For both parents and children, sending their child off to kindergarten is a significant milestone. It ushers in a brand-new chapter full of growth, learning, and interacting with others. Even though this move is exciting, there are a lot of unknowns and worries about it. Frequently, parents ponder whether their child is prepared for kindergarten, what to anticipate, and how best to ease them into this unfamiliar environment.
Renowned pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky has shared his insights on kindergarten and given helpful parenting advice. He stresses the significance of considering the child’s emotional and physical readiness and not making this decision hastily. Every child is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all method when it comes to preparing them for kindergarten, says Dr. Komarovsky.
We’ll look at Dr. Komarovsky’s viewpoint on kindergarten in this post, along with the things he thinks parents should consider before making this crucial choice. His insights can help you confidently navigate this new phase, whether you’re feeling nervous, excited, or a little bit of both.
| Key Point | Dr. Komarovsky"s Advice |
| When to start kindergarten | Komarovsky suggests waiting until the child is at least 3 years old for better emotional development. |
| Adapting to new environment | Gradual adaptation is crucial; short visits first, then longer ones as the child gets used to it. |
| Child"s health | It"s normal for kids to get sick more often in kindergarten, but this helps strengthen their immune system. |
| Communication with caregivers | Parents should stay in touch with caregivers to monitor the child"s progress and address any concerns. |
| Separation anxiety | Parents should calmly explain that going to kindergarten is a normal part of life, reassuring the child that they will come back. |
According to Dr. Komarovsky, kindergarten provides social interaction, independence, and early learning opportunities, making it a positive and significant stage in a child’s development. But he emphasizes that parents should make a thoughtful kindergarten choice, making sure it fits the child’s needs and readiness. Parents should make the decision based on their child’s emotional health, paying close attention to their comfort and adjustment levels all along the way.
- At what age is it better to send a child
- Adaptation
- Possible problems
- Tearfulness and hysterics
- Common diseases
- How to choose a good kindergarten
- What kind of child is considered "not a kindergarten child"
- Video on the topic
- Doctor Komarovsky: “Kindergarten is not for eating, but for running, getting tired and exploring the world”
- It is normal for a kindergartener to get sick often? – Doctor Komarovsky
- How not to get sick in kindergarten – Doctor Komarovsky – Inter
- A good kindergarten – Doctor Komarovsky"s School
- What to do if a child is often sick in kindergarten?
At what age is it better to send a child
The only place to resolve this matter is within the family. Children are typically enrolled in kindergarten between the ages of one and three, though occasionally they are brought older. A recent unspoken restriction implemented by many kindergartens is that children under the age of one and a half are not accepted. It is best to seek advice from educators, child psychologists, and teachers if there are any questions about whether a child is ready for kindergarten. If the baby is prepared for life in a big group, they will let you know.
What the mother plans to do when she sends her child to kindergarten is of interest to the doctors. Komarovsky thinks it’s not the best idea if she chooses to report to work that day. First of all, it is normal for the child to become sick more frequently, which means the mother will need to take frequent sick days. Furthermore, if the mother initially attempts to "dose" her child’s kindergarten visits, the adaptation will be softer.
Pediatricians, such as Komarovsky, believe that the best course of action is for the mother to remain at home for a few more months during her maternity leave. This will allow the mother to leave the child at home whenever he exhibits the first symptoms of illness, such as a runny nose or cough, without having to deal with the management. This is advantageous for other kids that he won’t infect as well as for the infant, who will be able to handle the illness more readily.
In the upcoming issue, Dr. Komarovsky will discuss what constitutes a "good kindergarten" and how to go about the kindergarten selection process.
Adaptation
This is the most challenging aspect of starting kindergarten as a whole. It is emphasized by Evgeny Komarovsky that no child would escape a challenging process of adaptation. The child experiences a lot of things at once: in addition to his body "rebuilding" a lot, he goes through emotional and psychological changes. There is a daily routine in kindergarten, so the child will have to adjust to it without much thought. They will also have to adjust to new foods, and as their immunity "gets acquainted" with new viruses circulating in their group, they will experience frequent illness, especially in the beginning when their body lacks specific antibodies.
The child alone will determine how long the adaptation lasts. It lasts two to three months for some people, a year or longer for others.
Parents can certainly facilitate adaptation if they have no control over the frequency of illness. In order to accomplish this, you must determine the ideal time of year for the infant to begin kindergarten. According to Komarovsky, it is preferable to avoid doing this from late October to April, when morbidity is at its highest. But please, in the summer and towards the end of spring.
Possible problems
A child’s transition to kindergarten, which is such a big change in their life, can cause a lot of issues, both medical and psychological. Komarovsky suggests getting ready for them ahead of time, though. Optimally, right from birth.
A child can be best prepared for preschool by hardening, adopting an appropriate attitude toward treating childhood diseases at an early age, taking certain medications, and getting preventive vaccinations on time and on schedule.
Komarovsky contends that a child’s adjustment to novel circumstances is an entirely personal process. While some babies will embrace the new "rules of the game" right away, others will take a little longer to adjust. These are primarily psychological issues, though the infant may occasionally become physically ill due to an internal rejection of unfamiliar circumstances. In medicine, this relationship is referred to as psychosomatics.
Tearfulness and hysterics
These are the most typical signs of psychological issues that any infant who has begun kindergarten will have. Komarovsky advises against "making a mountain out of a molehill" in this case and against filing the child’s illness. Only babies who are extremely sensitive to new experiences require sedatives and sedatives, and only if pediatricians, psychiatrists, and neurologists deem that such a need is actually present.
However, since this is an uncommon circumstance, you shouldn’t search for a "sedative for a nervous child" on your own. The best strategies for parents are kindness and generosity. Never shout at or apply force to the infant. This will make the process of adaptation even more difficult.
In the upcoming issue, renowned pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky will provide advice on how to wean a child from hysterics.
Common diseases
According to Evgeny Komarovsky, this is normal. The majority of common diseases are caused by viruses, and the likelihood of a child "catching" one increases with the size of their social circle. Naturally, the baby’s risk of contracting the flu or chickenpox while at home is lower—though it still tends to be somewhat higher—because parents or visitors may bring in the "infection" from the street. However, a child cannot grow up at home!
He just needs to come into contact with infections in order for his immunity to "learn," "train," and become stronger.
Furthermore, several illnesses are best avoided in childhood because adult contracting them carries a high risk of death. These are the well-known rubella chickenpox.
You will hear from Dr. Komarovsky regarding kindergarten disease prevention.
Evgeny Komarovsky contends that the severity of these conditions should receive more attention than the existence and frequency of diseases "brought" from kindergarten. One child has a mild illness for five days, another is bedridden for two weeks, and the parents have to deal with the fallout for an additional month. Preschool facilities are not at all to blame for this. This is a characteristic of both the individual child’s immunity and the details of his care.
It is not appropriate to hold kindergarten teachers responsible for a child’s frequent illnesses if they failed to dress the child appropriately for a walk, failed to tie a scarf, or forgot to bring a hat. According to Komarovsky, this is a handy way for parents to cover up their own shortcomings. They actually "cripple" the child’s immunity by first placing him in a hothouse, and then they lament that their child became ill because the kindergarten had rain or a draft. These "accidental" illnesses in kindergarten age are practically eliminated when there aren’t such oppressive conditions and when parents raise their children with the right and appropriate attitude from birth.
How to choose a good kindergarten
According to Evgeny Komarovsky, the type of kindergarten, its material and technical support, and the credentials of its nannies and teachers have no bearing whatsoever on the incidence rate. Therefore, doctors have no authority to suggest a particular kindergarten, private or public.
However, experts point out that kids do better in kindergartens where classes are housed in regular buildings that have recently undergone renovations and have a manageable number of students in each group. It is beneficial if the preschool facility has a swimming pool and employs staff who recognize the value of maintaining ventilation throughout the building, even during the winter.
What kind of child is considered "not a kindergarten child"
According to Komarovsky, there aren’t many of these kids in general. When the child has learned to "start" the disease process for psychological reasons (the same psychosomatics), or when the adaptation has been too long, educators, teachers, and occasionally even the parents themselves make this "diagnosis."
Dr. Komarovsky will discuss the idea of a "non-kindergarten child" and whether or not it even exists in the section that follows.
According to Komarovsky, the issue is that the majority of kindergartens fail to keep an appropriate temperature regime and track of the relative humidity in the air. The idea of opening a window and letting some fresh air into a classroom during the dead of winter appalls educators. Consequently, a kindergartener in an overheated classroom who breathes dry air will get sick more frequently. Additionally, it is incorrectly believed that this precludes kindergarten attendance. They specifically claim that these kids are not kindergarten-type kids.
It is possible and fairly easy to make such a "non-kindergarten" child behave like a kindergartener, according to Komarovsky. Encouraging kindergarten attendance, bolstering the child’s immunity at home, setting up the proper environment in the classroom, and adding some fun elements are sufficient.
If the child has a serious illness, like bronchial asthma, for example, is another question. These kids require specialized kindergartens, but the nation doesn’t actually have any. This does not, however, imply that a preschooler with asthma cannot attend. Everything is possible if parents make an effort to locate a kindergarten with qualified teachers and good doctors who can work with kids who have health issues.
A child is unlikely to become "non-kindergarten" if he is not overfed at home, wrapped up and taught to eat only what he likes, hardened, or given pills for any reason that is somewhat concerning.
Dr. Komarovsky highlights that each child is different and that a variety of factors, such as their development, personality, and family environment, affect how prepared they are for kindergarten. When choosing the ideal time to enroll your child in kindergarten, it is imperative to take these factors into account.
He also exhorts parents to tolerate this change with patience and understanding. It is common for kids to encounter difficulties when adjusting to a new setting, and your assistance can greatly impact their experience.
In the end, Dr. Komarovsky thinks that if kindergarten is approached thoughtfully, it can be a positive experience. This new chapter can support your child’s growth and social development if you prepare properly and keep their welfare in mind.
