Celebrating the end
of the kindergarten year

Even the best school year has to end sometime. It was a hell of a ride at times, but it was worth it. Now it’s going to take a big party. There’s a lot to celebrate.

First of all, it’s time to say goodbye to the preschoolers. They’ve got it all down pat in kindergarten and are ready to take it to the next level. They look forward with excited anticipation to the day when they will be ceremonially initiated as kindergarteners.
 
But it would be a shame to give all the attention to the oldest ones. During the year in kindergarten, everyone has grown up a bit and is a bit more independent again. The end of the school year is a great opportunity to recognize the efforts and achievements of all the children.

Here are some ideas on how to do it:

Looking back at the school year

Recall all the nice and interesting things you have experienced together in kindergarten this year:

• Collage of memories
  Prepare large paper, colored markers and printed photos of joint activities from the school year. Encourage the children to look at the photos and choose the ones with which they have the best memories. Then make a large collage together and decorate it with drawings.
• Friendship bracelets
  Prepare strings and colored beads. Help the children to divide into pairs. Encourage them to make a bracelet for a friend as a symbol of their friendship and a memory of their time together.

For more activities to strengthen friendships and a sense of belonging, see How to develop children’s social-emotional skills in kindergarten.

Appreciation of progress

You were with the children (almost) every day and watched them grow and develop their potential. Put your observations into words. Yes, it’s extra work. But trust that your kind words are an important encouragement to the children. Try, for example:

• Order of the Golden Spoon
  Reflect on each child’s strengths and recognize them with an award. I’m sure there is something for everyone, how about “Order of the Eaten Soup” or “Order of the Crayon”?
• Kindergarten report cards
  Write a verbal evaluation for each child, highlighting their individual progress and achievements during the school year. Try to include a few recommendations on what to focus on next.

Find out what power kind words have in the article How to set a positive culture in kindergarten.

Graduation of preschoolers

You won’t see your oldest children in kindergarten anymore after the holidays, they are waiting for school desks. Celebrate this important life milestone with them with a lovely rite of passage. Organize a garden party, the highlight of which will be the graduation of the preschoolers as schoolchildren.

Have the children get on and say the pledge together. We found a very hilarious one on the website of the lecturer Veronika Vičárová:

I’m going to school,
do all my homework,
become who I want to be,
I’m not going to be discouraged.

The actual passage can be done with a large pencil, a rainbow umbrella or even a knight’s sword. Finally, wish the children to remember their school with fondness, to go to school with joy, to always be themselves, to have good friends and to be happy.

Walk of Fame

Finally, a creative tip. If you’re tired of the classic nursery school chalkboard with photos of departing children, take inspiration from the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year.

The children simply cut out a large bright yellow five-pointed star and write their name in the centre of it. They glue the star in the middle of a black or grey quarter. Then they paint their hands white and press them on the sides.

You can put the pictures on display, or even better, stack them on the floor as a real walkway.

Well, that’s it, the bell and the end.
Enjoy the last days of kindergarten together and then let the kids go on vacation.
Hand on heart, you’re going to miss them?

13. 6. 2023 | Martina Zatloukalová