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Readiness for Kindergarten – Quick Draw McPumpkin

2011/10/17 admin Leave a comment

For some readiness for kindergarten fun, ask your child to draw a pumpkin. Drawing is a kind of language and certainly a kindergarten readiness activity. Some kids love to draw and their talent shows at the age of 3 or 4! For other children (and many adults) drawing can be a struggle. But for all children, making marks on paper is a way to express meaning thru print. At first, kids just experiment with making any kind of marks on paper. As they develop, they begin to attach meaning to these squiggles. Later on, we may be able to recognize the objects in their pictures. Making pictures is a step before writing and helps reinforce the connection between meaning and print.

In addition, making pictures on paper is good practice for making pictures in the mind or what is called visualizing.This is a key part of communicating. Fine muscle skills are also developing in young children and need lots of experimentation and practice before kids tackle learning to print. Drawing can also help when little ones are learning colors. What are some other things kids learn by drawing?

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Readiness for Kindergarten – Backpacks and Kerplunks

2011/09/28 admin Leave a comment

On the weekend at a regional Baby Fair, the award-winning children’s band The Kerplunks performed to an appreciative audience of little kids and big ones, from very new baby bumps all the way to accompanying grandparents. Since my book table was right across from the main stage I got to hear them all 4 times. And now the song” I’ve got my gumboots on, I’ve got my gumboots one, From dusk to dawn with my my gumboots on,” is stuck in my head! Of course, it’s a rainy day song and our weather is very wet but it’s been there for 2 days! To vary the lyrics, I’ve substituted the word backpack. Now the song has another verse:

I’ve got my backpack on, I’ve got my backpack on, From dusk to dawn, I’ve got my backpack on.

The Kerplunks not only sing but they play lots of different instruments. The Backpacks could be the name of a new musical group and the instruments could be made from things around the house. How about a tissue box with elastic bands to strum, or a plastic container with some dry macaroni as a shaker? Pots or pans and a wooden spoon make great drums. Put on some favorite songs that won’t get stuck in your head and let your child move, dance and play along.

Music is an awesome activity for all kinds of readiness for kindergarten concepts including listening, rhythm, body awareness, etc. Both math and music have a similar system of ascending and descending order, notes with spaces and numbers with spaces, etc. so music prepares brain pathways and connections for learning math. Music is very powerful not just for kindergarten readiness but for all kinds of brain development. Help your little one find a crazy costume, strap a backpack on the back, create an instrument for the front and a 1-2-3 we’ve got some learning fun, we’ve got some learning fun…!

Art Music Drama

Readiness for Kindergarten – Backpack Monster Craft

2011/09/23 admin Leave a comment

Remember reading and talking about the monster in the backpack last week? That was so much fun, here’s a kindergarten readiness craft activity to create a backpack monster. Materials needed are any wonderful odd bits and treasures from the recycling. Monsters can be made from practically anything and put together in lots of different ways.

Doing crafts with little ones is not always easy. At the very least, it is not usually an activity that kids can do by themselves. Instead, it requires adult supervision and time. Nevertheless, making crafts helps with readiness for kindergarten because children learn to plan, organize and follow directions. The projects encourage creativity and give kids a sense of accomplishment. Children love to create. In the process, they use lots of thinking skills such as making decisions, problem solving, choosing, comparing, and evaluating. Their little hands practice all kinds of fine motor control as they cut, color, and glue. Their little hands and hearts get to feel proud of their work.

Instead of the monster, this time it’s the kids eating up all kinds of learning. Does your monster have any comments?

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Readiness for Kindergarten – Backpack Masterpiece

2011/09/22 admin Leave a comment

Pablo Picasso once said “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” Paintbrushes and colors are often favorites of children and painting activities develop many readiness for kindergarten skills. Besides drawing about a backpack, your child may enjoy painting about it. One of the most important … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Backpack Masterpiece →

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Readiness for Kindergarten – Backpacks in Pictures

2011/09/21 admin Leave a comment

Did you hear the news that doodle art is making a comeback? No wonder–it’s terrific exercise for the brain. Often we forget to encourage the creative and artistic interests of children. To extend the imagination activity from yesterday, have your child draw a picture about the backpack in your story. Drawing helps develop readiness for … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Backpacks in Pictures →

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Readiness for Kindergarten – Sing a Song for Backpacks

2011/09/09 admin Leave a comment

I’m always amazed at the resources I find when searching on the web. I had no idea there were so many songs and videos about backpacks. Singing is a wonderful readiness for kindergarten activity. It helps to develop auditory discrimination and memory, vocabulary, rhythm, rhyming, language fluency, listening skills, social skills, basic concepts, and that’s … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Sing a Song for Backpacks →

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Readiness for Kindergarten – Learning Fun At Home/Dishes

2011/08/04 admin Leave a comment

Doing the dishes is not one of my favorite activities but there is a way to make it more fun and d0 kindergarten readiness activity at the same time : singing. Here’s 2 versions depending on how they get done at your house. (tune–Here we go ’round the Mulberry Bush) This is the way we wash the … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Learning Fun At Home/Dishes →

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Readiness for Kindergarten – Drawing About Camping

2011/07/21 admin Leave a comment

While we hope all the days we are camping are sunny, chances are some of those days will have rain. Finding things to do can be challenging when the weather is wet. One activity that can keep little ones busy is drawing and coloring. Paper, crayons or felts and, of course, imagination. (For older kids, it helps … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Drawing About Camping →

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Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks For Learning #7

2011/06/27 admin Leave a comment

Who knew socks could help families with kindergarten readiness in so many different ways? Rhyming words, sock puppets, stories, counting, matching and more. Today, socks are for singing. Here are 2 songs that use familiar tunes and are easy for kids to sing: Oh where, oh where, did my little sock go? Hickory, Dickory Dock, Oh where, oh where, … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks For Learning #7 →

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Readiness for Kindergarten – Sock Puppets

2011/06/25 admin Leave a comment

Making sock puppets with kids is like getting a 3 for 1 special. First , there is the kindergarten readiness learning in planning, organizing and creating the puppet. Second, is the language practice that comes from playing with the puppet. Third, is exercise for the imagination. Sock puppets is a great use of perfectly good … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Sock Puppets →