Tips for Getting your child ready for Kindergarten
- Make sure they can take care of themselves. This includes knowing how to pack, zip, and put on their backpacks by themselves, zip their own coats, and take care of their bathroom needs.
- Teach patience- Patience isn't easy for a 4/5 year old, but in a classroom with many other children it becomes important. Practice telling your child "I'll be there in a minute" or "You will need to wait your turn"
- Foster independence- Let your child do things on their own. Simple responsibilities around the house are a great way to foster independence.
- Show your child how to be a problem solver- Don't always give your child the answers. Give them tools to help figure out a solution to their problem on their own.
- Work with your child on following 2 step directions. For example, put your pajamas on, and then brush your teeth. Kindergarten students will need to be able to follow multi-step directions.
- Read books together. Work up to longer books in order to develop good focus and attention skills.
- Play games that encourage upper/lowercase letter recognition. Refrigerator letters are great for this.
- Practice writing their name beginning with an uppercase letter followed by lowercase letters.