Adaptation of a child to kindergarten: 3 stages, 4 factors influencing the child, 8 tips for parents

Every child, going to kindergarten, goes through a period of adaptation. Adaptation of children to a preschool educational institution is getting used to qualitatively new conditions: communicating with unfamiliar children and adults, a different daily routine, the absence of parents nearby, etc. Each baby needs time to accept these conditions.

Adaptation is different for everyone - some children get used to kindergarten in 2-3 weeks, for others it may take a couple of months or more. The process requires an unusually large expenditure of emotional resources from the child, and patience and understanding from educators and parents. Adaptation of a child to the conditions of a preschool educational institution is mandatory, since in this process the child is socialized and learns to follow the orders of nannies and educators - he acquires important skills, without which in the future it will be very difficult for him to be in a team.

What is adaptation?

In general terms, this process is understood as the individual’s adaptation to a new environment and conditions.
Such changes have an impact on the psyche of any person, including children who are forced to adapt to the garden. You should understand in more detail what adaptation to kindergarten is. First of all, it requires enormous energy expenditure from the child, as a result of which the child’s body is overstrained. In addition, one cannot discount the changed living conditions, namely:

Moms and dads and other relatives are absent nearby;
it is necessary to maintain a clear daily routine;
need to interact with other children;
the amount of time devoted to a particular child decreases (the teacher communicates with 15 - 20 kids at the same time);
the baby is forced to obey the demands of other people's adults.

So, the baby’s life changes radically. In addition, the adaptation process is often fraught with undesirable changes in the child’s body, which are expressed externally in the form of violated behavioral norms and “bad” actions.

The stressful state in which the child is trying to adapt to changed conditions is expressed by the following states:

disturbed sleep - the child wakes up with tears and refuses to fall asleep;
decreased appetite (or its complete absence) – the child does not want to try unfamiliar dishes;
regression of psychological skills - a child who previously spoke, knew how to dress, use cutlery, go to the potty, “loses” such skills;
decreased cognitive interest - children are not interested in new play equipment and peers;
aggression or apathy - active children suddenly reduce their activity, and previously calm children show aggressiveness;
decreased immunity - during the period of adaptation of a small child to kindergarten, resistance to infectious diseases decreases.

Thus, the adaptation process is a complex phenomenon, during which the child’s behavior can change dramatically. As you get used to the kindergarten, such problems disappear or are significantly smoothed out.

Negative reactions of children: main stages of adaptation

It is important to understand all the critical points that make it difficult to adapt to kindergarten.

Let us highlight the main ones:

Early rise . For children whose daily routine was rarely regulated before, waking up at 7:30 (or even earlier) can become seriously stressful. To mitigate this negative factor for adaptation, a couple of weeks before visits to kindergarten, start waking up your baby earlier, accustoming him to the new routine. In kindergarten, also wake him up a little earlier than necessary, so that he can collect his thoughts for 10-15 minutes, lounging in bed, gradually moving from sleep to full awakening.
Daytime sleep . To make it easier for a preschooler to adapt to kindergarten, do not ignore this aspect. Is your child used to falling asleep with a soft toy? Let him take her to the garden first. You can also buy fun pajamas for sleeping in the garden that your son or daughter will love.
Lunch without the company of mom or dad . Feeding children causes many adaptation problems. Some refuse food that differs in taste from homemade, others simply do not want to have dinner without their mother.
Getting used to the regime . Do you want the adaptation to be smoother? Find out in advance the schedule of the selected kindergarten. In a month or two, begin introducing the regime at home. Do this not abruptly, but gradually. In preschool age, it is recommended that a child sleep about 2-3 hours during the day and 10 hours at night. For comfortable adaptation to kindergarten, bedtime should begin as early as 21:00.
Full-day stay in kindergarten . It is recommended to attend kindergarten before bedtime for the first week. In the second week you can stay until afternoon tea. It is advisable to stay full-time after a month of visits. Of course, these norms are quite individual. If adaptation is severe, pick up your child earlier. For any degree of adaptation, it is not recommended to pick up the baby last - children have a hard time experiencing this either consciously or subconsciously. Try not to allow the child to be left alone after all the children have been picked up by their parents.
Contacts with unfamiliar children . Often in modern families there is only one child, and he rarely has the opportunity to establish relationships with peers. Usually, intersections with them occur only in the clinic, on the playground or at a party. Result: the child is not accustomed to contact with other children. Observe how he interacts with others. An extroverted child quickly makes contact and actively communicates with others - in this case, adaptation will be easier. A young introvert is usually shy and very obedient, so he will likely have difficulty communicating with more aggressive or active peers.
Contact with the teacher . Undoubtedly, the teacher is an important figure in the process of getting used to kindergarten. Experience and communication skills allow him to correctly assess the psychological state of a preschooler and prevent various problems. If you have the opportunity to meet the teacher in advance, you will probably immediately determine how comfortable your son or daughter will be with such a person. Tell him about the child’s individual characteristics, his preferences, and concerns. Condemn all stages of adaptation.

Degrees of adaptation

The process of adaptation of a child in kindergarten can proceed in different ways. Some children quickly get used to the changed environment, while others worry their parents for a long time with negative behavioral reactions. It is by the severity and duration of the above problems that the success of the adaptation process is judged.

Psychologists distinguish several degrees of the adaptation process that are characteristic of preschool-aged children.

Easy adaptation

In this case, the baby joins the children's team in 2 - 4 weeks. This type of adaptation is typical for most children and is characterized by the accelerated disappearance of negative behavioral reactions. You can judge that a child easily gets used to kindergarten by the following features:

he comes in without tears or hysterics and remains in the group room;
when speaking, looks teachers in the eye;
able to voice a request for help;
is the first to make contact with peers;
able to occupy himself for a short period of time;
easily adapts to daily routine;
responds adequately to educational approval or disapproval remarks;
tells parents how classes went in the garden.

Moderate addiction

How long does the adaptation period in kindergarten last in this case? At least 1.5 months. At the same time, the child often gets sick and demonstrates pronounced negative reactions, but it is impossible to talk about his maladaptation and inability to join the team.

When observing a child, it can be noted that he:

has difficulty parting with his mother, cries a little after separation;
when distracted, forgets about the separation and joins the game;
communicates with peers and teacher;
adheres to the stated rules and routines;
responds adequately to comments;
rarely becomes the instigator of conflict situations.

Difficult adaptation

Children with a severe type of adaptation process are quite rare, but they can easily be found in a children's group.
Some of them show open aggression when visiting kindergarten, while others withdraw into themselves, demonstrating complete detachment from what is happening. The duration of addiction can range from 2 months to several years. In especially severe cases, they talk about complete maladaptation and the impossibility of attending a preschool institution. The main characteristics of a child with a severe degree of adaptation:

reluctance to communicate with peers and adults;
tears, hysterics, stupor when parting with parents for a long time;
refusal to enter the playing area from the locker room;
reluctance to play, eat, or go to bed;
aggressiveness or isolation;
inadequate response to the teacher’s address to him (tears or fear).

It should be understood that absolute inability to fit into kindergarten is an extremely rare phenomenon, so it is necessary to contact specialists (psychologist, neurologist, pediatrician) and jointly develop an action plan. In some cases, doctors may advise you to postpone visiting a preschool educational institution.

Types of adaptation of children

Types of adaptation in kindergarten also vary depending on what behavior strategy the child chooses. Some cry for a long time at first, and after a couple of weeks they happily go to the group, others at first enthusiastically join in the activities and games, and after a while they just can’t let their mother leave the locker room. What kind of adaptation a particular baby will have depends on his individual characteristics.

Active

Adaptation to kindergarten of this type is most common. In the first two or three weeks, the child feels anxious: he worries when he goes to kindergarten, cries when parting with his parents, and is sad that tomorrow he needs to go to the children again. But soon there are fewer tears, the baby begins to feel safe, and more and more confidently makes contact with teachers and children.

Passive

This adaptation of a child to kindergarten often goes unnoticed by parents. The fact is that the baby goes to kindergarten with practically no problems: he doesn’t throw tantrums, doesn’t cry in the locker room, doesn’t cling to his mother. But things are changing for him that, it would seem, do not apply to kindergarten: sleep and appetite are deteriorating, fatigue increases, and moodiness in the evenings. These symptoms disappear after a few weeks and the child’s condition improves.

Postponed

Adaptation of a child to this type of kindergarten usually greatly disappoints parents. In the first 2-3 weeks, the baby seems to be successfully going to kindergarten: he does not shed tears, does not refuse sleep or food, and has excellent contact with participants in the educational process. But one day the day comes when the child behaves the way children with active adaptation behaved in the initial stages: he cries, does not let go of his mother, does not want to go to kindergarten, does not want to communicate with teachers and play with children. The further process usually takes place according to the type of active adaptation of children to kindergarten.

Failed

This type suggests that the child was never able to get used to it, or the period of adaptation in kindergarten dragged on for years. The child does not calm down with teachers and children after his parents leave, does not comply with the institution’s regime, does not participate in games and activities, and refuses to eat and sleep in kindergarten. This state most often spills over into school: a first-grader has a very difficult time getting used to a new role.

The child’s future life depends on how adaptation went in kindergarten. This determines how he will establish contacts, interact with people, whether he will be independent, self-confident, or anxious, lacking initiative.

What influences a child’s adaptation?

So, the period of adaptation of children in kindergarten always proceeds differently. But what influences its success? Experts include age characteristics, child health, degree of socialization, level of cognitive development, etc. among the most important factors.

Child's age

Often, parents, trying to get to work early, send their child to kindergarten at two years old, or even earlier. However, most often such a step does not bring much benefit, since a young child is not yet able to interact with peers.

Of course, every child is a bright individual, however, according to many psychologists, it is possible to identify an optimal age period that is most suitable for getting used to kindergarten - and this is 3 years.

It's all about the so-called crisis period of three years. As soon as the baby passes this stage, his level of independence increases, his psychological dependence on his mother decreases, therefore, it is much easier for him to part with her for a few hours.

Why shouldn’t you rush to send your child to preschool? At the age of 1 - 3 years, the formation of child-parent relationships and attachment to the mother occurs. That is why prolonged separation from the latter causes a nervous breakdown in the baby and violates basic trust in the world.

In addition, one cannot help but note the greater independence of three-year-olds: they, as a rule, have potty etiquette, know how to drink from a cup, and some children are already trying to dress themselves. Such skills make it much easier to get used to the garden.

Health status

Children with serious chronic diseases (asthma, diabetes, etc.) quite often experience difficulty adjusting due to the characteristics of the body and the increased psychological connection with their parents.

The same applies to children who are often sick for a long time. Such babies require special conditions, reduced loads and supervision of medical personnel. That’s why experts recommend sending them to kindergarten later, especially since the pain will disrupt their preschool attendance schedule.

The main problems of adaptation of sick children in a nursery group:

an even greater decrease in immunity;
increased susceptibility to infections;
increased emotional lability (periods of tearfulness, exhaustion);
the occurrence of unusual aggressiveness, increased activity or, conversely, slowness.

Before entering a preschool institution, children are required to undergo a medical examination. There is no need to be afraid of this; on the contrary, parents will have the opportunity to once again consult with doctors about how to survive the adaptation with minimal losses.

Degree of psychological development

Another point that can prevent successful adaptation to preschool education is a deviation from the average indicators of cognitive development. Moreover, both delayed mental development and giftedness can lead to maladjustment.

In case of delayed mental development, special correctional programs are used to help fill gaps in knowledge and increase the cognitive activity of children. Under favorable conditions, such children catch up with their peers by school age.

A gifted child, surprisingly, also falls into the risk group, since his cognitive abilities are higher than those of his peers, and he may also experience difficulties with socialization and communication with classmates.

Level of socialization

A child’s adaptation to kindergarten involves increased contacts with peers and with unfamiliar adults. At the same time, there is a certain pattern - those kids whose social circle was not limited to their parents and grandmothers are more likely to get used to the new society.

Those children who rarely interacted with other children, on the contrary, find it difficult to adapt to changed conditions. Poor communication skills and the inability to resolve conflict situations cause an increase in anxiety and lead to reluctance to attend kindergarten.

Of course, this factor largely depends on the teachers. If the teacher gets along well with the child, adaptation will noticeably speed up. That is why, if possible, you should enroll in a group with the teacher whose reviews are most often positive.

Features of children's adaptation to preschool institution article

FEATURES OF CHILDREN'S ADAPTATION TO PRESCHOOL INSTITUTION.

Adaptation is the adaptation of the body to changing external conditions. The term “adaptation” originated in the depths of biological science (translated from Latin adaptatio – adaptation, adjusting the body to new conditions). When admitted to a preschool institution, the child for the first time faces the need to change the formed behavioral stereotype due to changes in usual living conditions, and to establish new social connections. Changes in the environment are expressed in meeting unfamiliar people: adults and a large number of peers, and in the discrepancy between home treatment methods and education in kindergarten. At the same time, the emotional state changes, appetite is disrupted, communication and other behavioral reactions become difficult.

Psychophysiological state of the child during the period of adaptation to preschool education.

A child in a family gets used to a certain regime, a way of feeding, putting to bed, he develops a certain relationship with his parents, an attachment to them. If the established order in the family is violated in some way, the child may experience various temporary disturbances in normal behavior (negative reactions: crying, irritability). These disturbances in balanced behavior are explained by the fact that it is difficult for a small child to quickly rebuild the habits he has already formed. However, a child's brain is very plastic. If these changes in living conditions do not occur so often and do not dramatically disrupt the usual way of life, then the child’s balanced behavior is quickly restored, and the child adapts to the new conditions in his life without any negative consequences. When children enter kindergarten, their living conditions change very dramatically. The usual temperature of the room, the microclimate, and the food received change. The child is surrounded by new people, parenting methods, and the whole environment are changing. The child needs to adapt to all this and rebuild previously established stereotypes.

Changes in the social environment affect both the physical and mental health of children. During this period, the child undergoes intensive physical development and the maturation of all mental processes. Being at the stage of formation, they are most susceptible to fluctuations and even breakdowns.

The adaptation process is not always easy or quick. During the adaptation period, many children have disturbances in their appetite, sleep (cannot fall asleep, short-term, intermittent sleep), and emotional state. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, body temperature rises, intestinal activity is disrupted, and a rash appears. Adaptation to new conditions is not the same for all children. Some children feel well already on the 3-4th day and get used to new living conditions without any problems in their health, mental state or behavior. For others, the adaptation period lasts a month, or sometimes more.

A number of factors have been established that determine how easily the adaptation period will pass. These factors are related to both the physical and mental state of the child.

1. State of health and level of development. A healthy, developed child for his age has better capabilities of the system of adaptation mechanisms, he copes better with difficulties. The state of his health is influenced by the course of pregnancy and childbirth in the mother, diseases during the neonatal period and the first months of life, and the frequency of morbidity in the period before admission to a child care institution. The lack of a proper routine and sufficient sleep leads to chronic fatigue and exhaustion of the nervous system. Such a child copes worse with the difficulties of the adaptation period, he develops a stressful state, and, as a result, gets sick.

2. The age at which the baby enters a child care institution. With the growth and development of the child, the degree and form of his attachment to a permanent adult (parents, etc.) changes.

3. The degree of development of the child’s communication with others and objective activities.

4. Individual typological features of the baby’s higher nervous activity.

Some children express violent reactions in the first days: they scream when parting with their parents, refuse to eat, sleep, protest against every suggestion from the teacher, but after 2-3 days they already settle into a routine and feel good. Others, on the contrary, are calm in the first days, follow the teacher’s suggestions without objection, and in subsequent days they begin to cry, eat poorly for a long time, do not play, and have difficulty getting used to kindergarten.

Types of adaptation.

Doctors and psychologists distinguish three degrees of adaptation: mild, moderate and severe. The main indicator of severity is the timing of normalization of the child’s behavior, the frequency and duration of acute diseases, and the manifestation of neurotic reactions.

The criteria by which the duration of the adaptation period and the intensity of this process are assessed: sleep and falling asleep, appetite, emotional state, adequate behavior, the nature of communication with peers and adults, and the child’s illness. The duration and severity of these deviations depends on the age and gender of the child, his psychophysiological state and personal characteristics.

Light, short-term adaptation lasts for 2-6 weeks. Severe - long-term: about 6-9 months. The completion of the adaptation period can be judged by the stabilization of all indicators, both physical and mental.

Memo on organizing the pedagogical process during the adaptation period (for teachers and assistant teachers of early age groups)

During the adaptation period, an individual regimen is established for each newly admitted child, taking into account the recommendations of the doctor, educational psychologist, and senior educators. Over time, all children are transferred to the general regime. During the adaptation period, it is necessary to take into account all the child’s individual habits, even harmful ones, and in no case re-educate him.

It is necessary to prepare a “favorite toy shelf” where things brought from home will be located.

An adult should caress the child more often, especially when putting him to sleep: stroke his arms, legs, back (children usually like this). A good effect of falling asleep is achieved by stroking the baby's head and at the same time the hand should only touch the ends of the hair.

It doesn’t hurt to show your child a child care facility from the very first days in order to let the child know that he is loved here.

In a psychologically tense, stressful situation, switching to an ancient, strong food reaction helps. It is necessary to offer the child to drink and chew crackers more often.

Monotonous hand movements or squeezing of the hands inhibit negative emotions, so the child is offered games: stringing balls on a cord, assembling and disassembling a pyramid, matryoshka, connecting parts of a large Lego constructor, playing with rubber squeaky toys, playing with water.

Periodically turn on low, calm music, but strict dosage and definition during playing are required.

The best cure for stress is laughter. It is necessary to create situations so that the child laughs more. Fun toys and cartoons are used, and unusual guests are invited - bunnies, clowns, foxes.

It is necessary to eliminate the monotony of children’s lives, i.e., define themed days. Eliminate intellectual and physical overload.

It is necessary to look closely at the individual characteristics of each child and try to understand in time what is behind the silence, calmness, and passivity of some children. An immutable rule is not to judge the child’s experience, never complain to parents about it. All the child’s problems become professional problems for the teacher. Talk to parents every day, instill confidence in them, dispel anxiety and anxiety for their child.

REMINDER FOR ADULTS.

Dear fathers and mothers, grandparents!

You are your child's first and most important teachers. His first school - your home - will have a huge impact on what he considers important in life, on the formation of his value system.

No matter how long we live, we still constantly turn to the experience of childhood, to life in the family. Even a gray-haired person continues to refer to what he was taught at home, what his mother taught him, what his father showed him.

The baby learns everything in communication with an adult. A child’s early experience creates the background that leads to the development of speech, the ability to listen and think, and prepares him to isolate the meaning of words.

“Years of miracles” is what preschool childhood is called. The emotional attitude towards life, people, and the presence or absence of incentives for intellectual development that is laid down at this time leaves an indelible imprint on all subsequent behavior and way of thinking of a person.

For a child, your speech is a model of speech, since children learn verbal communication by imitating you, listening to you, watching you.
	The child constantly studies what he observes and understands much more than he can say.
	A child’s speech develops more successfully in an atmosphere of calm, safety and love, when adults listen to him, communicate with him, talk to him, direct his attention, and read to him.
	You have an exceptionally active role in teaching your baby the ability to think and speak, but an equally active role in the intellectual, emotional, speech and communication development is inherent in the child himself.
	It is necessary to provide the child with ample opportunities to use all five senses: see, hear, touch, taste, feel various elements of the world around him.
	More time should be devoted to the child, since in early childhood the influence of the family on speech and mental development and the child’s involvement in the life of society is decisive. It is during these years that the foundations of self-confidence for successful communication outside the home are laid, which contributes to the child’s further advancement at school, in the company of peers, and later at work.
	P If possible, you need to join your child when he is watching TV and try to find out what interests him and discuss what he sees.
	Each child has his own temperament, his own needs, interests, likes and dislikes. It is very important to respect his uniqueness and set realistic goals for himself and the child.
	Try to ensure that the child does not feel a lack of love and variety of impressions.

REMINDER FOR PARENTS

Dear parents! You must understand that not one, even the most wonderful kindergarten, can do everything for your children.

Kindergarten is designed to help you, not replace you.

It is simply impossible without your help.

• It is advisable that the start of attending kindergarten does not occur during epicrisis periods:

1 year 9 months	2 years 3 months
2 years 6 months	2 years 9 months
3 years

• In the morning, when children are brought to kindergarten, help the teacher greet each child, ask how the kids spent the morning before kindergarten. Your baby will learn to be friendly, welcoming, and attentive to other people.

• Send your child to preschool only when healthy.

• Find out in advance from the doctor what type of adaptation is possible for the child, and take all measures in a timely manner if the prognosis is unsatisfactory.

• Find out in advance all the new moments in the daily routine at the preschool educational institution and introduce them into your home daily routine.

• Avoid discussing issues related to kindergarten that concern you in front of your child.

• Plan your time so that in the first month of your child’s visit to kindergarten you have the opportunity not to leave him for the whole day.

• As early as possible, introduce your child to the children and teachers of the group he will soon join.

• Teach your child at home all the necessary self-care skills.

• Emphasize that your child is still dear and necessary to you.

• Read materials on information boards. You will find a lot of useful information on the problems of raising and developing children, learn about our long-term plans, and the achievements of your child.

• Share your ideas about organizing children's lives in a preschool. We are glad to cooperate with you.

• Ask questions on topics that interest you. We will find a solution together.

Recommendations for parents

Do it!	Do not do it!
Rejoice in your son and daughter	Don't interrupt your child
Talk to your child in a caring, encouraging tone	Don't force your child to do something he's not ready for.
Listen to your child carefully without interrupting	Do not force your child to do anything if he is tired or upset
Set clear and specific expectations for your child.	Don’t say: “No, the car is not red,” rather say: “The car is blue.”
When talking with your child, name as many objects, their signs, and actions with them as possible.	Do not set many rules for your child, he will stop paying attention to them
be patient	Don't insult the child
Read to your child every day and discuss what you read.	Don't expect your child to understand all the rules of logic.
Encourage your child to ask questions	Don't expect your child to understand all your feelings
Praise your child more often	Don't expect your child to understand abstract reasoning and explanations.
Encourage play with other children	Do not compare your child with any other children (brother or sister, neighbors, etc.)
Buy educational games and toys according to age	You shouldn’t constantly correct the child, repeating every now and then: “It’s not right, change it,” it’s better to say: “Let’s think about it together.”
Try to show interest in what he likes to do (design, draw, sculpt, etc.)	Don't demand too much - it will take a long time before the child learns to be independent
Take an interest in your child’s life and activities in kindergarten	Don't criticize your child
Make sure your child has new positive experiences to talk about	Do not prohibit communication with other children

Good luck to you in raising your children!

Stages of adaptation of a small child to kindergarten

Adaptation of children is a heterogeneous process, so experts identify several periods characterized by the severity of negative reactions. Of course, such a division is rather arbitrary, but it helps to understand how successful the addiction will be.

The first stage is also acute. Its main feature is maximum mobilization of the child’s body. The child is constantly excited and tense; it is not surprising that parents and teachers note tearfulness, nervousness, capriciousness and even hysteria.

In addition to psychological changes, physiological changes can also be detected. In some cases, there is an increase or decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. Increased susceptibility to infections.

The second phase is called moderately acute, since the severity of negative reactions decreases, and the child adapts to the changed conditions. There is a decrease in the baby’s excitability and nervousness, improved appetite, sleep, and normalization of the psycho-emotional sphere.

However, it is not yet possible to talk about complete stabilization of the condition. Throughout this period, negative emotions may return, and undesirable reactions may appear in the form of hysterics, tearfulness, or reluctance to part with parents.

The third stage – compensated – stabilizes the child’s condition. In the final adaptation period, complete restoration of psychophysiological reactions occurs, and the child successfully joins the team. Moreover, he can acquire new skills - for example, using a potty or dressing himself.

How to adapt a child to kindergarten? 6 useful skills for a kindergartener

In order for the process of adaptation to be as successful as possible, quickly and painlessly, experts advise instilling the most important skills in the future preschooler in advance. That is why parents should know what it is advisable to teach a child going to a preschool educational institution.

Dress and undress independently. Ideally, three-year-olds should already take off their swimming trunks, socks, tights, and put on a T-shirt and blouse or jacket. There may be difficulties with fasteners, but you should still get used to them. To do this, you can buy lacing toys. In addition, hang pictures in the room with the dressing sequence (they can be downloaded for free on the Internet).
Use a spoon/fork. The ability to use cutlery makes it easier to get used to. To do this, you need to give up sippy cups, bottles, sippy cups, which do not contribute to rapid growth.
Ask and go to the potty. You should get rid of diapers already at the age of one and a half years, especially since the ability to ask and go to bed will significantly simplify adaptation, since the child will feel more confident among skilled peers.
Accept different foods. Many three-year-olds are characterized by selectivity in food. Ideally, parents should bring the home menu closer to the kindergarten menu. Then breakfasts and lunches at preschool educational institutions will not resemble a war between children and teachers.
Communicate with adults. Quite often you can hear a child’s peculiar speech, which only the mother can understand. Some kids generally communicate with gestures, rightly believing that their parents will understand everything. Before kindergarten, you should monitor the decrease in babbling words and gestures.
Play with children. To improve a child’s communication skills, it is necessary to include him in the children’s group more often. Psychologists advise regularly visiting families with small children, walking on playgrounds, and playing in the sandbox.

In nurseries and kindergartens there are special adaptation groups for future preschoolers. Be sure to find out if such a service is available at your preschool educational institution. Visiting such groups will allow your child to become acquainted with the teachers, the building itself, and new rules of behavior.

Advice from a psychologist: 6 conversations about kindergarten

Recommendations for parents on how to adapt their children often include advice to talk more with their child about preschool. But how to do this correctly and what should you talk about with your baby to make future adaptation easier?

Explain in as simple a language as possible what a kindergarten is, why children go there, and why it is so important to attend it. The simplest example: “A kindergarten is a big house for kids who eat, play and walk together while their parents work.”
Tell your child that kindergarten is a kind of work for children. That is, mom works as a teacher, doctor, manager, dad works as a military man, programmer, etc., and the baby will “work” as a preschooler, because he has become quite an adult.
Every time you pass by the kindergarten, do not forget to remind that after a while the child will also be able to come here and play with other children. In his presence, you can also tell your interlocutors how proud you are of your newly-made preschooler.
Talk about the daycare routine to relieve fears and uncertainty. The child may not remember everything due to his age, but he will know that after breakfast there will be games, then walks and a short nap.
Don’t forget to talk about who your child can turn to if he suddenly needs water or needs to go to the toilet. In addition, gently clarify that not all requests will be fulfilled instantly, since it is important for educators to keep track of all children at once.
Share your story of attending preschool. Surely you have photographs from matinees, where you recite poems, play with dolls, go home from kindergarten with your parents, etc. A parent's example allows the child to quickly get used to kindergarten.

There is no need to over-praise kindergarten, painting it in completely rosy colors, otherwise the child will be disappointed in the teacher and classmates. At the same time, you cannot scare him with a preschool institution and a teacher who will “show him how to behave well!” Try to maintain a golden mean.

Tips for parents

Firstly, there are separate recommendations from a psychologist for parents on how to prepare for kindergarten in 3-4 months so that adaptation is successful:

Tell your child in advance that soon he will have to go to kindergarten every day, that this is his “job” - just like mom and dad. And this cannot be changed.
Mom should gradually move away: leave him alone in the room more often, teach him to occupy himself, play with one of the relatives.
Teach basic communication skills: sharing toys, smiling, not biting or fighting, and not taking what belongs to others.
Gradually expand his social circle: introduce him to old relatives, neighbors, family friends, and peers.

During the preparatory period you cannot:

for parents to run away secretly, leaving the child with relatives or friends: teach him to say goodbye normally, so that he reacts adequately to the fact that you have to part for some time;
reward for each fulfilled requirement with sweets or fulfillment of wishes (otherwise he will expect the same from the teacher);
leaving alone in the apartment;
show your fears and worries about the upcoming separation.

Secondly, every self-respecting kindergarten makes sure that the child adapts as quickly as possible. Therefore, in groups, teachers or the head have a memo - information for parents on how they can speed up this process:

Go to the kindergarten in advance, meet the head, teachers and nannies, find out the daily routine, see the conditions of stay, food.
A mother should not go to work on the same day that the baby goes to kindergarten. In the first days you need to pick him up early. You need to be ready to snap at any moment, since they can call with a request to take him home due to illness at 10.00 in the morning.
The most optimal time for adaptation is summer or winter, but not the off-season.
Don’t be late in the morning, pick up on time in the evening, follow the house rules, put a change of clothes in the locker.
If the mother is unable to cope with her emotions in the morning and thereby upsets the baby, let a more restrained and strict father take him to kindergarten.
Warn the teacher in the morning about ailments, bad mood, or stress suffered the day before.
When picking up your child, ask the teacher how he behaved and whether there are any problems. Perhaps some explanatory conversations need to be held at home.
Do not attend kindergarten when sick.

During the adaptation period, parents are strongly recommended to:

create a favorable atmosphere at home, eliminate family quarrels and scandals;
do not raise your voice, do not punish too harshly, be more lenient towards mistakes;
pay enough attention, spend as much time as possible;
on weekends, holidays and during sick leave, adhere to the daycare routine;
increase nutritional fortification: give more fruits and children’s mineral and vitamin complexes to maintain immunity;
never speak badly about his peers, classmates, teachers, nannies and kindergarten as a whole;
avoid increased emotional stress that stimulates the already excited children's nervous system;
never compare with other children, setting them as an example;
Talk to your child every day about how the day went.

Experts also name special conditions for a child’s successful adaptation to kindergarten:

a sufficient level of psychological and social preparation of the child for kindergarten;
no health problems;
compliance with a unified system of education in the family and in kindergarten;
favorable microclimate;
individual approach;
psychological readiness of parents;
close contact between the teacher and parents;
gentle conditions for staying in kindergarten during adaptation (staying part-time, not eating the porridge completely, not sleeping, but just lying quietly in the crib);
permission to take your favorite toy with you.

Yes, parents will have to work hard for the adaptation to be successful. But if everything is done correctly, as psychologists and teachers advise, subsequently there will be no problems with visiting.

With the world on a thread. USA. Each American kindergarten has its own narrow focus - it is musical, artistic, sports, etc. Classes there are reminiscent of senior specialized classes at school.

Classes for children to prepare for kindergarten

Role-playing games and listening to fairy tales are favorite pastimes for young children. Therefore, advice from a psychologist often includes items such as activities and fairy tales for successful adaptation to kindergarten. The purpose of such games is to familiarize the child with the regime and rules of kindergarten in a relaxed manner.

Enlist the “support” of children’s toys – dolls, teddy bears. Let your favorite plastic friend become a teacher, and the teddy bear and robot become kindergarteners who are just attending preschool.

Moreover, classes should be repeated almost the entire day of the future preschooler. That is, the teddy bear came to the kindergarten, said hello to the aunt-teacher, kissed mommy goodbye and began to play with the other children. Then he had breakfast and began to study.

If a child has difficulty parting with his mother, special emphasis should be placed on this particular moment. To do this, it is better to use special fairy tales for quick adaptation in kindergarten, in which, for example, a kitten stops crying after the mother leaves and begins to play happily with other animals.

Another opportunity to make adaptation to kindergarten easier is to use available tools: presentations, cartoons and a collection of poems about kindergarten. Such useful innovative materials adapt children no worse, and sometimes better, than ordinary stories.

Recommendations for parents on how to make separation from their baby easier

Usually, by the age of three, children quite easily let go of their mothers and other significant adults, since, as we have already noted, at this stage there is a natural desire to be independent, independent of their parents.

And yet there are situations when the baby and mother turn into almost a single organism. Because of this, a child’s adaptation in kindergarten can become significantly more difficult, and the likelihood of complete maladaptation also increases.

Ideally, it is necessary to accustom the baby to parental absence consistently and in advance. And yet, it is possible to reduce the psycho-emotional dependence of children on their mother in a short time. Let's consider basic advice to parents from experienced specialists.

Necessary actions

Try to involve the father and other close relatives in interaction with the child. The more the baby has contact with other adults (and not just the mother), the easier it will be for him to get used to the teacher.
After this, introduce your child to your friends. At first, they play with the baby in the presence of his parents, so that he can feel calm around unfamiliar adults. With an adapted child, it will be easier to leave.
The next stage is going outside. You need to explain to the baby that mom will go to the store while grandma or an aunt she knows tells an interesting fairy tale. In this case, you do not need to ask the child for time off, just let him know.
Consistently teach your child the idea that he needs to be alone in the room. You can prepare lunch while your child plays in the nursery. These rules can then be applied during exercise in the sandbox or on a walk.
Do not call your child shy, beech, roaring, crybaby, ponytail and other unpleasant words. On the contrary, tell him and others as often as possible how communicative, sociable and cheerful he is.

Unnecessary actions

You cannot run away from your child in secret, even if at that moment he is sitting with his grandmother. Having discovered that his mother is missing, he, firstly, will be seriously frightened, and secondly, he will begin to cry and scream the next time his parents try to leave.
It is not recommended to leave a child alone in an apartment, especially if he is characterized by increased anxiety and restlessness. In addition, even in a few minutes, small children are able to find “adventures” even in the safest home.
You should not reward your child with treats and toys because he allows you to go away. If this is practiced, then the child will demand financial rewards literally every day even in kindergarten.

You can come up with some rituals that make breaking up easier. Just don’t turn them into a full-fledged ritual, more reminiscent of a celebration or holiday. This could be a regular kiss, a mutual smile or a handshake.

Consultation for parents from Dr. Komarovsky

Attending a preschool institution is the most important condition for the full development of a child. How to make this period easier? You can listen to the opinions of famous experts - teachers, psychologists and pediatricians. Komarovsky talks a lot and often about the features of successful adaptation to kindergarten. Let's find out the main recommendations of the popular TV doctor:

start visiting kindergarten at a time when the mother has not yet gone to work. If a child suddenly catches a cold, the parent will be able to pick him up from the preschool educational institution and stay at home with him for one or two weeks;
It is best to adapt children to kindergarten in certain seasons - summer and winter. But the off-season is not the best period to start visiting kindergarten, since the likelihood of catching a cold increases;
Information about how adaptation takes place in a particular kindergarten will not be superfluous. Perhaps caregivers practice force-feeding or over-bundle babies on walks.

In order for accelerated adaptation to occur in kindergarten, Komarovsky advises adhering to some important recommendations:

reduce the requirements for the child in the initial stages of getting used to the preschool institution. Even if he behaves badly, you need to show leniency;
Be sure to prepare your child to expand social contacts through more frequent and longer walks and games in the sandbox.
Be sure to improve your immunity. If the body’s defense system improves, the child will get sick less, therefore, the addiction will go much faster.

The teledoctor does not exclude the occurrence of certain problems in the process of adaptation, however, one should not refuse the opportunity to accustom a child to kindergarten at 4 years old. It is best to take a responsible approach to the adaptation period and support the baby in every possible way.

Tips from Komarovsky for parents on how to adapt their child to kindergarten

A famous doctor also speaks about the adaptation of a young child in kindergarten. Evgeniy Olegovich believes that successful adaptation to a preschool educational institution is one of the conditions for the harmonious development of a child. He gives the following advice to parents regarding their child's adaptation to kindergarten:

Do not go to work on the same day that your child goes to kindergarten for the first time. Komarovsky believes that adaptation in kindergarten will be better if the mother has a few weeks left to sit with the baby for a few days if he is unwell, without creating problems for himself at work.
Getting used to kindergarten is better in winter and summer; during off-season periods there is a higher probability of going on sick leave, going to kindergarten for only a few days. In this case, after the illness, adaptation in kindergarten, according to Komarovsky, will begin anew.
It is mandatory to prepare the immune system for encounters with new viruses and bacteria: harden yourself, eat fresh fruits and vegetables to fortify the body, walk more often and longer.
According to Komarovsky’s advice, adaptation in kindergarten will be easier if at its initial stages you lower the level of demands on the baby: allow him a little more than usual, be more lenient towards his whims and requests.

What to do if adaptation to kindergarten has already begun?

So, the baby has already started going to preschool, but you simply shouldn’t wait for the end of the habituation. Successful adaptation of a child in kindergarten, advice on which is given by psychologists and doctors, lies in the active position of parents. How can you help your child?

You should not immediately send your child away for the whole day. It is best to make a gradual transition from the usual regime to changed conditions, that is, send the baby first for a couple of hours, and only then increase the length of stay in kindergarten.
Be sure to show sincere interest in what your child did at the preschool. If he has molded, drawn, or glued something, you should praise him and put the craft on the shelf.
Study any information provided by the teacher or psychologist of the preschool institution. Usually the group sets up a folder called “Child Adaptation in Kindergarten.”
You should also communicate more often with teachers who regularly fill out an adaptation sheet, a special kindergarten visit form, and a psychologist fills out a card for each child in the nursery group.
Don’t worry too much if your child seems tired or haggard after kindergarten. Of course, strangers and new acquaintances are a serious stress for a child’s body. Let the baby rest and get some sleep.
In order for children to adapt quickly, it is necessary to limit increased emotional stress. Psychologists advise against attending mass entertainment; cartoons and viewing of various images, videos should also be limited.
If the baby has certain psycho-emotional or physiological characteristics (hyperactive behavior, health problems), the teaching and medical team must be informed about this.
Tears and hysterics are a “presentation” designed for mom. This is why experts advise fathers to accompany their child to kindergarten, since the stronger sex usually reacts more strictly to such manipulative behavior.

Provide your child with a calm family environment during the adaptation process. Express your affection to your new preschooler in every possible way: kiss, hug, etc.

Factors influencing a child's adaptation

An analysis of a child’s adaptation to kindergarten conditions shows that it depends on several factors at once. The more prosperous each of them is, the faster and easier the baby will get used to the new conditions.

Child's age

Adaptation to kindergarten for young children occurs in different ways:

At the age of one, the baby is very strongly attached to his mother, is not independent, and sometimes does not even know how to walk. These babies endure separation very hard; they cannot calm down for a long time after their mother leaves. They have an insufficiently developed immune system, so they get sick even more often than older children.
Adaptation to kindergarten at 2 years of age is usually more successful. The child is already more independent, the world around him is gradually becoming more interesting for him than his mother. Therefore, most often the baby quickly gets used to it, gets involved in the routine and interacts with the teachers.
Adaptation to kindergarten at 3 years old may vary depending on whether the child has already experienced the main crisis of this age. If this period has already passed or has not yet begun, then adaptation occurs easily and quickly: the baby is interested in the world around him, the desire to interact with peers is gradually formed, and he has already become sufficiently separated from his mother. If you bring a child to an institution during a crisis, then adaptation to kindergarten at 3 years old may be delayed, since the stress associated with entering kindergarten is superimposed on the internal negative state.

Health status

How adaptation goes in kindergarten also depends on whether the baby is healthy. If a child has any somatic diseases when entering the group, then it will be more difficult for him to get used to it: in addition to the stress from an unfamiliar environment, he experiences physical discomfort.

A child’s adaptation in kindergarten will be difficult if he has mental or neurological disorders - for example, he cannot tolerate loud sounds or is terrified of contact with strangers. If the baby has any chronic diseases or developmental features, then it is better to immediately inform the teachers about this so that they can create suitable conditions for him.

Degree of psychological development

If the degree of psychological development is too low or too high, the child’s adaptation in kindergarten may have its own characteristics. In the first case, the baby will not keep up with the kindergarten curriculum and will have difficulties with communication and interactions. For children with serious psychological problems, the institution usually draws up an adapted educational program taking into account its characteristics.

Gifted children are often bored with their peers, they cannot find a common language with them, and they are not interested in interacting with each other. Therefore, children with a very high level of mental development have a late adaptation to kindergarten; they take a long time to adapt to children who are different from them.

Level of socialization

How long it takes for a child to adapt to kindergarten, as well as what type it will be, depends on the level of socialization. If, before entering the institution, the child communicated very little with other children and adults, did not stay with anyone except mom and dad, and did not visit playgrounds, then it will be more difficult for him to get used to kindergarten. A large number of other children around, a lack of attention from adults in kindergarten can lead him to a state of stress.

When a child comes to kindergarten who has experience interacting with any children, easily makes contact with them and knows how to negotiate at least on the simplest level, then his adaptation to the kindergarten will most likely happen quickly and easily.

Family composition

The adaptation of a young child to kindergarten sometimes depends on who the child lives with. It is usually the most difficult for those children who are the only child in the family or live with one parent: they have a very strong psychological connection, it is very difficult for the baby to be alone in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by strangers.

Children living in large families, where they are accustomed to staying with different adults, interacting with brothers and sisters, will most likely go to kindergarten without serious adaptation problems. But it also happens differently: an overly active child from a small family gets tired of loneliness and happily runs to kindergarten, and a child who lacks attention in a large family has a harder time getting used to a large group of children.

Child's temperament

Depending on the type of nervous activity, children’s adaptation to kindergarten conditions will also occur differently. Little sanguine children quickly get used to the institution, their peers and teachers, they make good contact, and get involved in activities. It may be more difficult for choleric people: they are explosive, can often conflict, and do not get along with all the guys. At the same time, they are easy-going and also get used to new conditions quite quickly. A phlegmatic person may have two options: either he is very accustomed to home and finds it difficult to adapt, or he indifferently goes to kindergarten, not paying much attention to the changes in his life. A severe degree of adaptation to kindergarten is most often found among melancholic people: they take everything to heart, they are easily offended and upset.

Family atmosphere

If a child goes to kindergarten from a prosperous family in which he feels needed and loved, then his adaptation is easier. He quickly understands that his parents are not leaving forever, and they will definitely take him away, that they will protect him from any adversity and support him in case of failures.

A child living in a family in which they often quarrel, do not notice him, do not listen to him and to each other, and constantly criticize and scold, will find it more difficult to get used to new conditions. On the one hand, due to low self-esteem, he will worry that his parents, who are so bad, may leave him here forever. On the other hand, he will be afraid of criticism in kindergarten, react inadequately to comments and experience difficulties in interactions.

Memo for parents: child adaptation in kindergarten and basic mistakes

So, the basic rules for improving children’s adaptation to preschool have been described. However, none of the parents is immune from erroneous actions. That is why it is necessary to dwell in more detail on the most common misconceptions:

comparison with other kids. We all adapt differently. That’s why you shouldn’t compare your child with his peers, who get used to the children’s team and teacher much faster;
deception. There is no need to promise your child that you will pick him up in an hour if you plan to return only in the evening. Such parental promises will lead to the baby feeling betrayed;
punishment by kindergarten. You should not punish a child with a longer stay in a preschool institution if he is used to being in a preschool institution for only a few hours. This will only lead to increased dislike for the kindergarten;
“bribe” with sweets and toys. Some mothers and fathers bribe their children to behave well in preschool. As a result, the child will further blackmail adults, demanding gifts from them every day;
sending a sick child to kindergarten. During the adaptation period, any cold can unsettle a child for a long time, so if you feel unwell, you should not take your preschooler to kindergarten, otherwise there is a risk of increasing the symptoms of the disease.

Another common parental mistake is the disappearance of the mother, who does not want to distract the child from toys or children. Such behavior, as we have already said, will only lead to increased anxiety in the baby and numerous fears. Increased hysterics are possible.