Kindergarten is an exciting adventure for a child! It is filled with new friendships, new skills, and new academic milestones. Although it may seem anxious entering into a new classroom, there are a few ways you can prepare your child before they start this new journey.
Depending on the school district or the type of school your child will enter, certain milestones or goals will be put in place. These milestones and goals will be the main focus as they navigate kindergarten. It would be beneficial to check with your child’s teacher to see what milestones or goals need to be met before the school year starts to get a head start.
Here is a list of goals that may be useful in kindergarten preparation:
- Numbers (Counting to 10)
- Repeat full name
- Recite the days of the week
- Using scissors, glue, paint, and other art related materials
- Cleaning up after themselves
- Shapes and sizes
- Rhyming words
It is also extremely important to remember that even though a child may not meet a milestone or goal as quickly as others it is completely normal! Every child has different strengths so do not worry if you feel your child is behind on these goals. Some children may be gifted in reading more than others or some may love arts and crafts. Everyone learns in different ways.
It is also important to instill routines. In kindergarten, there will be a set schedule and it is crucial that your child can follow these routines to the best of their abilities. This goes hand in hand with trying to make following directions as fun as possible. Cleaning up, setting up a new game, or a scavenger hunt can help in allowing your child to follow directions.
Social skills are also important when starting kindergarten. It could be helpful to introduce your child to new friends before school starts. You can even try to get a list of names of students from your teacher and set up a playdate at a park.
Entering kindergarten is a big life change. It is important to remember you are listening to your child and affirming their strengths. It is tough for a child to enter a new place, with new people, and a brand new routine. Getting ready for these big life changes can make their transition a lot easier.
