Starting Kindergarten: Tips for a Smooth Transition
with Natalie Pon, MD
Episode 2, Season 2 | August 25, 2021
Show Notes
Starting kindergarten is both exciting and scary — for children and their parents. Young children thrive when they feel comfortable, safe and secure. But it can be challenging to help your child feel prepared when everything feels so uncertain right now. What can you do to make the leap less worrisome and more fun? Listen in to today’s podcast episode with our guest, Dr. Natalie Pon, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at CHC, as she reminds us that — in addition to learning letters and numbers — the real growth that occurs in kindergarten is the development of social emotional skills through play.
Guest Info
Natalie Pon, MD
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist at CHC
Dr. Pon specializes in the assessment and care of young children (0-6yo) and treats the range of early childhood mental health issues, including anxiety/depression, disruptive behavior, adjustment and attachment issues, trauma, and parent-child relational issues. She is very experienced with child-centered, dyadic, trauma-focused and cognitive-behavioral play therapy.
Resources
Learn more about CHC’s Clinical Services
Learn more about Evaluations
Children’s Books:
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
The Night Before Kindergarten and The Night Before First Grade by Natasha Wing
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate
From CHC's Resource Library:
Transitioning to Kindergarten
9 Ways to Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten
Featuring handouts or e-booklets:
Selected Children’s Books About Kindergarten
Your Child is Going to Kindergarten: Making the Move Together
Getting to Know My Child: A Guide for My Child’s Kindergarten Teacher
Transition to Kindergarten: Supporting Children with Individualized Education Programs
