How to Prepare Your Child for the Kindergarten Admissions Process
How to Prepare Your Child for the Kindergarten Admissions Process
Preparing your children for the New York City Private Kindergarten admissions process can be incredibly overwhelming, especially if it is your first time going through the process. Luckily, there are many ways to prepare to ensure your child is confident and successful throughout the Kindergarten admissions process.
From practice playgroups to 1:1 prep sessions, there are many ways to build your child’s confidence, social-emotional and academic skills. It is important that your child feels prepared to showcase their best self and potential while going through the Kindergarten admissions process.
You may ask, “How do I help develop their confidence so that the process doesn’t scare my child?”. The first step in ensuring your child is confident and comfortable with the process is making sure YOU are comfortable and confident with the process. For both adults and kids, that means knowing what to expect.
What to Expect From the Process
Though the process itself and application can vary from school to school, most schools require a tour, a parent interview, and a child visit, it is best to get a head start on your application process so you as the parent feel calm and prepared - this will help your child feel the same! Getting an understanding of each school you are applying to and what requirements they have in advance will give you the time to organize and make sure you get everything needed in order to apply.
As we stated above, almost all schools require the following: A tour of the school, a parent interview, and a child interview/playgroup.
School Tour
Touring the school is a great chance to get a feel for the school that your child is applying to. It is a chance to get a sneak peek at the learning environment, what the classrooms look like, and how daily activities are conducted from day to day. It’s important for parents to set time aside to attend these school tours and use them to their best advantage. Tours can also offer a chance for the parents to interact with the school’s faculty and staff. Remember, every interaction is important as families and schools learn about one another!
Parent Interviews
Parent interviews are a great way for the school to get to know your family, but more importantly, it is your opportunity to ask all the questions you want to ask and determine whether or not the school is a good match for your child. Parent interviews are a two-way street, so make sure you come prepared with questions and ready to have a real and honest conversation about your child and what they are looking for in their academic career. Want to know how to discuss your child’s strengths and areas for growth with a potential school? Sign up for our practice playgroup to hear from experts on how to navigate this tricky topic!
Child Interviews/Playgroups
While each school will handle getting to know your child differently, schools will likely ask to see your child in a social group setting. While most schools do playgroups, other schools have also been known to do family visits.
Family visits are when the parents and student are together with an administrator in an office, while a playgroup (the most common) is where the potential student is with a group of their peers and they interact with teachers and administrators from the school.
These playgroups allow schools to learn about your child’s interests, strengths, and personality in a setting that mimics their future school environment.
How We Can Help
Having an admissions specialist help your child through the Kindergarten admissions process will ensure that your child is well-prepared, confident, and excited to show what they know!
At times throughout the playgroup/interview, children may be asked to demonstrate their academic skills such as rhyming, counting, and writing their names. For some children, this opportunity is energizing and for others it is overwhelming. During 1:1 sessions we work to ensure that even the most reserved child is well practiced at asking clarifying questions, naming their feelings, and advocating for themself. These skills will serve them well in this setting and for the rest of their academic careers. An initial assessment and practice playgroups are the best ways to get a glimpse into how your child will perform during the real thing. Working with an admissions specialist is a great way to close skills gaps, and ensure that your child can properly demonstrate the skills that are generally assessed. Practice is the best way to make sure your little learner is comfortable, confident, and as prepared as they can possibly be!
What You Can Do Today
Are you ready to start preparing your child today? Here’s what you can do:
