
Preparing for Kindergarten
Literacy
- Please
read, read, and read some more to your children. Reading aloud to them builds
so many language skills (comprehension, rhyme, concepts of print such as
where to begin reading, vocabulary building, etc.!).
- Visit
the library often to read, hear a storyteller, or watch a puppeteer!
- Don't
neglect the power of children's own names! Young children naturally like to
see their name in print and have a great desire to know the letters in their
name. Have children start with the letters in their own name when attempting
to recognize and name letters.
- Also,
use the beginning sound in their name as a foundation for building sound
knowledge! For example, if your child's name starts with P, find other items
that start with /p/ like popcorn, puzzle, pillow, etc.
- For
writing their names, let children practice (first letter uppercase and all
the others lowercase) in sand, a small tray of rice, shaving cream,
pudding (Yum!), finger paint, glitter crayons, write it big with
sidewalk chalk, shape play dough into the letters, etc. Have fun!
- Print is
all around young children for them to notice and make literacy connections!
Some print is already meaningful to your children such as names of favorite
cereals, restaurants, toys, stores, and more! Letters and words are everywhere
in your home, on the street, in the store, etc. - Make it a fun learning game
in which you play "I spy" - I spy something with my little eye something that
starts with the letter M or /m/ (say the sound the m makes) depending
on the developmental level of your child.
- Place
magnetic letters on the refrigerator at the children's eye level so they can
manipulate the letters to form their name, group like letters together, etc.
- Create a
letter scrapbook with your child. For each page, write the upper and lowercase
letter. Have children hunt for small objects, environmental print, etc. that
begin with a certain letter. Make sure to include photos of their friends,
too!
- Let your
children see you writing letters, checks to pay the bills, the grocery list,
anything! Give them their own piece of paper, letting them write out their own
list using kid writing (It's all right if you can't read it at this point -
You are modeling for them uses/reasons for writing and reading which is much
more important at this stage.)
- Create a
writing toolbox to store fun writing utensils, different types of paper,
envelopes, stickers, etc. for your child to have their own writing materials
to encourage writing.
- Read,
recite, sing, and act out nursery rhymes!
- Do a lot
of language play - jump rope rhymes, silly songs and finger plays, and
riddles.
- Create
new, silly names - for example, if your child's name is Sam, his name could
turn into Bam, Ham, Jam, Kam, Lam, Mam, etc.
Math
- Focus
your child's attention on the colors, shapes, and numbers seen all around
them! Ask them to help you read the numerals on signs, to point out the shapes
of items in the grocery store, to find colors inside and out!
- Let your
budding chef assist you in the kitchen. Let them help pour, mix, measure,
roll, etc.!
-
Encourage the practice of sorting skills while folding laundry, putting toys
away, playing with colored blocks, eating their favorite candies such as
M&M's, etc!
- For
numeral practice, make two flash cards of each numeral (0-5 to start and
then adding higher numerals as skill increases). Play go fish, sort and
match the numerals, go around the house and place the numeral card next to
sets of that many objects, play memory, bingo, etc. You can create similar
simple games for the shapes and colors!
- Refer to
the calendar frequently. Talk about the days of the week, the date, count the
number of days left until an upcoming event.
- There
are objects all around your home to practice counting (books, shoes, shirts,
toys, pens, etc.)! Have your child touch and move each item forward as he/she
is counting.
- Play
dominoes and board games in which children have to roll a die and count how
many spaces they get to move!
Fine Motor Skills
- Provide
crayons, markers, pencils, scissors, glue, paints, etc. for your child to use
and to express their creativity!
- String
beads, Fruit Loops, etc. to make necklaces.
- Roll and
shape play dough into snakes and other interesting creatures!
- Pick up
small objects with tweezers and tongs.
- Put
together puzzles.
- Play
with Legos, Tinker Toys, Bristle Blocks, and other small building toys.
- Use a
Lite Brite to form pictu-es and designs.
- Tear
various colors of paper and glue together to make a picture.
- Use
scissors to cut straight lines, wavy lines, zigzags, and to make fringe along
the edge of paper to create grass!
Social and Character
Building Skills
- Provide
opportunities for your child to spend time with other children playing and
talking.
-
Encourage your child to share and to take turns.
- Give
small chores or jobs to your child so that they may experience responsibility
and a sense of accomplishment.
- Get into
a daily routine now so that the transition to those early school days will go
more smoothly!
- Talk and
model how to express feelings appropriately and with self control.
- Remind
children to listen when others talk (looking into the speaker's eyes,
waiting their turn to speak).
Safety and Self Help
Competence
- Have
your child practice orally stating their home information in case of
emergencies (full name, parents' names, address, telephone number).
- When
going for walks, practice looking both ways before crossing the street and
walking on the sidewalk.
- Let
children tie, snap, button, and zip their own clothing. This is a great fine
motor skill accomplishment, too!
- Model
and encourage the practice of good hygiene - washing hands, covering mouth
when coughing, covering nose when sneezing, brushing teeth, combing hair, etc.
- Have
children get into the habit of always putting their toys away after playing
and cleaning up after themselves.