getting ready for kindergarten

Readiness and Developmental Milestones for Kids Starting Kindergarten

Getting Ready to Start Kindergarten and Preschool

Do you have a child starting kindergarten or school soon and lots of questions about readiness and developmental milestones? Here are some basics for kids to know that will help on their new learning journey.

As a kindergarten teacher, these are my answers to many parent and caregiver questions about what kids need to know. So often, we think of school as being an academic place, but it is so much more. For kids to feel comfortable and confident in this new world, they need a foundation of being able to take care of some basic needs and being able to connect with others. Sometimes, readiness is a ‘bad-word’ but really, we help kids be ready for things like a play-date, a sleep-over with a cousin, a visit to the doctor or dentist, a special trip or vacation and so much more. So, some readiness for kindergarten or preschool can help too.

For some further information to your questions and concerns, check out this link: https://123kindergarten.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Here-We-Go-To-Kindergarte1.pdf

Best of luck and wishing you an exciting start to school!

readiness for preschool and kindergarten for young children

 

 

Readiness Activities for Kids: This is the Way We Get Ready for This Fall

Readiness activities for kids brings a big smile to some faces and to others an even bigger frown. But, we all like to feel ready for things: adventures, work, holidays, appointments, and more. Our own vacations start off better when we’ve got stuff prepped beforehand. No matter how ready we may feel for those days off, we don’t want to waste the least part of one just getting ready to go.

School is a whole new adventure for kids. Undoubtedly,  we want the school to be ready to welcome our kids at their state of development and to avoid pushing and stressing our little ones. Just like grownups, kids can benefit from some adult help.
readiness play activities for kidsThe calendar above has some suggestions for ways we can support young children. For each day this month, choose one of these prompts and use it for a play activity. For instance, for “know my name,” some ways to play might be rolling out letters in play doughor finding different words that rhyme like Abby-Tabby. For naming emotions, make different kinds of faces at each other and guess that feeling. Pretending and imagining can happen with something as simple as a play cardboard box.

However you PLAY remember, this is the brain’s favorite way to learn. Isn’t a great bonus that it’s fun too? Of course, that could be Nature’s very clever and smart intention in the first place! Some readiness activities for kids sponsored by child’s play is a clever and brainy  way of getting ready for life’s next big adventure!

 

New Years Resolution #11-Getting Ready for KINDERGARTEN Everyday

Chances are good one day in the future your child will go to kindergarten. Getting ready for kindergarten everyday is the best way and the best time is now. That’s because 90% of the brain develops before the age of 5. The graph below shows the window of opportunity. The high spots happen earlier than we … Continue reading New Years Resolution #11-Getting Ready for KINDERGARTEN Everyday

Before I Go to Kindergarten – Checklist for Readiness

“Before I go to kindergarten, there’s lots I can do!” What helps your child be ready for kindergarten? Here’s an infographic checklist. Just recently, an infographic was shared in a group of parents and teachers with some pre-kindergarten goals. While a goal is something to work toward, not a requirement, many of us were concerned … Continue reading Before I Go to Kindergarten – Checklist for Readiness

School Toolbox: Helpful Interpersonal Skills for School

With summer half-over, it’s time to start thinking about kindergarten. Kids need backpacks and toolboxes—well, a toolbox of interpersonal skills for school. Some research published just this summer in the American Journal of Public Health has sparked some very interesting discussions. Hundreds of kindergarten kids were followed for almost 20 years! The results showed that … Continue reading School Toolbox: Helpful Interpersonal Skills for School

Help a Child Starting Kindergarten #1

Off to School Tool Box: Eagerness to Learn The back-to-school flyers are appearing ‘cuz school starts soon. Here are some ways to help a child starting kindergarten, a sort of off to school tool box. Along with backpacks, there are some other things that help kids make the transition to school. Because the whole point … Continue reading Help a Child Starting Kindergarten #1

Following Instructions Helps Kids Going to Kindergarten

Series Part #20: Is Following Instructions a Challenge for Your Child? Before children go to kindergarten, some areas do a readiness assessment, and one item is often following directions or instructions. This can be a concern for some children and the problem is not because a child has not heard or listened to the instructions. … Continue reading Following Instructions Helps Kids Going to Kindergarten

Skill of Making Choices Important for Kindergarten

Series Part #19: How Does Your Child Make Choices? On a list of things kids need to learn before starting kindergarten, you probably would not expect to see ‘Making Choices,’ but this is an important skill. You may be skeptical, but have you ever been too tired to even choose what cereal you want for … Continue reading Skill of Making Choices Important for Kindergarten