Reading and Writing

August = All around the house. That is, the theme for blogs this month is how to help your child with readiness for kindergarten by doing ordinary, regular activities. Days are already so busy with jobs and household chores that it’s hard to get everything done. But kindergarten readiness can be tucked in with laundry, dishes and vacuuming! (see earlier posts) Now, grocery shopping can be learning time, too.

First comes the list. Kids younger than 3 years old can have a piece of paper and a pencil to scribble on, too, just like the parents and caregivers. To help your little one see that writing is meaningful, talk about the things that you are writing down. Children older than 3 may be able to draw a few pictures of items that are needed such as an orange circle for oranges, or green curvy lines for lettuce, etc.

We take for granted that letters and words on a page contain a message. But children need to learn than these squiggles have specific meanings. Writing out a grocery and using it for shopping is an effective way to help your child learn what writing and reading is all about. Hmm, where did I put the list?

No time to prepare your child for kindergarten? Helping your child with kindergarten readiness can be done at the same time as you are doing what you need to do, even if it’s the vacuuming.

I don’t know about you, but vacuuming has never been high on my list of fun things to do. To add both fun and readiness for kindergarten learning, have your child give you the directions of where to vacuum. This needs to be adapted for the age of your child but can go something like this: ” Okay, where do you think I should vacuum–behind the sofa or above it? Should I vacuum in the bed or under it?” Even little ones think vacuuming in the bed is quite silly and soon suggest some other funny alternatives as they practice using these important words and concepts.

An older child can be a robot controller and give you, as the robot, the instructions: ” Take 3 steps ahead, vacuum under the table. Back up 2 steps and turn to vacuum under the chair.”  Left and right can still be tricky at this age and the robot (that’s you) may end up wrong place. Kids quickly see if they have missed an important part of the instructions or given the wrong direction as the ‘robot’ has problems. This turns vacuuming into a game instead of a chore. It can even be so much fun that kids beg for a turn! Did you remember to use your best robot sound effects?

Laundry is another one of those chores at home that can use a measure of fun & play but it can also be a great kindergarten readiness learning opportunity, too. When sorting the laundry, make groups of clothes according to their category, “These are the towels, these are the sheets.” Sometimes, kids can put items in … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Learning Fun At Home/Laundry →

Once upon a time there were some dishes…. Reading books to your child is one of the most important ways to promote kindergarten readiness. But reading books and doing dishes are not doable at the same time. On the other hand, telling stories does work and it’s a form of play, too. Make up a … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Learning Fun At Home/Dishes →