When my youngest, Mia, found herself in the principal’s office during preschool, I braced myself for what lay ahead in kindergarten. Honestly, she hadn’t even entered the formal school system yet, but it was clear we were in for an adventure. I have to admit, Mia embodies the spirit of a wild child. She brings so much joy, her curiosity knows no bounds, and her laughter is infectious. However, the truth is, she has never cared much for rules or expectations in her five years of life.
We’ve certainly made attempts to guide her behavior. We’ve established rules, set expectations, and offered rewards. While she has made some progress, let’s face it; if Mia had been our first child, she might have been our last!
The first day of kindergarten unfolded like a typical scene. I felt a wave of emotions, while Mia was buzzing with excitement. It was my last drop-off for kindergarten, so I tried to cherish every moment. Yet, the pickup was a different story altogether.
At the kids’ school, they use a clip chart system that seems effective. Each child starts the day ready to learn, with the opportunity to move up or down based on their behavior. Unsurprisingly, Mia’s first day saw her slide down the chart. Her teacher greeted me with that signature smile all kindergarten teachers have. “We had a bit of a rough day,” she said. “We’ll try again tomorrow.”
Unfortunately, Mia ended the day just one box above “process,” which, according to her older siblings, is pretty much rock bottom. My eldest, Noah, who is 12, and my middle child, Lily, who is 9, never received such a designation. However, by the second week of kindergarten, I found a process form in Mia’s backpack. She had been chatting out of turn, stepping out of line, and being the delightful little rebel I know and adore. Everything on the report was classic Mia, but one particular question stood out: “How do you feel about what happened?” Her response? “I feel good.”
In that moment, I couldn’t shake the thought that perhaps I was raising a little troublemaker.
This is the challenge of sending a spirited child to kindergarten. I don’t believe we’re bad parents, but I found myself questioning if we had done something wrong along the way. Maybe we should have enforced stricter discipline or considered a toddler boot camp—if such a thing exists! At home, she isn’t particularly troublesome—at least, that’s my perspective. But when she’s around other kids or teachers, it’s as if a full moon has unleashed a completely different side of her.
We embarked on a series of email exchanges with Mia’s teacher and even created a clip chart at home to align our rules with those at school. We aimed to encourage positive behavior in hopes that she would choose to behave better. Unfortunately, none of it seemed effective, and I found myself pondering whether I was cut out for this parenting journey.
Then, Mia’s kindergarten teacher introduced a brilliant concept: a game called “Beat The Teacher.” Every day, they would fill out a simple chart where both she and Mia could earn smiley faces for good choices. It seems the teacher often loses, which I suspect is intentional. Each day, Mia comes home proudly displaying her “Beat The Teacher” form, exclaiming how she triumphed and sharing the good decisions that earned her those smiley faces. Plus, her clip keeps moving up!
I can’t predict how long this game will captivate her, but for now, sending a spirited child to kindergarten is indeed a thrilling experience. I have no doubt that Mia’s journey will continue to be filled with similar challenges.
What stands out to me is how a thoughtful teacher can make a meaningful difference by adapting their approach. While Mia’s teacher didn’t have to implement this extra game, it has proven to be a game changer, and I am truly grateful for it.
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In conclusion, sending your spirited child to kindergarten can be a wild experience, filled with unexpected surprises and challenges. However, with the right support from teachers and a little creativity, it can also be rewarding and transformative.
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