(METRO) The first day of kindergarten is a milestone moment for children that their parents will remember forever.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that around five million children attend an organized preschool or daycare facility in the United States, while Statistics Canada reports that roughly 52 percent of Canadian children in non-parental child care are in a daycare center, preschool or childcare center. Children who attend preschool or daycare may make a relatively seamless transition to kindergarten.

However, it’s still a good idea for parents to take steps to prepare youngsters for kindergarten in advance of the first day of school.

—Attend orientation or related events. Elementary schools typically are housed in much larger buildings than preschools or daycares, and that size can be intimidating for children. Attending kindergarten orientation or related events as a family can help children see their classrooms, meet their teacher and potentially their cla...