The best start to Kindergarten

At Coast Christian in 2022, we are looking forward to welcoming our new Preparatory Class and for the first time due to increased demand, two Kinder classes. To help children start school, below are some practical pieces of advice for parents:

1. Establish an evening routine to include a bedtime story and a prayer. Try to ensure your child has at least 8–10 hours sleep each night. Well rested children are the best learners.
2. Establish a well organised routine at home. Tell your child in advance about events and arrangements. Attending Church as a family each week is an important part of Christian life.
3. Ask your child to assist with tasks at home – it helps them contribute and builds independence. A four year old can pull up a duvet cover, pick their toys up off the floor, pack away items, help set the table, help pack and unpack the dishwasher and help feed the family pets. 
4. Know that your child won’t always eat their school lunch. Children are more interested in playing with their friends. Only pack small quantities of food. Eating small amounts regularly and drinking plenty of fresh water will sustain your child throughout the day.
   Expect your child to be tired at the end of the day. Tired children can sometimes feel bombarded by lots of questions about school. Allow them some down time to relax. They will talk when they are ready.
5. Expect to be busy. Schools are busy places and there is a large amount of information. Take the time to read the information and know when events are being held.
6. Keep a balanced perspective. Children can be very black and white in their thinking. ‘No–one played with me today’ could mean ‘the person I wanted to play with did not want to play the game I wanted to play’. 
   Be mindful of what you say in front of children. Children repeat everything to their teachers.
7. Be kind and wise. Do not judge other children. You never know what lies ahead. All children make mistakes. It’s how we teach children to learn from their mistakes and to forgive others that is important.
8. Be patient. Children develop at different rates. Some children learn to read quickly, others take longer. Be positive and encouraging. Celebrate the small successes regularly.
9. Work collaboratively with the school. There will be issues. No child is perfect. Listen, support the teachers and work together to help your child flourish. The teachers are always happy to make time to speak with you about issues.
10. Model good manners. Teach your child to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, ‘excuse me’ and ‘may I’. Expect your child to not interrupt conversations.
11. Respect the school rules and procedures. Support the school by helping your child to wear full school uniform each day. 
12. Smile and laugh every day. In our busyness we often miss the little things – the wonder of creation, of leaves changing colour, the caterpillar crawling along the path, the shiny pebble in your child’s pocket, the silly jokes, times of playing their games with them.

All our positions for Prep and Kinder 2022 are full while enrolment interviews for 2023 are commencing shortly. For more information, to take a tour or request a prospectus, please visit us online or ring the office on 4368 3377. 

Advertorial