Starting kindergarten

What's inside

1. Get the medical certificate before day one

   No kindergarten admits a child without a doctor's clearance. Required tests vary by kindergarten — check early, the clinic queue can eat a week.

2. Prepare the vaccination record

   Requirements vary — some kindergartens need full compliance, others accept a signed waiver. Confirm your kindergarten's policy ahead of time.

3. Set up kindergarten payments

   Payment details, deadlines, any subsidy — sort this out before day one. The first hectic week is the worst time to deal with it.

4. Practice self-care skills in advance

   Spoon, potty, pulling on pants alone — with one adult per 15–20 kids, nobody gets help instantly.

5. Start the kindergarten routine at home

   Two to three weeks out, shift wake-up, nap and meals to match the kindergarten schedule. A sudden switch on day one just adds stress to an already hard adjustment.

6. Indoor shoes with velcro straps

   The child needs to put these on alone. Laces in a locker room with fifteen kids and one teacher just slow everyone down.

7. A full spare outfit in the locker

   Underwear to socks, plus a bag for dirty clothes. At this age, spills and accidents happen regularly, not just as a precaution.

8. Clothes without tricky fasteners

   Elastic waistbands over buttons and zippers — dressing alone matters more than looking sharp.

9. Gym slippers (cheshki)

   Light fabric slippers for music and movement classes — required in almost every kindergarten.

10. A PE kit

    A t-shirt and shorts that are fine to get dirty and easy to put on solo. Check the exact list with the teacher.

11. Label every item

    Identical jackets and shoes mix up between lockers in seconds. A marked name saves the teacher's time and your nerves.

12. Tissues

    Easy to forget until the sniffles start. Stash a pack in the locker from day one.

13. A comb and hair ties for girls

    Hair gets messy fast after naptime and active play — a small kit in the locker fixes it in a minute.

14. Expect a half-day adaptation period

    Most kindergartens have parents pick up early for the first few weeks, gradually extending the day. It's standard practice, not a sign the child is struggling.

15. Plan your own schedule around adaptation

    Early, unpredictable pickups clash with a packed work schedule. Talk to your employer or line up backup help in advance.

16. Keep goodbyes short and confident

    Talk about kindergarten positively and don't drag out the goodbye at the locker — a long farewell reads as anxiety and triggers more tears.

17. Save the teacher's contact and group chat

    That's where matinees, class supply requests and schedule changes get announced — faster than any noticeboard.

18. Add matinees to the calendar right away

    Dates get announced early but are easy to miss in a busy chat. A costume or gift sometimes needs a week's notice.