Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten?

By Kellie Smith, M.Ed.| Little Learning Table

A Kindergarten Teacher's Take on Back-to-School Confidence

The back-to-school commercials are out, backpacks, lunchboxes, crayons, and fresh new sneakers are filling the shelves. And if you're anything like me, you can already smell the fresh school supplies (one of my favorite smells!).

As a kindergarten teacher with over 15 years of experience, including time spent teaching at some of the most prestigious private schools in New York City, I’ve seen firsthand what helps children feel confident and ready when that first big year of school begins.

So if you're wondering..."Did my child do enough over the summer?"You're not alone, and you're not too late.

Kindergarten Is a Big Transition

Kindergarten is a magical year. Kids grow taller, lose their first teeth, and take their first real steps into structured academics and school routines.

For many children, it's their first experience with a full-day schedule. And unlike pre-K or daycare, the emphasis shifts toward learning expectations, with less open-ended play and more structured transitions.

This shift can be exciting, but also overwhelming.

📝 “Kindergarten is when school starts to feel real, for both the child and the parent.”

That’s why helping your child ease into structure, build confidence in basic skills, and practice social readiness can make a world of difference.

The Fall Freak-Out Is Real

In my experience, October is when I often see the “uh-oh” moment hit. Routines are in place, expectations are clear, and the academic pace picks up. That’s when underlying anxiety can start to surface.

Children who don’t feel confident might:

• Ask to use the bathroom during academic blocks

• Avoid group activities or struggle socially

• Display big emotions that seem “out of the blue”

  
  

One year, I had a student who began changing her clothes several times a day during our literacy block. She was anxious, overwhelmed, and unsure of herself—and that discomfort impacted her ability to make friends, too.

With time, support, and tailored strategies, she blossomed. But I’ll always wonder how much smoother her start might have been with just a bit more structure, skill practice, and social confidence over the summer.

Confidence > Perfection

Confidence is one of the most underestimated tools in the kindergarten toolbox.

Think about a time you were learning something new, it was scary, right? However, confidence helped you try, helped you keep going, helped you come back again and again. That’s what we want for our kids, too.

✨ “Confidence turns hesitation into curiosity, and that’s where learning begins.”

How You Can Help Starting Today

The good news? You don’t need flashcards or a rigid academic plan to help your child feel ready. In fact, building simple routines, talking about emotions, and offering visual structure can go a long way.

Here are a few of my favorite tools, available in the Little Learning Table shop:

• Visual Schedules & Choice Boards – to help your child know what to expect

• First-Then Boards – perfect for transitioning between activities

• Cozy Corner Starter Kit – a nurturing spot to practice emotional regulation

  
  

These tools are rooted in child development and classroom-tested by me and countless families. They're gentle, effective, and easy to use at home, whether your child is headed to public, private, or homeschool kindergarten.

One Step at a Time

Getting ready for kindergarten doesn’t mean doing it all. It means creating rhythms and moments of connection that build your child’s sense of safety, confidence, and excitement.

In my next post, I’ll be sharing specific games, books, and conversation starters to help you prepare your child for school, and enjoy the process along the way.

Until then, be proud of how far you and your child have come. This is a big, beautiful step—and you’re not walking it alone.