IS YOUR BOY GOING TO KINDERGARTEN IN THE FALL?

Jeremy’s worried about going to kindergarten. It’s in a big brick building. Will he get lost? He likes the idea of riding the school bus, but how will he find his classroom when he gets off? He wonders if he’ll make friends. Will his teacher be nice to him?

Kindergarten is a new experience, even if your boy has been in preschool. He needs to feel comfortable, not fearful. His first impression can affect his attitude about school and his learning. This is especially important for boys.

There are some things you can do to make sure he gets the best start:

• Register him early so he can be comfortable with the school and the school has time to learn about him.

• Present kindergarten as an exciting new experience. Ask him what he thinks school will be like and correct any misunderstandings or fears.

• Talk about and visit his school, bus stop or walk the route to school. Let him meet his teacher.

• Encourage him to be independent. Give him opportunities to follow directions and do tasks on his own.

• Read books, discuss the story and the pictures. Make sure he has chances to use scissors, crayons, pencils, markers, paint and paper. Help him learn his ABCs, numbers and colors.

• Most of all, let him know you're confident that he will do well. And always, always, be positive about school.

Learn more about raising boys in my book Wired to Move: Facts and Strategies for Nurturing Boys in Early Childhood Settings, published by Gryphon House. Available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, gryphon house.com