The years seemed to fly by quickly, and your little one is now ready to take on the challenge of entering into kindergarten. If your child was in Wilmington child care, your child may already know some of the basic kindergarten readiness skills. There are many ways you can prepare your child for kindergarten in order to make sure he or she does not fall behind. These 17 kindergarten readiness activities will ensure your child is ready to go.

Reading, Writing, and Basic Spelling

1. Identify some of the letters in the alphabet. Kindergarten readiness is seen in your child’s ability to read or tell the difference between various letters. The more the merrier; however, a basic understanding of some letters will go a long way.

2. Whether your child is writing with a pencil, pen, or marker, it is very important for them to be able to hold their tool. You can prepare your child for kindergarten best by laying crayons on the table and having him or her pick each one up to write. Correct their holding position, and allow them to repeat the motions for each new color.

3. Teach your child to write their first and last name. If possible, teach them how to use upper and lowercase letters. Even if your child is not able to write long words, they will need to write their name on papers and work.

Independence is Key

4. Break away from your child. Separation anxiety is something a lot of children (and parents) encounter. Your child needs to be able to function without you around. Kindergarten readiness programs are available to help. Parents can drop children off for a couple hours so they can get used to the change. Being away from you is something your child needs to practice.

5. Make sure your little one is able to put on their own clothing. Although it is unlikely that children will need to practice these skills at school, they need to know how to do it just in case.

6. Playing alone or in small groups for up to ten minutes will ensure your little one excels in the learning environment.

7. Teach your child their birthday, phone number, full name, and address. Your child should be able to repeat this information back to a teacher.

8. You will not be at school each day to clean up after your child. Your child will need to know how to clean up their own toys and tools after using them.

9. Potty training and managing restroom needs are crucial skills for getting through each day in kindergarten. Your child should be able to recognize when they need to go, and they should be able to go and use the restrooms without supervision.

10. Your child should be able to follow basic directions. Since the teacher tells children to raise their hands when they have a question, your child should know how to do this and follow these simple directions.

Listening and Counting

11. Teach your child to count to ten. Use fingers, objects or a number line to ensure they knows the basics.

12. Make sure your child knows how to bounce a ball. Motor skills need to be at a level that will ensure they do not struggle in gym class or in classroom activities.

13. Your child should be able to rhyme basic words. Dog and log should not have your child’s mind in a fog.

14. Categorize objects by size, shape or type. Your child should be able to determine which object is bigger or smaller. Teach your child how to divide blocks by colors, and determine the odd object in a set (i.e.: square, rectangle, and triangle — four sides vs. three).

15. Your child should be able to recognize sight words, such as “stop” and “go”. Use stop signs or traffic lights to teach your child the different meanings.

16. Make sure your child knows how to speak complete sentences. Even a basic statement like “the ball is red” is good enough to ensure they are ready to go.

17. Teach your child how to remain quiet during story time. Kindergarten involves a lot of reading, especially on the teacher’s part. Your child will need to sit in groups and listen to the story and may be required to answer basic questions about the story. It is important for your child to remain quiet so all students are able to listen to and understand the story.

Making sure your child does not fall behind is crucial for developing a successful pathway through his or her educational journey. Practicing all seventeen of these steps will guarantee your little one is ready to go on the first day of kindergarten.

You can also enroll your child in a Pre-Kindergarten program at The Learning Center in Calvary. Each student in our Pre-K program graduates with all the skills they will need for success in Kindergarten. Contact us to learn more about this amazing program.

Kindergarten readiness is something all parents of preschoolers should be thinking about during these formative years. While no two children are the same, there are some skills that your child’s kindergarten teacher will expect him or her to have on the first day of school. Not only do they free up the teacher’s time so he or she can teach, but they will also make the transition easier for your child. Luckily, many kids have already mastered these skills by the age of five, but if yours hasn’t, there is still time for them to practice.

1-4: Fine Motor Skills Kindergarten Readiness

Good fine motor skills are a necessity, because your children will be doing these daily throughout their school years and beyond. They are the foundation for your child’s ability to take part in classwork and other daily activities. Some of the most important ones you should work on with your child are:

• Writing: Your child should be able to hold a pencil correctly and trace lines, as well as trace his or her name. You may even practice writing the first name without help. Use colored pencils to help keep your child interested.

• Cutting: He or she should have the ability to grasp a pair of safety scissors and cut along lines, as well as cut out shapes like squares, triangles, and circles. Practice by cutting pictures out of magazines and newspapers.

• Stacking: Have your child practice stacking 10 1-inch blocks on top of each other until he or she can do so without knocking it over.

• Molding: Play dough is a child favorite, and a great way to practice molding skills. Have your child roll the dough into a the shape of a ball, a snake, and a pancake.

 

5 – 8: Gross Motor Skills Kindergarten Readiness

Gross motor skills are important for physical development, play, and coordination. Of course, exceptions will be made if your child is physically handicapped. Before heading off to school, your child should be comfortable with:

• Jumping: Your child should have the ability to jump in place at least seven times, landing on both feet. Practice with games like hopscotch and jump rope.

• Throwing and Catching: He or she should have the ability to throw a ball at least 5 feet in a specific direction, as well as catch it from the same distance, using either his or her hands or arms and body.

• Balancing: Balancing on each foot for at least 5 seconds is an important skill. Practice by making a game out of it.

• Climbing: Climbing is essential for going up and down stairs and playground ladders.

 

9-13: Social Readiness

In addition to fine and gross motor skills, your child must have the social skills to interact with the teacher and other children appropriately. These include:

• Self-Control: Self-control skills involve following directions, sticking to routines, participating in activities without becoming too hyper, and the ability to transition from one activity to the next without disruption.

• Proper Interaction with Others: Your child should be able to interact appropriately with the teacher and other students, share, take turns, participate in group activities, and help with clean-up efforts.

• Conflict Resolution Skills: When your child is involved in a conflict, he or she needs to have the ability to use words to resolve it or know to seek a trusted adult for help when necessary.
• Speaking Skills: Speaking skills include talking clearly enough to be understood and the ability to relay experiences to another person.

• Listening Skills: Listening skills for kindergarten readiness include paying attention to conversations, as well as following one and two-step directions.

Kindergarten Readiness Resources for Parents

Many of these skills are learned through everyday activities at home, but for some children, a kindergarten readiness program may be in order. This is especially true when it comes to social skills. For example, enrolling your preschooler in a Wilmington child care program can help them develop better socially. You can also practice role playing situations that may arise in school. Arts and crafts times can help with fine motor skills, while outside play is great for gross motor skills.
Once your child has mastered these skills, he or she has the perfect foundation for moving on to more advanced activities, such as reading, writing, and working with numbers. Just remember, a hands-on approach always works better than memorization and lecturing when it comes to kindergarten readiness activities.