Parents' kindergarten anxiety is normal.

• Position: Your Life - Brief article

The school supplies have been purchased and the backpacks are loaded, but the parents still wonder if their child is ready to start kindergarten. This anxiety is normal, but focusing too much on it can affect how well kids transition on their first day, according to Keith Herman, associate professor in the College of Education at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

"Starting kindergarten is a major developmental milestone and, not surprisingly, it is common for parents and children to feel some apprehension about this change in their lives. Often, anxiety in children reflects what parents are feeling. Children are looking for predictability and, the more the parents act calmly and confidently, the more likely the child will transition successfully."

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Herman offers these additional tips:

* Maintain family routines and establish a schedule with regular...