All across the land, five-year-olds and their parents are anticipating a first day of kindergarten. For some, the starting to school will be smooth; for others, it will be tough. There is about one month left before that first big day. If you have a child starting kindergarten this year, there are some things you can do to make the transition a little easier.

1) Talk to your child about a teacher's authority. Say something like, "When you go to school, Mrs. Brown will be the person in charge of you just like Mommy and Daddy are in charge when you are at home. That means that you should do what she says and be respectful of her. She may do things a little differently than we do, but that's okay."

2) Make sure your child knows how to sit still while you read her a story. It is okay for a three-year-old to stand up, lie down and wriggle around, but a five-year-old needs to be able to sit for short periods of time. Have her practice sitting still while you read.

3) Explain to your child about raising her hand for permission to talk. This also can be practiced at home during story time.

4) Most likely, your child will eat lunch at school. Does she stay in her seat throughout the meal? Can she use a knife to cut her food? Does she eat with a fork instead of fingers when appropriate? Will she eat a variety of foods? These are important skills to get through lunchtime at school.

5) She should have some experience using scissors, pencils and crayons. An entering kindergartner needs to know colors, shapes, numbers and basic information like full name, address, phone number and parents' names.

6) Hopefully, she will not have separation anxiety because you have been leaving her in Sunday school and at preschool. If you have not been leaving her, it would be wise to begin now. It will make her first day of kindergarten less traumatic.

Keeping these tips in mind, best wishes for a great first year for kindergartners and their parents.
