Everything you need to know about starting kindergarten.
Everything you need to know about starting kindergarten.
Parenting a preschooler can be challenging, and we hope that this newsletter will add to your parenting toolbox by delivering inspiration and expert advice to your inbox each month. Do you have burning parenting questions or a topic that you would like us to cover in a future newsletter? We would love your input! Please contact Nicole Casey at ncasey@fayschool.org with any questions, comments, or feedback.
BOOK CLUB - The Night Before Kindergarten
In a few weeks, many children will start school for the first time as they enter kindergarten. There will likely be some stress, nerves, and anticipation surrounding the first day, but by reading books like The Night Before Kindergarten, you can help prepare your child by making the experience seem more familiar. Reading books about kindergarten can also start a conversation with your child about the first day of school because their fears, concerns, and questions will probably come up. Use these opportunities to answer your child's questions and to make them feel more comfortable about starting their new adventure. For a list of other book suggestions, please click here. 
LITERACY AND NUMERACY - Writing
Did you know that the first step to your child writing is actually building their fine motor skills? There are lots of fun ways that kids can build their hand strength and fine-motor skills with pre-writing activities like coloring, working with playdough, and almost any kind of crafting or building. One simple and fun activity that Fay’s kindergarten teachers do with students to strengthen their finger, hand, and wrist muscles is pushpin poke drawing. You can click here for instructions and templates to get started! 
ARTS & CRAFTS - First Day of School Interview
Since the start of school triggers many emotions for parents, the arts & crafts project this month is more adult-focused and will hopefully provide parents with a keepsake to look back on as their child heads off to school. 
Materials Needed:
Instructions:
  • Print a copy of the interview sheet above or come up with your own interview sheet and questions. 
  • Gather your preferred writing and coloring tools (pencils, markers, pens, or crayons).
  • Ask your child the questions from the sheet and either write the answers for them, or help them write their own answers.
  • Ask your child to draw a picture of themselves on the sheet. You could suggest that the picture be of them on the first day of school in their "first day" outfit. 
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONE  - Self-Advocacy
It's important for kindergarteners to learn how to advocate for themselves independently, whether it's asking a teacher for a drink of water when they're thirsty or managing interpersonal conflicts. At Fay, our kindergarten students work on topics like self-advocacy during homeroom time each day, and it's an important part of our wellness program. 

As parents, we often jump in immediately when we see that our child has a problem. You can nurture self-advocacy by resisting that urge. Give your child a little space to wrestle with a problem and wait for them to ask for help before stepping in. This will help foster your child's self-advocacy, independence, and problem-solving skills. You can also create opportunities for your child to practice communicating their needs to an adult that is not their parent. Encourage them to order for themselves at a restaurant or to ask the librarian about the book they are looking for. 
FIELD TRIP - Breezy Picnic Grounds & Waterslides
Are you looking for a fun activity to cap off summer and to relax with family before the hustle and bustle of the school year begins? Visit Breezy Picnic Grounds and Waterslides in Douglas, MA for waterslides (there is even a small slide for young children), picnic grounds, and a lakefront beach.
PARENTING ADVICE - Kindergarten Jitters? 
August brings with it growing excitement about the start of school - for parents and children! However, if your child is heading off to kindergarten, it can also churn up some anxiety. Kids worry that they won’t know their way around the school, that they won’t like their teacher, or have friends in their class. Parents fret about all those things too, on top of wondering how they will navigate that emotional goodbye on the first day. While all these anxieties are common, there are some things that parents can do to prepare their child (and themselves) for this important step in their academic and social-emotional development. We have some tips for helping your child develop a positive and confident outlook about heading off to school and for navigating a case of the kindergarten jitters.
Five Tips for Helping Your Child Navigate the Start of School with Confidence
Our final Sunset Playdate of the summer is on August 17.
Join us on Tuesday, August 17 for a free, fun family night out on our playground! Enjoy live music by Mr. Kim from Apple Tree Arts and an after-dinner popsicle! 
Learn More and Register
FAY SCHOOL   48 Main Street   Southborough, MA   01772   508-490-8201   www.fayschool.org
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