Questions for kindergarteners: 150 Good Questions for Kids to Get to Know Them Better

150 Good Questions for Kids to Get to Know Them Better

“Nothing.”

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t remember.”

Parents, caregivers and other adults in kids’ orbits recognize those as the universal answer to, “So, what did you do at school today?” But that doesn’t mean that all roads to getting kids to open up in conversations lead to similar dead ends.

“Almost all preschoolers and early elementary schoolers are able to recount every detail of what they have seen during the day, but it’s very hard for them to start a narrative on a broad topic,” says Pamela Li, M.S., a best-selling author and the founder and editor-in-chief of Parenting for Brain. “Details about their day are usually good starting questions, while a broad question like, ‘What did you learn today?’ is not.”

She says that to get kids to talk, start with smaller, specific questions, and then use those as a stepping stone to broader, open-ended ones. A good example, she says, would be asking something like, “Did you raise your hand in class today?” Then you can follow up with something like,“Tell me more about that class and what you like or dislike about it.”

“Most children say ‘I don’t know’ when asked the wrong question or when they don’t want to talk,” Li says. “When it happens, try asking a series of specific questions that elicit one-word answers. The key is to get them start talking and show your interest in what they do.
When you hit the right question, they will start elaborating on it. Then you can follow up with an open-ended question.”

Of course, that involves having a series of open-ended questions at the ready for when the time is right. These are the best questions for kids to get them to open up once the conversation has started flowing. Whether you’re looking to speak with your own kids about their days, or get to know a child on the periphery of your life a little better, use these once the ice has been broken.

Everyday Questions for Kids

When you’re sitting around the table and trying to get a dinnertime conversation going, these might get them to open up about their days at school.

• What was the best thing that happened to you today?
• What was the worst thing that happened to you today?
• What was your favorite thing you learned today?
• Who did you talk to or play with today?
• Did you raise your hand in school today? Were you called on?
• What special classes did you have today? Did you have art, music, or gym? What did you do in those classes
• What was the school lunch today?
• Did anyone get in trouble today?
• Did anything really funny happen today?
• What was the hardest thing you had to do today? What was the easiest?
• Did you do anything brave or kind today?
• Did you read any books today? Did you like it?
• Do you have any questions about anything that happened today?
• What are you most grateful for today?
• What’s on the schedule for tomorrow?

Questions About Family

When everyone is assembled for big family holidays, ask these questions to get started talking about family history and their place in it.

• When is your birthday? Do you share your birth month with any family members? Do you know your birthstone, birth flower or zodiac sign?
• What does your name mean? Why was that name chosen for you? Does anyone else in the family share your name or middle name?
• How many people are in your family? How many siblings? How many cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.?
• Where did your parents grow up?
• What do you think your parents do for work?
• Do you know all your grandparents’ names? Do you know where they were from?
• Do you know how your parents met? How your grandparents met?
• What’s your favorite thing to do for fun on weekends? When they were your age, what were your parents’ favorite thing to do for fun on weekends? What about your grandparents?
• What languages do you speak in your family?
• What’s one thing that makes your family special?
• Who in family do you look most like? Who do you act like?
• Who is the oldest person in your family? Who is the youngest?
• Who is the best artist in your family? The best musician? Cook? Who’s the funniest?
• If you could swap places with one person in your family, who would it be and why?
• What’s your favorite family tradition?

Questions About the Future

You can learn a lot about where they are now by asking them questions about how they see themselves the in future.

• What’s something you’re looking forward to?
• What goals do you have for the next year?
• Where do you want to live when you grow up?
• What does your dream house look like?
• What do you want to do for a job when you grow up? What job would you want to do least?
• What kind of car would you like to drive?
• What skill or hobby would you most like to learn in the future?
• If you could go anywhere in the world, what place would you most want to travel to? Why?
• If you could sign up for one travel experience — like bungee jumping, skydiving, horseback riding, surfing, scuba diving, exploring ruins — what would it be?
• Do you think you’ll attend college? What kind of campus do you imagine you’ll want?
• Do you want to have kids? How many?
• What are you looking forward to most about getting older?
• How do you think your generation will change the world for the better?
• What do you think will be most different about living in the future?
• Is there anything that scares or worries you about the future?

Questions About the Past

Take a trip down memory lane with these fun questions about the past, both recent and distant.

• What’s the first thing you remember?
• What’s a memory that makes you happy?
• What’s the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to you?
• What’s the best present you ever got?
• What was the best trip you ever took?
• What was the best birthday you ever had?
• What’s the last thing that made you laugh really hard?
• What’s your favorite age to be so far?
• What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you?
• What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
• How did you meet your best friend? What was your first impression of them?
• Where is your favorite place in the world, and what’s your happiest memory there?
• What was your most embarrassing moment?
• What’s one mistake you wish you could go back and fix?
• What’s one thing you’ve done that you wish you can do again?

Questions About Favorites

Kids usually have answers to these at the ready — and be prepared for them to turn these right around and ask you.

• What’s your favorite book? Why?
• What’s your favorite TV show? Why?
• What’s your favorite movie? Why?
• Who is your favorite character in any of the above? Why?
• What’s your favorite toy or game? Why?
• What’s your favorite color?
• What’s your favorite number?
• What’s your favorite word?
• What’s your favorite sports team?
• What’s your favorite song right now?
• What’s your favorite breakfast? Lunch? Dinner? Dessert? Candy or snack?
• What’s your favorite joke?
• What does your favorite outfit look like?
• What’s your favorite subject in school?
• What’s your favorite holiday?

Questions to Get Their Imaginations Going

No question is too off-the-wall if it gets their brains into overdrive thinking of answers!

• If you had a time machine, what time would you travel to? What would you do?
• If you could make any invention in the world, what would you invent?
• If you won a million dollars, what would you buy?
• If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Why?
• If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
• If you were a parent, what new rules would you make for your family? Which ones would you ditch?
• If you were principal of your school, what new rules would you make? Which ones would you ditch?
• If you were president of the country, what new laws would you make? Which ones would you ditch?
• If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you?
• If you could switch places with anyone for a day, who would you pick?
• If you saw a shooting star, what would you wish for?
• If you could be a celebrity, what would you want to be famous for?
• If you could teleportation, where would you go? Why?
• If you had to come up with a family crest and a motto, what would it be?
• If you could live in any fictional world, which one would you choose? Why?

Funny and Silly Questions for Kids

You might not get a straight answer, but you will get a bunch of laughs!

• If you could switch places with your pet for a day, what would your day be like?
• If your stuffed animals could talk, what would they say?
• If you woke up and there were suddenly no rules, what’s the first thing you would do?
• What is the silliest face you can make?
• If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
• What would life be like if you had eight arms like an octopus?
• Can you wiggle your ears? Touch your tongue to your nose? Raise only one eyebrow?
• If you were given permission to make the biggest mess ever, what would you do?
• What’s the weirdest noise you can make?
• Which animal would you think has the smelliest farts?
• What’s your silliest talent?
• If you could choose one of your toys to come to life, which one would you pick? Why?
• What do you think goldfish think about all day?
• What’s the wackiest thing you cold put on a pizza that you would actually eat?
• What sound do you think a giraffe should make?

“Would You Rather? Questions for Kids

These are always easy to break out when you’re waiting in a line, in a doctor’s office or at a restaurant, and they really pass the time.

• Would you rather take a trip to a city or the beach?
• Would you rather have the power to fly or the power to be invisible?
• Would you rather explore the bottom of the ocean or the deepest reaches of outer space?
• Would you rather be as small as a ladybug or as big as an elephant?
• Would you rather have wings or a tail?
• Would you rather have a pet cat or a pet dog?
• Would you rather be able to wake up earlier or go to bed later?
• Would you rather have a ghost in your attic or a monster under your bed?
• Would you rather live someplace that’s warm all the time or someplace where there’s always snow on the ground?
• Would you rather ride a horse or a motorcycle?
• Would you rather have a pet dragon or a pet unicorn?
• Would you rather be super lucky or super smart?
• Would you rather time travel to the past to see dinosaurs, or to the future to see what’s to come?
• Would you rather have a house with a slide staircase or a house with a secret passageway?
• If you had to give one up, would you rather give up screen time or give up candy?

Questions for Little Kids

Toddlers, preschoolers and even kindergarteners can get in on the fun with these easy questions.

• What’s your favorite animal?
• What’s your favorite thing to color?
• What would your best day be like?
• What do you like to do most when you go to a playground?
• If you opened a store, what would you sell?
• Would you rather be a superhero or a princess? Why?
• What’s your favorite thing to do outside?
• What’s your favorite thing to do inside?
• What’s your favorite room where you live? Why?
• If you had a camera, what would you want to take pictures of?
• What’s something you’re really good at?
• What makes you smile or laugh?
• If you had to name a pet cat, what name would you pick? What about dog? Bear? Dragon? Unicorn?
• If you could learn any language, what would it be?
• If you could play any instrument, what would it be?

Questions for Big Kids

Once they have a little more self-awareness, they can try tackling these bigger questions.

• What’s your best talent?
• What’s one thing you wish you were better at?
• What’s one thing that makes you unique?
• What qualities do you look for in a friend?
• Who is someone you look up to? Why?
• What do you like to daydream about?
• What’s one thing I don’t already know about you?
• When was the last time you had to do something really hard? How did you do it?
• When was the last time you went out of your way to be nice to someone? What did that feel like?
• What worries you most?
• Who knows you the best?
• What’s the wackiest dream you’ve had recently?
• Who has been your favorite teacher so far? Why?
• If you won $100, what would you buy? What if it were $500?
• What makes you feel confident?
  

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“As they grow, how we handle these conversations will determine whether they will still want to talk to us,” Li says. “Good conversations are those that engage them with their interest so they feel heard and understood. Bad ones are those that interrogate, judge, lecture or dismiss, making them feel unheard. Conversations like these are also good opportunities to validate their feelings and coach them on coping with emotions.”

And sometimes, kids don’t want to talk at all. “If nothing works, you can start talking about something you experienced that day,” Li adds. “Do this only if they’re interested in listening. Otherwise, it may mean that they want some quiet time.” And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Related Stories

• Questions That Help Families Share Their History
• 55 Riddles for Clever Kids

Marisa LaScala

Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.

This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

60+ Get To Know You Questions to Ask Kids (& Free Printable)

One of the biggest challenges busy families face is finding quality time to connect with one another. With work, school, extracurriculars, screen time, friends, and more all competing for time, parents can be left feeling unconnected as their kids quickly grow into themselves. Many parents worry their kids are growing too quickly and that they’re not creating lifelong memories. If that’s how you’ve been feeling, you’re far from alone.

More: The Ultimate List of Would You Rather Questions for Kids

Sometimes when you’re just trying to connect with your child it’s easy for them to shut down, oftentimes hidden behind a screen. But having the right tools and questions to ask can help facilitate conversation.

We’ve created this list of personal and creative questions to help parents get to know their kids better at any age!

 Pin it to save these for later or download our free printable: 60+ Get to Know You Questions Printable and get talking! This fun and educational game is sure to spark conversation between you and your kiddo on a long car ride or before bedtime.

Dr. Fran Walfish, Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist, author, The Self-Aware Parent, regular expert child psychologist on The Doctors, CBS TV, and co-star on WE TV weighs in on the importance of talking with children. She says,

“During the early childhood years younger kids are more forthcoming about everything including who played with them and who didn’t, what they are thinking and feeling, and their friends/social life. Older kids (7-12) withdraw and go underground to deal with internal conflicts on their own. Younger children (0-6) do the opposite and are more open because their defenses have not yet taken shape and gelled. They are more likely to show you and tell you what they are thinking, wondering, and struggling with.”

“By the time children hit 7-12 years of age, Dr. Fran says, “It takes more work to chip away at what they are thinking and feeling. In other words, don’t ask your child questions that require a yes, no, or one-word answer. Say things like, ‘Tell me about what you did, and who you played with at recess in school today?’ and encourage them to tell you more.”

We love the idea of daily conversation starters that can easily be built into your routine. Whether it’s on the way to after-school activities, at the dinner table, or really anywhere! Conversation starters are a great way to make a slice of quality time to engage with your kids. One open ended question can spark a conversation that isn’t forced or quickly shut down.

Open-ended questions give children time to think and be creative. However, you don’t want to overwhelm them by peppering them with questions non-stop. That’s why we think the idea of a daily conversation starter is so great. Even if you only have small slices of time, you can really make it count by engaging your kids in meaningful ways.

If you want to get your kids talking, these 60+ questions will help them open up.

Questions To Ask Toddlers and Preschoolers

What is Your Favorite…?

1. What is your favorite book?
2. What is your favorite song?
3. What is your favorite color?

If You Could…?

4. If you could be any animal, what would you be?
5. If you could open a store, what would you sell?
6. If you could grow anything in the garden, what would it be?

Just for Fun Questions

7. What is the best smell?
8. What would you do if you made the rules at home?
9. If you got to choose what’s for dinner, what would you pick?

Questions to Stimulate Imagination

10. If your favorite toy could talk, what would it say?
11. What’s the silliest thing you can think of?
12. Would you rather be as small as a mouse or as big as an elephant?
13. When you become a grown-up, what’s the first thing you want to do?

Personal Questions

14. What is something you are really good at?
15. What do you want to be when you grow up?
16. What makes you feel nervous?

If You Could…?

17. If you could be a superhero, what would your powers be?
18. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?
19. If you could be any age, what would it be?

Just for Fun Questions

20. If you had $50 what would you spend it on?
21. What is the hardest part about going to school?
22. What is the most annoying sound?
23. What is the funniest thing that has happened to you?

Questions to Stimulate Imagination

24. If you could be a character from any book, who would you be?
25. Who is the best superhero and why?
26. If you could get rid of one thing in the world, what would it be?

Personal Questions

27. What is something you want to learn how to do?
28. What was the best part of your day?
29. When was the last time you made someone smile?

Questions to Ask Elementary Kids

What is your Favorite?

30. What is your favorite joke?
31. What is your favorite day of the week?
32. What is your favorite thing to do with friends?
33. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

If you could…?

34. If you could eat one thing every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
35. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
36. If you could make up a new holiday, what would it be?
37. If you could be any Disney character, who would you be?

Just for Fun Questions

38. What’s the worst smell in the world?
39. What three things would you grab if the house was on fire?
40. What job would you never want to have?

Questions to Stimulate Imagination

41. If you could invent something to make your life easier, what would you create?
42. If you could do anything, what would be the perfect day?
43. Why do we wear shoes?
44. What qualities make a best friend?

Personal Questions

45. What does it mean to be a good friend?
46. What motivates you?
47. What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?

Questions to Ask Pre-Teens and Teens

What is your Favorite?

48. What is your favorite family tradition?
49. What is your favorite time of year?
50. Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?

If You Could…?

51. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
52. If you could go back and do something differently, what would it be?
53. If you could be a famous person for a week, who would you be?

Just for Fun Questions

54. Do you think it’s more important to be rich or kind?
55. If you were a teacher what rules would you make?
56. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
57. If you had a million dollars what would you spend it on?

Questions to Stimulate Imagination

58. What do you like dreaming about?
59. If you wrote a book what would it be about?
60. If you could design a house, what would it look like?
61. An Amazon box shows up, what do you hope is inside?

Personal Questions

62. What is your favorite thing about yourself?
63. What made you laugh today?
64. What makes you feel loved?
65. What do you worry about the most?
66. If your friend asked you to keep a secret that makes you uncomfortable, what would you do?

The Key to Getting to Know More About Your Kids

When it comes to getting your kids to open up and talk, asking open-ended questions can be great conversation starters. Don’t get too caught up on the question since there are no right questions or wrong ones. You just want to engage young children and pull older children out of their one word answers.

Think of your child’s interests, their favorite subjects, TV shows, video games, and formulate some great questions. Make sure to answer the questions yourself to model the give and take of quality conversation. This may quickly become a favorite part of everyone’s day, and you will feel a closer connection to your child while counteracting their desire to withdraw inwards.

You may learn some wonderful things about each other and strengthen your family bond. The best part is this can be a totally unstructured activity, perfect for car rides, waits at the doctors office, or dinner table conversation.

PRO TIP: These are perfect for a long car trip to keep kids distracted and entertained. Download the Get to Know You Questions printable to have these fun child-friendly questions on hand at all times!

16 important questions about kindergarten – from parents and teachers

Our experts have already answered all the main questions about the school. Now the parents of kindergarteners are raising their hands: their children have already scattered into groups, and parental chats have come to life and sparkle anxiously. Mel experts explain whether it is possible to go to the garden with a runny nose, why the child is constantly crying there, and what to do if the teacher asks for money in debt.

From parents

1. The child refuses to go to his favorite kindergarten. What to do?

In the life of a person, a child or an adult, nothing happens just like that. All desires and worries have their cause, even if it is not obvious or illogical to others. In a preschool child, logic is clearly based on cause-and-effect relationships. That is why children can make judgments that are funny for an adult: “The trees pump air, and it turns out the wind” or “All toys should sit on the same sofa, otherwise they will be offended.” What does an adult do when he hears such a conclusion? He tries to gradually dispel it, explains the true nature of things. So in this case: it is important to understand the reason for the child’s unwillingness to go to the garden in order to work with it later.

You can read more about the psychologists’ response here.

2. How to understand that the teacher does not offend children while no one is watching?

The first and most important rule: trust your child, even the smallest one. Even if the mind tells you: “What can it understand?” Trust him more than anyone else’s words.

If you notice manifestations in a child that are strange for you and for him – bodily reactions that you cannot explain, tics, fears / nightmares, unwillingness to go to kindergarten, stay with a teacher, then he has a reason .

You can read the psychologist’s answer further on here.

3. What personal data can the kindergarten process if the parent writes a refusal?

In accordance with Art. 3 of the Federal Law of July 27, 2006 N 152-FZ “On Personal Data” (hereinafter – Law N 152-FZ), personal data means any information relating to a directly or indirectly identified or identifiable natural person (subject of personal data). In fact, this is all kinds of information with the help of which it is possible to determine (identify) the subject of personal data. Thus, information about children, their parents (legal representatives), by which they can be personalized, is considered personal data of these subjects.

You can read the answer further here.

4. The child’s favorite teacher quit the kindergarten. What to do?

Changing a teacher is a situation that can be quite stressful for a child, especially if he has recently started going to a kindergarten or group and has not had time to adapt to a new format for himself. At the same time, competent adult behavior can significantly mitigate the consequences of parting with a beloved teacher, as well as getting used to a new person.

You can read the psychologist’s answer further here.

5. Can a child be expelled from kindergarten for absenteeism?

The relationship between parents and the kindergarten is regulated by an agreement. It is worth signing very carefully. First of all, if a disputable situation arises, look there and carefully read all the conditions. Perhaps it says about the allowable number of passes.

You can read the psychologist’s answer further here.

6. What if the child does not like the caregiver?

A caregiver is a significant adult in place of a parent. The quality of adaptation in kindergarten depends on the relationship with him. Therefore, the emotional attitude of the child to him is extremely important.

To begin with, it is worth talking with the child about the problem and finding out what exactly in the behavior of the educator causes negativity. It happens that emotions are associated with difficult adaptation. In this case, you need to find out the reasons for these difficulties.

You can read the psychologist’s answer further here.

7. How long can you skip kindergarten without a certificate?

According to clause 11. 3. of this document, after the illness, as well as the absence of more than five days (excluding weekends and holidays), children are admitted to preschool educational organizations only if they have a certificate. It should contain an indication of the diagnosis, duration of the disease, information about the lack of contact with infectious patients.

You can read the lawyer’s answer further here.

8. What should I do if my child steals toys from kindergarten?

For a five year old, the situation when a child takes other people’s things without asking is absolutely normal. Children at this age cannot yet fully control their behavior and desires. They do not have a volitional component. This does not mean that you should not pay attention to it. It is worth understanding what is behind such behavior in order to help the child learn social norms.

You can read the psychologist’s answer further here.

9. Is it possible not to go to kindergarten and save a place at school?

The legislation does not link these two circumstances in any way. Attending a kindergarten, which is considered a structural unit of the school, is not at all a prerequisite for enrollment in it. The school is obliged to accept citizens who have the right to receive general education of the appropriate level and live in the territory for which the school is assigned.

You can read the answer further here.

10. How to change furniture and dishes in kindergarten?

The current legislation does not establish requirements for the frequency of replacement of furniture and utensils in kindergartens. As long as they are safe and perform their functions, there are no de jure reasons to replace furniture and utensils.

You can read the lawyer’s response further here.

11. What should I do if my child cries when he comes to kindergarten?

Going to kindergarten is a change in the usual environment and, accordingly, a lot of stress for the child. New adults appear in his life, who will have to be guided by. He needs time to adapt to change.

You can read the psychologist’s answer further here.

12. I’m tired of gluing crafts for a child in kindergarten. What to do?

Kindergarten is the first social institution a child enters. There he learns to communicate in a team, to live according to the existing rules, to distinguish between his desires and obligations. Remember how difficult it is to join a new team and do what you don’t always want: it’s difficult even for an adult at work, and for the first time in your life in general, it’s much more difficult. That is why all adults help the child in socialization – parents and educators.

You can read the psychologist’s answer further here.

13. What should I do if a teacher asks for a loan?

All the boundaries of communication and professional ethics are clearly violated here. First of all, you need to understand the possible causes in order to avoid a repetition of such a situation and find the most effective way to resolve it. Firstly, the context of communication between the mother and the teacher is important before the voiced request to borrow money. It is likely that the boundaries were violated already at this stage, and both parties are responsible for this.

You can read the psychologist’s answer further here.

From teachers

14. How do I know if all payments are included in my kindergarten salary?

An employee’s remuneration is one of the obligatory conditions of an employment contract concluded between an employee and an employer. Moreover, one of the copies of the contract must be in the hands of the employee. It contains at least the full salary.

You can read the lawyer’s answer further here.

15. Teachers are fined for parents’ debt in paying for kindergarten. Is it legal?

The described situation is illegal. The teacher should not bear any responsibility for the failure of parents whose children go to kindergarten to pay for his services.

You can read the lawyer’s answer further here.

16. I am going to quit the kindergarten. Should children be told about this?

Of course, it is worth telling children about the departure of the teacher. This is a person who occupies a very important place in their lives. He is a model of behavior, a simulator for building relationships, his functions are in many ways similar to those of parents, so you should pay special attention to the situation of parting. Talking about care is a gesture of respect, trust and respect for children.

You can read the psychologist’s answer further here.

Ask your question to Mel, and the editors will find someone who can answer it. Write to our social networks – we read all messages on the pages on Facebook, VKontakte and Odnoklassniki. You can also write to us on Instagram. By the way, we do not disclose names, so questions can be anything (feel free!).

Cover image: Shutterstock

7 questions from parents of a child entering kindergarten

The baby went to kindergarten, and immediately his parents had many experiences.

Is the baby ready for the garden? Isn’t it bad for him there? Will he get used to the new environment? Did he go to kindergarten too early? Will you find friends there?

Our website receives a lot of questions from parents whose children have recently stepped over the threshold of kindergarten. We tried to answer some of them in this article.

Question 1
How many days can a mother be with a child in a group, and is her presence necessary?

There are two sides to this issue: formal (legal) and psychological.

Let’s first look at the legal aspect.

During the first adaptation period, you have every right to be in kindergarten with your child. In the “Model Agreement between a State Budgetary Educational Institution (Kindergarten) and a Parent” in the “Obligations of the Parties” section, there is such a clause: “Provide the Parent with the opportunity to be in the group with the child during the adaptation period, subject to sanitary and hygienic requirements”.

In each region, in each kindergarten, the duration of the joint adaptation period can be set differently. But it can and should vary according to the individual characteristics of each individual child. You, as a parent, have the right to make some changes and additions to the contract.

Now consider the psychological aspect .

During the first time in kindergarten, the presence of the mother (or other close person) is absolutely necessary for the baby.

What does mean “the first time” ? It depends on the age of the child, and on his temperament, and on how ready he is for kindergarten (coincidence of the daily routine, general requirements, ability to communicate …). For some, this is “the first time” , that is, the first stage of adaptation to kindergarten, equals about 3 days, for someone it’s a week, and for someone it’s a month.

But, for example, in the Waldorf kindergarten, all parents of newly arrived children are strongly asked to be present with their child for at least 10 days.

The best way to start visiting the kindergarten is for the first 2-3 days you and your child will simply join the group while walking. Still, walking on the street with other children is a completely familiar situation for a baby.

On the following days, bring your child to kindergarten for 2-3 hours and stay there with him all the time: go for a walk, be present in the group during classes or a common game. All this should look like you and your baby came to visit or brought him to the playground. YOU COME TOGETHER AND YOU WILL LEAVE TOGETHER when you see fit, as happens when visiting guests or a playground.

Those cases when the child is immediately sent alone to the group, and the mother leaves – I personally associate with the situation, as if the baby was taken to a large supermarket and left there alone. It’s even scary to think what he can experience in this case … After all, it’s a completely different matter when a child goes through the most difficult stage of joining a team together with a person close to him. The baby feels confident and calm next to his mother, he can at any time turn to her for help or just share his impressions, and his mother will help him get to know the teachers and make friends with the children.

Such living together also facilitates the work of caregivers. Instead of calming and distracting a crying and worried child, they will have the opportunity to get to know a new child in a calm environment and learn from parents some methods of interacting with their baby.

Of course, sooner or later the child will have to stay in the garden alone, without a mother, but by this moment he will already have time to some extent get used to new people and new surroundings, and they will no longer frighten him with their novelty.

There are (very rarely!) children who do not need their mother’s presence even in the first three days. They calmly let their mother go and, captured by new impressions, spend the whole day in a kindergarten in a great mood. If this applies to your child, then you can congratulate yourself!

Question 2
If I am with my child in kindergarten during the first days, how should I behave?

Try to come early to kindergarten several times, one of the first, while there are very few children in the group. Then your baby will be able, without hesitation, to examine all the toys and get to know the children present. And at this time you communicate with the teacher (while there are few children, she will be able to devote enough time to you). Your child should get the feeling that you communicate with the teacher in the same friendly way as with your girlfriends (and not as with a stranger to you). This will help the child to accept caregiver and facilitate the emergence of contact with an unfamiliar adult.

When you are outdoors and in a group with your child, make every effort so that your child will be able to do without you in the future. Explain to the child what to do if he wants to go to the toilet; show where the toys lie, where the children sleep, eat, dress. Help to establish an independent game of your child, as well as play with other children with toys. At the same time, give the child the opportunity to exercise independence. If the child has moved away from you – do not follow him, if he started playing with someone – step aside and do not interfere. But if the child calls you, come up and help (first with advice, and if necessary, with action).

You should not spend too much time with your child in kindergarten, as this will teach the child to think that you will always go to kindergarten with him. So don’t expect him to voluntarily say “ while ” (this can happen after a very long time). Therefore, after you are convinced that the baby has already mastered to some extent, start leaving him in the group, at first for a very short time. Tell him in your most nonchalant tone while he’s doing something interesting, something like, “ Son, I’m running to the store for a bun for 10 minutes! Will you wait here for me ?”. At the same time, come back really quickly so that the child does not have time to get bored and upset. Approximately in this way gradually accustom the baby to stay for a longer time without you in the group.