Teacher Christine Boeh helps Tylor Fiorita draw during an exercise at a summer kindergarten orientation program last month at Mars Primary Center. Soon-to-be kindergarteners and their parents are welcomed into the school multiple times during the summer for preview sessions — including registration and a "Watermelon Welcome" day — that introduce the children to the kindergarten structure and let them register on district computers.

Because it can be frightening for a 5-year-old to step into a brick building with unfamiliar adults, several school districts are working to let pre-kindergarten children in schools before classes start.

"They're scared. They've never been in the building, never met the people," said Lisa Ringer, Slippery Rock University's Child Care Center director.

Preparedness for the first days of kindergarten begins with knowing the school environment.

Elizabeth McMahon, principal at Mars Primary Center, made it possible for children to visit the school multiple times before their first day.

First, there's a kindergarten preview for students who might come to kindergarten to come to school and take an art lesson, play in the gym, listen to a book reading in the library and tour the school. At the end of that half-day session, parents are given a registration packet, McMahon said.

Next, if parents choose Mars, they bring the child to kindergarten registration, which includes another meet-and-greet session with the school staff.

Those students who do register are invited to "Watermelon Welcome," which introduces the children to the kindergarten structure and lets them register on district computers. Meanwhile, McMahon outlines the kindergarten curriculum to the parents before everyone gets watermelon and plays outside.

Finally, just before the school year starts, students are invited to kindergarten orientation to find their way to their classroom, meet their teacher, and get their bus badge and a short bus trip.

Those visits make the first day less scary for the students and the parents.

"They've been introduced to the people, seen the school. There's nothing new," McMahon said.

The Karns City School District also works to get children acclimated before they become students.

Gregg Paladina, principal for elementary schools in the district, said he visits preschools and invites them to take a field trip to a kindergarten classroom to help the process.

At orientation day, students meet teachers and parents get an idea of how the full-day kindergarten classes will operate."Kindergarten is a long day," Paladina said.Then, in the weeks before school starts, students and their parents return to take a bus ride and go through the lunch line."It alleviates anxiety, not only that of the child, but of the parent," Paladina said.In addition to visiting the school before the first days, principals said it is good for students to be introduced to the alphabet, numbers and doing tasks such as dressing themselves.McMahon suggested children play with a magnetic alphabet at home or learn to count.She also likes to see parents encouraging children to try skipping, hopping, catching a ball, tracing and using scissors.Ringer, who works closely to get her young students ready for kindergarten, said parents need to introduce a routine to children before they start school. Bed time and wake-up time, with all the associated tasks, are especially good for children, she said.She said parents should encourage their children's independence in the bathroom, dressing, grooming and taking care of personal hygiene."Parents need to show children that they have the confidence that they can do that themselves," Ringer said.She also said parents should encourage the social skills of children by introducing them to other children their age and teaching them to share or take turns.Parents who are unsure if their child is ready for kindergarten should contact an early learning teacher, Sunday school teacher or the school.Paladina said Karns City will do a preliminary assessment for concerned parents. The district gives parents a recommendation, but the parents have the final decision.McMahon said if parents are still unsure if a child is ready, it is better to send the child to another year of preschool."It's more harmful to push if the child isn't ready for kindergarten," she said.Ringer said sometimes it's the parents who are having difficulty sending the child to school."I tell parents that (going to kindergarten) is harder on the parents than the child," Ringer said.She said parents shouldn't let children see them upset about the separation. Furthermore, when the child is upset to be left at school, Ringer said nine times out of 10, the child is happy before the parent gets back to the car.

Elizabeth McMahon, principal at Mars Primary Center, takes a walk by the Kindergarten Unit of the school. McMahon makes sure soon-to-be kindergarteners have opportunities to come to the school during the summer so they can be introduced to where they soon will be spending their days.