Greetings, TK families and curious minds! Let’s delve into the pivotal role attendance plays in the transitional kindergarten (TK) experience—a stepping stone that sets the tone for your child's academic journey.

1. Foundational Learning Principles: TK serves as a bridge between preschool and the more structured world of kindergarten. Consistent attendance establishes a routine that facilitates the acquisition of fundamental skills in literacy, numeracy, and social interaction. 📚

2. Meaningful Connections: Regular attendance helps students create strong bonds with their teachers and their peers. These relationships create a supportive environment, enabling children to feel secure and engaged in their learning endeavors. 🤝

3. Developmental Milestones Unveiled: TK represents a critical stage for developmental milestones, encompassing language proficiency, motor skills refinement, and emotional regulation. A commitment to regular attendance ensures that your child receives continuous guidance and support as they navigate these crucial milestones. 🌱

4. Seamless Transition to Kindergarten: The consistent attendance of TK paves the way for a seamless transition to kindergarten. By embracing daily routines and becoming acquainted with school expectations, your child is better prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. 🚀

5. Active Parental Engagement: Regular attendance not only benefits the child but also serves as an avenue for active parental involvement. By prioritizing attendance, parents convey the significance of education, fostering a positive example for their child's lifelong learning journey. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

The regularity of attendance in TK is instrumental in laying a strong foundation for future academic successes and positive habits. In a nutshell, let's make each day count in TK! 🌈 It's the key to unlocking a world of fun, friends, and fantastic learning for your little explorer. 🗺️✨

1. Fine Motor Skills:

   • Buttoning and Zipping: Practice with different types of fasteners on clothing to help them master the art of buttons and zippers. 👕🤲
   • Using Scissors: Encourage cutting with safety scissors to enhance fine motor control. ✂️ 

2. Self-Help Skills:

   • Dressing and Undressing: Teach your child to put on and take off simple clothing items, such as sweaters, jackets, and shoes. 🧥👟
   • Toileting Independently: Encourage bathroom independence, including flushing, washing hands, and managing clothing. 🚽🧼
   • Practicing Healthy Habits: Practice regular handwashing (after restroom use, before & after eating, etc.) and encouraging children to sneeze or cough into their elbows, to reduce the chances of airborne transmission of illnesses. The first year of school is when students will often get sick, but using proper healthy habits can reduce this occurrence. 

3. Social Skills:

   • Sharing and Taking Turns: Foster these essential social skills through playdates and group activities with other children. 🔄👫
   • Expressing Needs: Help your child articulate their needs, feelings, and thoughts, ensuring effective communication with teachers and peers. 💬👂

4. Emotional Independence:

   • Separation Time: Gradually increase the time your child spends away from you to help them build confidence and ease into being apart. ⏰👋 Remind them that they will see you again once the time away is over. Make sure not to sneak away, be clear that you are leaving but you will be back.
   • Problem-Solving: Encourage problem-solving skills by allowing them to think through challenges independently. 🤔💡
   • Conflict Resolution: We use “Kelso’s Choice Wheel” at Valley View (see picture) and it provides 9 choices for students to use when they have conflict with others. We encourage this tool to be used at home as well and for families to encourage students to pick choices to resolve conflicts and problems.

5. Listening and Following Instructions:

   • Games and Activities: Engage in games and activities that require following simple instructions, enhancing listening skills. 🎲👂 It is okay to allow them to fail! Emphasize that playing is about having fun and learning, not about winning or losing.

6. Basic Academic Skills:

   • Letter and Number Recognition: Introduce letters and numbers through play, songs, and simple educational activities. 🎵🔠 YouTube is a great resource for this, especially creators such as Jack Heartman, 
   • Reading Together: Develop a routine of reading books together to foster a love for language and literacy. 📚❤️ Read together every single night for 15 minutes or more and then talk about what happened in the story you read.

7. Routine Establishment:

   • Bedtime and Morning Routine: Establish consistent bedtime and morning routines to help your child adapt to the structured schedule of TK. 🌙🌅 Need ideas for this? We have you covered! Within our Attendance Support section of our website, we have wonderful routines you can put into place.
   • Mealtime Independence: Encourage your child to manage their lunchbox and eat independently. 🍱👧 Have them practice opening and closing ziploc type bags, chip bags, capri-sun’s, etc. 

8. Encourage Curiosity:

   • Explore Nature: Foster a love for learning by exploring the outdoors, observing nature, and asking questions. 🌿🔍
   • Visit the local Library: Make regular visits to the library to encourage a curiosity about books and reading. 📖📚 

Remember, every child is unique, so tailor these activities to your child's pace and interests. The goal is to create an environment that nurtures both their independence and love for learning, setting the stage for a successful transition to TK. 🚀🌈