Kindergarten Readiness

Readiness for Kindergarten – Camping and Kids

This weekend is a double long weekend with a Friday, July 1 holiday for Canada Day and a Monday, July 4 holiday in the US. 2 great reasons to go camping and that’s just what many families are doing. Did you know that kindergarten readiness is like camping?

Lots of times, as teachers, we hear that schools need to be ready for kids, instead of kids ready for school. But it isn’t a question of one versus the other. Yes, schools have a responsibility to accept children at their developmental level. And–children who are  prepared for school have better results. Now, to compare this to camping…..

Families have to take the weather as it comes. But those who have prepared for it with warm jackets and boots or hats and sunscreen will have a better time. Think of all the other preparations, too: food, clothing, tents, maps, reservations, etc. Sometimes it’s okay to be spontaneous and just hit the road but most of the time it’s important to plan and take care of the details. It’s like that with readiness for kindergarten, too. These ‘details’ would include reading books, talking, playing and working together, and more. Best of all, just small minutes a day will add up to big results. For the next blog series, join me for some quick ideas on kindergarten readiness and camping–camping not needed, these ideas will work anywhere !! Let’s hit the trail….(book by Cecelia Dinio-Durkin & Peter Durkin)

Readiness for Kindergarten – Canada Day for Kids

July 1! That means that summer has begun. Today is a holiday in Canada. Just a quick look thru the local newspaper shows a list of activities for communities of all sizes. Participating in a fun activity can very well be a readiness for kindergarten learning time, too.
While you won’t find learning to balance play and work on a kindergarten readiness checklist, it nevertheless is a part of healthy social development. And like all skills, it needs to be repeated over and over for the learning to stick. So enjoy doing a play-activity with your child, today, knowing that it is an important part of kindergarten and life-long learning. Happy Canada Day!

Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks For Learning #10

Ten learning activities from socks? Just goes to show that small, ordinary items can be used to help kids with kindergarten readiness. So far activities have included matching, counting, sorting, rhyming, initial sounds, games, puppets, books and songs (see previous posts). I think #10 is the very best–a sock hop! Put on some fun music and you and your child can dance together.

Kindergarten will place increased demands on children socially. Dancing with a partner is one way to practice social skills. Even little children learn that they need to coordinate their actions with a partner, at least at a minimal level. Kids will learn to watch their partner for cues and enjoy being together.  These are important social skills and will impact more than readiness for kindergarten. No shoes needed, only dancing socks. Have these posts given you some more ideas about kindergarten readiness activities?

Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks For Learning #9

When starting kindergarten, some children will know their abc’s. Some will still be developing this knowledge. While it is not mandatory for kindergarten readiness that kids know the alphabet, some familiarity with letters and sounds is really helpful. Practicing them can be done in lots of ordinary, everyday situations such as putting on a pair … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks For Learning #9

Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks For Learning #7

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

Readiness for Kindergarten – Sock Puppets

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

Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks For Learning #5

Sharing and reading stories and books is one of the most important readiness for kindergarten activities. Children learn so much when parents and caregivers read to them. So much learning is based on language and books are a concentrated form of language. This week, to show how ordinary, everyday items can be used for kindergarten … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks For Learning #5

Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks for Learning #4

What rhymes with socks? For those of you who have been following this blog, you know that at least once a month, I post a blog about rhyming. Such a simple, little word game as making words that rhyme really prepares your child for later learning to read. Children need to be able to hear the … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks for Learning #4

Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks for Learning #3

I know I put an even number of socks in the laundry. Why is there 1 left over? Maybe I miscounted. Speaking of…. To help your child develop some kindergarten readiness early math skills, you can even use socks. The first skill that young children learn is counting. Simply practice counting all the socks. Then, … Continue reading Readiness for Kindergarten – Socks for Learning #3