Kindergarten readiness- developmental milestones

Readiness for Kindergarten – Camping Safety

2011/07/19 admin Leave a comment

When kids arrive in kindergarten, there will be some important safety rules for the kids to follow. Practicing some rules at home or in daycare makes it much easier to learn new ones. Kids already know what safety means and have experiences with rules. Part of readiness for kindergarten is awareness of safety and safety rules.

Camping definitely has some safety concerns for parents and caregivers. Staying close enough to the camping area and staying far enough from the campfire are 2 biggies. Lots of supervision is needed when kids are young to keep them safe and lots of guidance as they learn to follow these safety procedures. Kindergarten readiness is much more than academic issues. Preparation for school needs many kinds of lessons and camping is a fun way to learn some safety ones. Think those marshmallows are ready?

Nature Activities

Readiness for Kindergarten – Camping, Kids and Science

2011/07/18 admin Leave a comment

Camping and kids definitely go together, and science, too. If you’ll pardon the pun, science is a natural when camping. There are so many things to explore and discover, so much to see and wonder about. Kindergarten readiness means helping kids develop an eagerness for questioning and learning.

Whether you are in camping out in nature or at home in a city all you will need for some science fun is a patch of nature. Check it out with your child. What do you see? Are some things alive? Are there things that move or just stay still? There will be things that belong to the plant group and maybe some things that go in animals. What kind of colors and shapes are there? In this patch, what things are growing? What is there to see around the area?

Observing is a readiness for kindergarten skill. Some others are making groups, categorizing, listening, expanding vocabulary and more. By attaching learning on to kids’ enthusiasm and natural curiosity we make it fun and meaningful and promote a deep connection to the natural world. What kind of learning do you see?

Reading and Writing

Readiness for Kindergarten – Camping is for Stories

2011/07/16 admin Leave a comment

Our little ones are too young for Harry Potter, but just like the thousands of people lining up, they enjoy the same thing–a good story! Camping is a super time for stories. And stories are great to help kids with all kinds of readiness for kindergarten.

Reading is a language-based activity so lots of language experiences help for later learning to read. Not just vocabulary, but connecting with meaning, following a story-line, language patterns, how small differences can make big changes, careful listening and more. Stories stretch imagination and make listeners create pictures in their own mind instead of just looking at books. There’s lots of shared ideas in books that help us connect with traditions and with others. Harry Potter is connecting people all over the world! Stories are for more than just kindergarten readiness.

Now, ghost stories are a tradition for camping but dark nights are already scary. Parents can tell stories about forest animals, plants, and kids having adventures. Kids love stories about other family members. Telling a story is good exercise for grown-ups’ imaginations, too. Once upon a time, when we were camping…

Reading and Writing

Readiness for Kindergarten – Camping Helps Reading

2011/07/11 admin Leave a comment

As children’s first teachers, parents and caregivers are the ones that start children’s lessons for learning to read. The first ones are of course talking to kids and helping them learn to use language. After that, there is a critical concept that kids seem to learn without our even knowing. This is that words are made of bits … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Camping Helps Reading →

Reading and Writing

Readiness for Kindergarten – Camping is for Singing

2011/07/09 admin Leave a comment

Campfires and songs are more than tradition. Singing is a sure-fire way to develop language skills. When kids sing along they are using memory, predicting, careful listening, vocabulary and rhythm, to name just a few. In the brain, music helps develop math pathways, too. Notes go up and down a scale just like numbers go … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Camping is for Singing →

Physical Development

Readiness for Kindergarten – Camping Learning Activities

2011/07/08 admin Leave a comment

Camping might be a vacation activity but it takes lots of muscle power. Physical development and coordination are areas assessed for kindergarten readiness. Generally, kids develop their muscle skills by being active. And camping is certainly that. Just think of all the packing, carrying and hauling, into and out of the car. Then, there’s all … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Camping Learning Activities →