Preparing an Adopted Child for Kindergarten

Ideas for Helping Kids from Adoptive Families Adjust to School

Aug 14, 2009

Books and activities help adopted children starting kindergarten adjust to school because they address adoption issues and help ease separation anxiety.

Starting school brings forward a mixture of emotions for both kindergarten students and their parents. This is especially true for adoptive families, for whom school may be the first major transition they have experienced since adopting their child. The good news is that there are some books and activities that adoptive families can enjoy together to help an adopted child prepare for kindergarten.

Books to Help Adopted Kids Understand Kindergarten

Reading books together is a great way to begin conversations about school and any fears the child might have about starting kindergarten. Books specifically about beginning school help adopted kids understand what happens at school and address the issue of being separated from their parents. Here are some stories that are ideal for kids just starting kindergarten:

In addition to understanding what it means to be in kindergarten, adopted kids might also be processing their adoption status in a new light. As the concepts of permanency and unconditional love are underlying issues for many adopted kids that could affect a child’s adjustment to school, it can be helpful to revisit some adoption themed books. Here are some books recommended by adoptive families.

Adopted children might also enjoy making their own book describing the routine of their school day including saying good bye in the morning and returning to the comfort of home at the end of the day.

Activities to Prepare Adoptees for Kindergarten

One way to prepare for school is to role play transitions that will occur throughout the school day. It is also helpful for adoptive families to talk about what will happen at lunch and recess times in addition to the daily learning activities. Adoptive families might want to also visit the classroom to look at the set-up, identify the washroom and see where the children store their things when they arrive at school.

It is a good idea to buy the child’s backpack and lunch kit halfway through the summer so the adoptee can use them for outings and get used to how everything works. Learning to independently pack a backpack and open a sandwich container can help an adopted child feel some control over going to school and will ease the transition.

In addition to talking about going to kindergarten, adoptive parents can help their kids with the transition by doing concrete activities such as crafts directed at getting them to talk about their thoughts about school. Adopted kids may have an especially tough time with separation anxiety because of the losses they have already experienced in life, so it may be helpful to make a transition object together such as a picture or necklace that can be easily tucked into the child’s backpack.

Going to kindergarten is a major transition for adopted kids and their parents, but through preparation, the adjustment to school can be a smooth and positive experience. The key is to be aware of any adoption issues that may be underlying some of the anxiety and deal with the challenge of starting school at the same time.

The copyright of the article Preparing an Adopted Child for Kindergarten in Adoption is owned by Angela Krueger. Permission to republish Preparing an Adopted Child for Kindergarten in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.