The excitement is building as we enter into the month of July as we prepare our children for the big transition from preschool to kindergarten this Fall. Trust me I know...we aren't just feeling excitement but most likely feeling a little bit of anxiety and nostalgia mixed together as our little ones are about to step into their kindergarten classrooms.
Kindergarten readiness....what does it really mean? Automatically, academic skills and concepts pop into our minds and yes they are certainly a part of preparing. However, there’s much more to preparing for kindergarten than academics. I cannot promise that there won’t be any hiccups during their transition, but there are some proactive things that you can do this summer to prepare your child to be successful -emotionally, socially, and academically..
Oral Communication
Talk with you child ...point things out and ask your child questions. Teach your child the correct names for everyday items. Encourage them to speak in complete sentences when answering your questions. A main goal should be for your child to use language to express their needs and wants. Take advantage of every opportunity to build vocabulary. A great time to work on vocabulary is in the car. Researchers have found that a strong vocabulary is a major indicator in a child's academic success.
Fine Motor Skills
Practice buttoning, buttons and zipping, zippers. Practice opening and closing sweaters, coats and jackets. Practice tying shoelaces. Go ahead and be a little messy at home and create crafts that allow you child to use scissors, glue, paint, and other art materials. This will help them to use their school supplies with relative ease when school starts. Model how to grip a pencil, crayon, or marker correctly (with the thumb and forefinger supporting the tip).
Practice Writing & Recognizing Name
Help your child recognize and print their name. When practicing with your child remember to use a capital for the first letter only. Your child will be very proud to share with their teacher that they can print their name.
Get Counting
Practice counting objects and counting aloud to 20. Keep it simple... give your child jobs like counting out plates, silverware and napkins are good practice. Allow them to Sort laundry into different colors this helps establish the concepts of same and different.
Encourage Independence
Work on developing independent bathroom behavior.....pulling up pants, zipping& buttoning clothing, and cleaning themselves. Practice flushing the toilet and washing hands.This will help your child feel comfortable and confident when beginning school. Also, show your child how to open their backpack and lunchbox...this can be difficult for many children. They will feel better having practiced at home using their new supplies before the first day...and don't worry they will practice this more at school.
Provide Opportunities to Spend Time With Other Children
Try to provide times in which your child will be able to work and play in group settings. This will help your child to begin to gain a sense of expectations and the give and take of playing with others. Also, playing simple games and practicing taking turns at home will help your a child develop their social/behavioral skills.
Keep in mind that getting ready for kindergarten doesn’t have to be the main focus of your family's summer. Allow your child to play and enjoy the summer...do not force or drill skills because this can cause anxiety and stress. However, taking time to familiarize your child with their school and educating yourself on what modern kindergarten is all about ensure a smooth transition.
Coming soon....I will share some good books to read together before school starts to help prepare them for Kindergarten.
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