarten parents need to know about?
We have learned the hard way, that we have to help our rising kindergarteners AND their parents get ready for UpStreet (K-5th grade)! There are a lot of new things coming their way as they enter this new environment and it’s important for us to make this transition as smooth as possible.
Every year, before the start of the new school year, we invite our kindergarteners and their parents to an event called Kindergarten Konfidential. This event is programmed to be KidStuf-style (kids AND parents) complete with KidStuf characters.
One purpose of this event is to get our kids comfortable in this noisy, fast paced and super-fun environment. The other purpose is to communicate the important “need to knows” to our parents.
Here are things that our parents need to know about KidStuf and UpStreet as they move up to the next environment:
1. The purpose and “how-to’s” of KidStuf Live, the KidStuf Take-Out and KidStuf Online.
2. The logistics of navigating Promotion Sunday.
i.e. How to find their child’s new classroom.
3. Their child must attend the same hour each Sunday.
Our kids are connected in a small group at a specific service hour. If they come to the other service then they will miss their small group and need to attend an “On Deck” (visitor) group.
4. Changes in check-in process.
Coaches will now walk their child from the check-in desk at the door, into the classroom, and to their small group. Parents are not allowed in the classroom.
5. The classroom schedule.
Kindergarteners travel to a new room for their large group/storytelling time and then back to their classroom for their small group time. If parents are late for the service, then their child could miss large group.
6. How to use the GodTime.
Each week our elementary kids take home a GodTime card that gives them a kid-friendly way to read their Bible and have a quiet time all week long. Kindergarteners need their parents help to make this a habit.
7. The pick-up process.
Parents enter through one classroom door to pick up their child and exit out the other classroom door. This keeps traffic moving during pick up time.
How do you make sure that rising Kindergarteners and their parents are ready to move up?
Post written by: Kendra Fleming - Multi-Campus Director of Children’s Ministry
May 5th, 2010 at 11:51 am
I love the idea of having a meeting with kids and their parents to keep them informed of what to expect. One thing we have done the past couple of years is: two weeks prior to Promotion Sunday, we take our Kindergarteners to attend large group in the elementary environment. It’s like a mini orientation/field trip. It gives them an idea of what to expect. They get really excited about it, and it feels safe because they are attending it with their peers and their regular leader.
May 5th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
HI Susy,
That’s a great idea! We do something similar with our 5th graders going to middle school. But I never thought about doing that with our pre-k kids. Great idea!
Kendra