Games on the way to first grade

What is the biggest thing I learned to do on my own this year?

For the parentLet them list things without rushing. Then add one thing you noticed that they did not.

Who do I most enjoy being around, and why them?

For the parentThis question tells you how they choose friends. Worth listening to the end without finishing their words.

What do I do when something is hard and I cannot manage it?

For the parentThere is no right answer here. If the answer is "I give up", that is exactly the moment to say it happens to you too.

Which story can I tell from beginning to end?

For the parentFirst grade is built on story. A child who can tell one can also listen to one.

What do I know how to do that even grown ups do not always know?

For the parentA question that creates real pride. Do not correct them even if it sounds far fetched.

When did I feel really grown up this past year?

For the parentThe moment they choose tells you what counts as success in their eyes. It is not always what you thought.

How do I manage when I have to wait for my turn?

For the parentMuch of the school day is waiting. If it is hard for them, you can practise at home without pressure.

What do I like doing on my own, with nobody else?

For the parentA child who can be with themselves copes better in the moments when no friend is around.

What do I most want to learn at school?

For the parentWrite their answer on a note and hang it up. At the end of the year, come back to it together.

What do I want to be able to read first of all?

For the parentA road sign, a friend’s name, a title in a book. The small answer is the engine.

What does my perfect break time look like?

For the parentBreak time is half of school in the eyes of a six year old. Do not skip it.

What question would I like to ask my teacher on the first day?

For the parentIf a good question comes up, remember it. They really can ask it on the first day.

What do I most want to discover this year, something I do not know yet?

For the parentCuriosity is not a school subject. Let it be what it is, even if it is dinosaurs.

What does the classroom I imagine look like?

For the parentAsk them to describe it in detail. Later you can compare it with how it really was.

What would I like there to be in the school yard?

For the parentA light question that loosens things up. Good as an opening card when they do not feel like talking.

What is one thing I want to learn to do completely on my own this year?

For the parentWrite it down. At the end of the year you will find they passed it long ago and forgot they wanted it.

What am I least sure about at school?

For the parentDo not rush to reassure. First say "I see", and only then ask what would help.

What happens if I do not know where to go?

For the parentAnswer practically: who to turn to, where the office is, who the guard is. Certainty reassures more than kind words.

What do I do if nobody plays with me at break?

For the parentPractise one sentence they can say. A ready sentence is worth more than advice.

What were you, my parents, afraid of in first grade?

For the parentThe one card where they ask you. Tell them truthfully, including what did not go well.

What happens if I make a mistake in front of the whole class?

For the parentTell them about a mistake you made this week. A child who sees a parent err quietly is less afraid.

What do I do if I miss you in the middle of the day?

For the parentGive them something tangible: a photo in the bag, a secret word. Missing someone needs an address.

What if it is hard for me and the teacher does not notice?

For the parentPractise the sentence "I need help". Being able to ask is worth more than any other preparation.

What do I do if someone says something to me that I do not like?

For the parentDo not solve it for them. Ask "what would you want to say" and give them room to find the words.

What do I want in my bag on the first day?

For the parentLet them choose one thing entirely by themselves. They will remember it long afterwards.

Who will be waiting for me at the end of the school day, and where?

For the parentGo over it again and again until they can recite it. This is the quietest fear in first grade.

What is the first thing I will tell you when I get home?

For the parentAgree on a fixed question you will ask every day. Not "how was it", but one specific thing.

How do I want my new friends to feel around me?

For the parentThis is the question that creates a child it is good to grow up beside. A good one to end on.

What does my perfect morning look like before leaving for school?

For the parentA good morning starts the evening before. If they describe a calm morning, plan it together tonight.

What do I want us to do together after school?

For the parentChoose one small, regular thing. The after school anchor is worth more than a big activity.

What do I want my room to look like when I am studying?

For the parentLet them decide where to sit. Children come back more often to a place they chose themselves.

What do I want you to remember with me from the first day?

For the parentPhotograph what they asked for, not what looks good. It is their album.