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Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten
Today, kindergarten is a more academic, fast-paced environment than most of us experienced when we first started school. Because so many children attend preschool or child care programs for at least a year—and often more—kindergarten is no longer the place where most children learn how to separate from family and get along in a group. Parents can do many things to help their children develop the skills they will need to prepare successfully for the academic concepts they will be exposed to in kindergarten.
· Set clear, respectful, reasonable, and consistent limits at home that help your child learn self-control. Be kind and firm at the same time.
· Model good communications and problem-solving skills that encourage your child to resolve conflicts peacefully and calmly.
· Read, read, read to your child every day. Expose him or her to books and stories of all kinds, and model reading yourself. Limit “screen time” (TV, computer etc.).
· Encourage your child to be self-sufficient in dressing, toileting, eating, and keeping track of belongings. Allow extra time for him or her to get these tasks done.
· Talk to your child openly and encourage him or her to speak openly with you about ideas, feelings, and needs. Also be sure to ask questions.
· Support your child’s social development by inviting friends over to your house that are close in age or slightly older than your child and make efforts to meet new children in the community and at preschool. Supervise play dates closely to help the children learn to cooperate and resolve conflicts.
· Take your child places and introduce him or her to new experiences. Practice separation. Use a babysitter occasionally.
· Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep and establish good routines for getting up in the morning and going to bed at night. Eat breakfast together.
· Keep your child physically active and expose him or her to playground games and ball games.
· Point out words that matter to your child—the names of people as well as the things they like. Label items in the house, encourage your child to write his or her name, count everything, and draw.
· Attend all kindergarten meetings and gatherings to help your family become familiar with and in the community. Take your child to play on the school playground.
· Remember to bring a camera and Kleenex for yourself on the first day of kindergarten!