Can you believe summer is already flying by? It feels like the little ones just headed off for their summer break, and yet a new school year is right around the corner. Whether your child spent the season with us at Mary Margaret Daycare and Learning Center, stayed home, or is joining us for the first time, one thing is true for every family: kids need a little help easing back into school mode come August.
And if you have a first-time kindergartner ready to walk through those doors? Here’s a pro tip: don’t fight the tears. They’ll come no matter how hard you try, and that’s perfectly okay.
Getting back into the swing of a school routine is often harder on parents than kids. Still, your children benefit from some gentle preparation too. Below, you’ll find a warm, practical back-to-school prep list you can work on together all summer long. These simple activities help ready your child’s mind, body, and daily schedule for the year ahead.
What to Teach Preschoolers Before the School Year
Preschool is a big step, and the skills your child builds now set the tone for a happy, confident start. Focus on these three areas over the summer.
Building Empathy and Understanding Feelings
Keep talking with your child about emotions all summer. Understanding how others feel is a huge part of forming and keeping friendships, both at school and throughout life. Kids who notice other people’s emotions play more smoothly and run into fewer conflicts with classmates.
Help your child name their feelings out loud. Are they excited, frustrated, tired, or proud? Summer offers plenty of natural chances to practice, since your little one is likely having more playdates, spending time with family, and visiting the park, camp, or other busy public places. Each of these moments is a wonderful opportunity to talk through big emotions in real time.
Learning to Follow Directions
Even preschoolers can learn to follow directions, and this skill matters enormously in a classroom setting. Your child should be able to handle simple two-step directions, like “sit at the table and listen” or “put on your shoes and head outside.”
In preschool, teachers will ask children to complete many small tasks on their own. Being able to listen and follow along helps your child feel capable and included. As a bonus, learning to follow directions goes hand in hand with learning to share, take turns, and cooperate with others.
Strengthening Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Summer is the perfect time to build your child’s motor skills through play. To boost fine motor skills, offer crayons and paper often. Let your child draw, write, color, or simply scribble. These small hand movements strengthen the muscles they’ll later use for writing and cutting.
For gross motor skills, give your child plenty of unstructured outdoor time. Running, jumping, and climbing help kids get to know their bodies, practice balance, and gain strength. Free play outside does more than burn energy. It builds the physical confidence that makes classroom life easier.
What to Prep Kindergartners For
Kindergarten brings new expectations, and a little summer practice goes a long way. Here’s where to focus your energy.
Making Math Part of Everyday Life
Kindergartners should arrive with a basic grasp of counting and numbers. The good news? You can practice almost anywhere. Count the steps together as you walk upstairs. Turn snack time into a mini math lesson by counting out crackers, adding a few, then taking a few away and counting again.
Real-life counting is the best way for young children to learn math. When numbers show up naturally in daily routines, kids absorb them without any pressure or worksheets.
Encouraging a Love of Reading
Reading is a major focus in kindergarten, and every child comes to it differently. Some pick it up quickly, while others need more time, and both are completely normal at this age.
The best way to help your child grow as a reader is to nurture a genuine love of books. Visit your local library together and read a little every single day. Choose rhyming books, sing-along stories, and tales with fun, memorable characters. When reading feels joyful instead of like a chore, your child will keep coming back for more.
Fostering Independence
Kindergarten asks children to be far more independent than preschool did. You can build this confidence over the summer by handing your child a few small responsibilities. Try having them tidy their room, complete simple chores, or help care for the family pet.
Even young children can master little jobs that build self-reliance. Each task they finish on their own boosts their confidence and prepares them to handle the daily demands of a big-kid classroom.
Back-to-School Tips for Parents
Your child isn’t the only one adjusting. These parent-focused strategies help the whole family start the year calm and organized.
Set Mealtime Routines Early
Young children need time to adapt to change, so start easing into a school-year rhythm before the first bell rings. Plan meals and snacks at the same time each day. When school arrives, this familiar routine will already feel comfortable and predictable, making mornings and afternoons far smoother.
Talk to All the Teachers
As early childhood educators, we truly love meeting the families of our students, and teachers at every grade level feel the same way. Take time to connect with your child’s teachers before or early in the year. Ask about homework expectations, their teaching style, and any important dates or events coming up. Open communication builds a strong partnership that supports your child all year long.
Keep a Family Calendar
If you have several kids in different schools, a master calendar becomes a lifesaver. Use one central spot to track after-school activities, school programs, volunteer commitments, and teacher conferences. Layer in specialized schedules, and you’ve built a one-stop hub for family time management. Post it somewhere everyone can see, like the kitchen or a hallway, so the whole household stays on the same page.
Do a Practice Run
Before the first day, try a full dress rehearsal. Have your kids pretend it’s the real morning and see how long the whole routine actually takes. This trial run helps you spot bottlenecks, adjust wake-up times, and make that first day feel familiar instead of frantic. A little practice now saves a lot of stress later.
Start the New Year with Mary Margaret
Whatever stage your family is in, a few of these back-to-school prep tips can make the transition smoother for everyone. Small, playful moments this summer add up to a confident, well-prepared child come August.
At Mary Margaret Daycare and Learning Center, we support the whole child through every stage, from infancy all the way through school age. Our thoughtfully designed programs blend fun with education, helping children build the social, emotional, and academic skills they need to thrive.
Curious to see it for yourself? Schedule a tour at any of our nine St. Louis-area locations and meet the caring teachers who help children learn, grow, and love school. Whether you’re returning to Mary Margaret or joining our community for the first time, we can’t wait to welcome your family this year.