Your child doesn't need to be able to read before kindergarten, BUT there are MANY things they DO need to master...
- Can they dress themselves? Zip? Button?
- Can they use the restroom independently?
- Can they eat independently?
- Can they hold a crayon?
- Do they draw, paint or craft at home?
- Do they hold scissors properly?
- Do they enjoy child-directed play with dress up clothes, dolls, trucks and blocks?
- Do you play with them? Inside? Outside?
- Do they have access to PlayDough each day?
- Do they obey your instructions?
- Can they sing their ABCs?
- Can they count to ten?
- Can they spell their name?
- Can they write their name?
- Can they identify the letters in their name?
- Can they identify MOST letters and numerals?
- Can they identify colors?
- Can they identify shapes by their names?
- Do they get along with other children their age? Share? Take turns?
- Do they spend more time playing than watching TV or playing on electronics?
- Do they participate in multiple play dates per month?
- Do they communicate effectively?
- Do you take them around town to participate in child friendly activities?
- Do you read to them nightly?
- Do you sing songs, play games or have discussions with them in the car?
- Do you have a variety of books at home? Fiction? Nonfiction?
- Do you ask a lot of questions out loud throughout the day? Directed to your child, or questions of you own?
Below are a few tips on how you can help your child throughout the year.
-Encourage a positive attitude toward school, the teacher and learning.
-Encourage creative abilities by allowing your child to use scissors, play dough, crayons, blocks and glue.
-Allow many opportunities to follow directions.
-Visit the zoo, park, museum, airport, library, farm and discuss these experiences.
-Provide opportunities to play with other children and spend some time away from you to develop independence.
-Encourage independence in dressing (tying shoes, zipping and buttoning clothes), personal habits, and care of possessions.
-Play board games or use a computer with your child to encourage the use of thinking skills and cooperation.
-Limit the use of television and video games, especially prior to bedtime.
-Teach your child his or her home address and telephone number AND cell phone number.
-Play rhyming games and sing songs in the car with your child.
-Allow your child to enter school independently beginning in October.
Below are more tips to keep you and your child safe and healthy:
-Get 10-12 hours of sleep per night.
-Have ample time to prepare for the day and arrive at school on time.
-Establish regular toilet habits and know how to use the bathroom properly and independently.
-Know that food only goes into the mouth.
-Learn to wash hands frequently and thoroughly.
-Keep hands away from eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
-Play outdoors EVERY DAY that the weather permits.
-Learn to cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing by using the inside of your elbow.
-Know the safety cautions for strangers, strange places, strange situations and strange animals.
-Know parts of the body that are private and should not be touched or shown to others.
-Know that kisses are to be saved for family members.
Please make a concerted effort to read at least 30 minutes a day with your child throughout the summer months.
Here are some suggestions for categories of books that we hope you will use as a guide when choosing books with your child this summer. We highly recommend regular visits to the public library. The books are categorized, which makes your search easier, and the children’s librarians are excellent. Ask about allowing your child to receive his own library card!
Summer Reading Suggested Categories:
Nursery rhymes
Poetry
Alphabet books
Books that focus on numbers or other math concepts
Picture books
Books with alliteration (2 or more words that begin with the same sound, as in “If You Give A Pig A Pancake”)
Predictable text books (as in “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?”)
Books on themes: families, starting school, oceans, birds, reptiles
Fiction and nonfiction stories with photographs
Click here to see a list of suggested books as well as definitions and suggestions of various reading levels.
Lastly, send in some extra information about your child to your new kindergarten teacher. Below are some questions to answer that would be helpful for them.
What is your child most interested in learning?
What are some of your child’s favorite books or things to read?
Does your child enjoy being read to? If so, is there a favorite time to read?
What games does your child like to play?
When your child is upset, what are some strategies that you find helpful?
When your child has conflicts with other children, what are some ways he or she works them out?
Does your child nap? If so, for how long?
About how many hours does your child sleep at night?
Tell us about your child’s educational experience prior to entering Kindergarten.
Do you have any special concerns about your child?
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your child?
What are some of your child’s favorite books or things to read?
Does your child enjoy being read to? If so, is there a favorite time to read?
What games does your child like to play?
When your child is upset, what are some strategies that you find helpful?
When your child has conflicts with other children, what are some ways he or she works them out?
Does your child nap? If so, for how long?
About how many hours does your child sleep at night?
Tell us about your child’s educational experience prior to entering Kindergarten.
Do you have any special concerns about your child?
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your child?
Below are some great resources for things to have at home:
Alphabet strip: Print and tape into strip. Great for practicing alphabet recognition and letter formation!
Click photo to get the pdf!
Click photo to get to amazon.com to order!
Number Cards are great...
...playing cards and dice are even better!
Your child should also be coloring, cutting and playing with legos or Playdough!
