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Success in Kindergarten

Kindergarten Ready!

 

Getting your child ready for Kindergarten involves a mix of practical, social, and academic skills. Here are some key areas to focus on:

  1. Self-Help Skills:

    • Dressing Independently: Teach your child to put on and take off simple clothing items like sweaters and jackets. ๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿงฅ
    • Using Zippers and Buttons: Practice with different types of fasteners to help them master zipping up sweaters and buttoning pants. ๐Ÿคฒ๐Ÿ”˜
  2. Social Skills:

    • Sharing and Taking Turns: Encourage these essential social skills through playdates and group activities. ๐Ÿ”„๐Ÿ‘ซ Utilize the same problem solving choice wheel (see image below) that we will use here at school to help children learn to resolve conflict with others.Kelsos Problem Solving Choices
    • Being Comfortable Without Parents: Gradually increase the time your child spends away from you to help them feel more comfortable in social settings. ๐ŸกโŒ๐Ÿ‘ถ
  3. Basic Academic Skills:

    • Letter Recognition: Introduce letters through fun games, songs, and alphabet books. ๐ŸŽต๐Ÿ” 
    • Counting: Play counting games and use everyday situations to introduce basic math concepts. ๐Ÿ”ข๐Ÿงฎ
  4. Listening and Following Instructions:

    • Games and Activities: Engage in activities that require following instructions, enhancing listening skills and attention span. ๐ŸŽฒ๐Ÿ‘‚
  5. Language Development:

    • Storytime: Read regularly with your child to enhance vocabulary and comprehension skills. ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ  Read together every single night for 15 minutes or more and then talk about what happened in the story you read.
    • Conversations: Encourage conversations to build language skills, asking open-ended questions about their day and interests. ๐Ÿ’ฌ๐Ÿ‘ง
  6. Fine Motor Skills:

    • Drawing and Coloring: Encourage drawing and coloring to enhance fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. ๐Ÿ–๏ธ๐ŸŽจ
    • Using Scissors: Practice cutting with safety scissors to develop fine motor control. โœ‚๏ธ๐Ÿ‘
  7. Independence in Daily Tasks:

    • Packing and Unpacking Backpack: Teach your child to pack and unpack their backpack, fostering independence. ๐ŸŽ’๐Ÿ‘
    • Lunch Skills: Encourage opening lunch containers (chips, capri-sun’s, lunchables, ziplock baggies) and managing utensils. ๐Ÿฑ๐Ÿด
  8. Emotional Independence:

    • Expressing Feelings: Help your child articulate their emotions and express themselves effectively. ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ˜ข
    • Problem-Solving: Encourage problem-solving skills by discussing various scenarios and possible solutions. ๐Ÿค”๐Ÿ’ก 
  9. Routine Establishment:

    • Bedtime and Morning Routine: Establish consistent bedtime and morning routines to help your child adapt to the structured schedule of TK. ๐ŸŒ™๐ŸŒ… 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.

 

Remember, each child develops at their own pace, so be patient and supportive. Incorporate these activities into your daily routines in a fun and engaging way. The goal is to build a strong foundation for a positive and successful transition to Kindergarten, fostering a love for learning and social interaction. ๐Ÿš€๐ŸŒŸ